Episode 318: PorterLogic Automates Inventory Management
Welcome to The New Warehouse podcast. Kevin’s guest today is Jonathan Porter, Founder, and CEO of PorterLogic. PorterLogic is a technology solution that helps companies reduce costs in their supply chains by directly aligning a company’s operations with its software. Poterlogic strives to automate inventory management by allowing businesses to connect various systems through drag-and-drop, low-code solutions, ultimately improving their efficiency. Operational efficiencies are critical to any successful business. PorterLogic can tailor user interfaces specifically to customer needs, allowing them to bring together internal, customer, and vendor systems data in one place. This aligns software and operations to match the unique operational requirements, helping supply chains and warehouses thrive. Key Takeaways A third-generation entrepreneur, Jonathan knew he wanted to develop a product for supply chains, so he took time to listen and interview people and found a common problem within supply chains was customized solutions and integrations. Solving this problem ultimately led him to start PorterLogic. By developing a low code, visual configuration-based system, he has opened up the possibilities for businesses to create workflows and processes that best suit their unique needs. The “logic engine,” as Jonathan refers to it, is a considerable advantage in an industry where every business operates differently. Jonathan shares his unique perspective of consulting on supply chain projects for larger companies versus smaller ones. He’s found that it’s easier to provide a more tailored approach and white glove service with smaller companies. Larger organizations have complex hierarchies, making decisions more difficult and time-consuming. However, they are also more likely to be early adopters of new technology. An organization’s supply chain’s unique processes often set it apart from its competition. They are also not conducive to out-of-the-box inventory management solutions, so businesses develop these workarounds and manual processes. Jonathan details some of the value companies can achieve by introducing the PorterLogic solution. Employers can gain back productivity hours previously used to perform manual tasks. This eliminates the risk of human errors and convoluted systems that are difficult to support and maintain. Customers better understand how their data is moving and what processes are being executed. This drives efficiencies and value to customers. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 318: PorterLogic Automates Inventory Management
Episode 317: Hannibal at MODEX 2022
On this week’s episode of The New Warehouse, Eric Andres of Hannibal Industries (Nucor Warehouse Systems) joins Kevin to discuss optimizing warehouse space. Hannibal is one of the largest racking manufacturers in the United States. Over the last several years, Hannibal has also grown on the integration side of the business, completing over $1 billion in full turnkey pallet racking packages. Hannibal was acquired in late 2021 by Nucor Warehouse Systems, one of the largest steel makers in the United States and one of the largest recyclers. The acquisition is a logical fit given Nucor’s investments in downstream businesses that consume steel, allowing Hannibal to continue to grow its turnkey model, specifically within warehousing. Be sure to tune in as Kevin and Eric discuss the recent acquisition and trends in warehouse design and racking solutions. Key Takeaways Eric explains they are bullish on the warehouse space because the e-commerce boom will not end anytime soon. Hannibal’s team of designers and engineers, along with their access to many products enable them to provide various solutions to maximize and optimize warehouse space and build something that works best for their customers. Eric says their customers see labor as a significant challenge in warehouses. The more companies can optimize the layout of their warehouses, the more productive and efficient operations will be. Kevin and Eric discuss the challenge of finding affordable warehouse space in today’s market. Smaller companies must find innovative ways to utilize space more efficiently to compete against the Amazons of the world. Nucor is looking at the warehouse as an entire building system, incorporating those annoying columns into the design, better utilization of space near the joists, and incorporating the racking more structurally. One trend Eric sees with warehouse construction is bringing in the racking design earlier in the process. Having a seat at the table early on ensures the racking and the building are designed in a way that makes the most sense to maximize space and drive efficiency within that building. As robots and automation become more commonplace in warehouses, the design of the warehouse should incorporate future automation or at least allow the flexibility to add automation down the road without having to reconfigure the entire warehouse. Companies experiencing growth or looking to automate often look to add more racking, but that might not be the best solution. Eric advises working with a company like Hannibal to look at the entire building system to design a racking configuration that is safe, efficient, and maximizes space. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 317: Hannibal Industries at MODEX 2022
Episode 316: Ideal Warehouse at MODEX 2022
From the booth at MODEX 2022, Kevin is joined by Dirk Seis, Director of Marketing at Ideal Warehouse Innovations, Inc. Ideal Warehouse is a company that specializes in making warehouses safer. Their 1000+ products are designed to be easily integrated into existing warehouse systems, and they offer a variety of customization options to meet the specific needs of each customer. By making warehouses safer, Ideal Warehouse allows companies to increase productivity and decrease costs. Kevin and Dirk discuss many of the new innovative products from Ideal Warehouse and how they are designed to protect your people. Key Takeaways Dirk shares the inspiration for the new ground-mounted trailer support. The idea for this product came from a customer who shared stories about accidents and deaths from people walking around in the yard. The ground-mounted trailer support is essentially a speed bump that is anchored into the ground of the loading dock approach. As the trailer drives over it, two arms swing up at 90 degrees to support the trailer underneath. A trailer’s stability is influenced by a number of factors, including the number of axles, the weight of the trailer, landing gear placement, and cargo weight & placement. Unless a secondary support system is used when the cab separates from the trailer, the trailer can collapse when it disassociates. Automating the stabilization process for trailers is one way to remove workers from a potentially unsafe environment and allow them to work in other areas. Anyone who has worked in a warehouse knows the air can stagnate, creating a dusty and dirty environment. Air quality is also often overlooked in warehouse environments. However, the pandemic has forced companies to re-evaluate their air quality and invest in solutions to improve it. Kevin and Dirk discuss another new product from Ideal Warehouse called Atomik Air. Atomik air moves and filters an impressive one million cubic feet of air per hour utilizes washable reusable filters, and saves on energy costs year-round. Another new product from Ideal warehouse is the SLIDE-effect dock bumper. As forklifts go in and out of trailers the trailer goes up and down which essentially chews up the dock bumper over time (the cheese grater effect) requiring it to be replaced over time. The Slide-effect dock bumper moves up and down with the trailer, eliminating the wear and tear, resulting in what could be the last dock bumper you ever need to purchase. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 316: Ideal Warehouse at MODEX 2022
Episode 315: Sparck Technologies at MODEX 2022
Welcome to The New Warehouse podcast live from MODEX 2022! In today’s episode, Kevin talks with Sparck Technologies, a company specializing in automated and right-sized packaging solutions. Right-sized packaging has taken off over the past few years as a way for businesses to increase throughput and lower material costs. Be sure to listen for more insights into the world of packaging and how to optimize your operations! Key Takeaways Right-sized packaging gives businesses control over their packaging operation. This is a welcome benefit in light of the recent concerns regarding labor shortages, freight expenses, dimensional weight costs, and material availability. Sparck Technologies has a long history in the packaging industry and can provide insights and solutions to help companies automate their packaging operations. Sustainability is a key focus for many businesses today as they strive to achieve waste diversion goals and reduce their carbon footprint. Synthesized boxing can help businesses reduce their environmental impact by using less material, energy, and labor. Packaging is an important part of the supply chain, and companies must consider all aspects of their packaging operation to eliminate waste. This goes with the box’s design so it can be reused for returns or easily broken down by the customer for recycling. Sparck Technologies offers two products for automated packaging solutions. Each machine is designed to drive efficiencies in the packaging process. The Impack machine is capable of packaging up to 500 units per hour, while the Everest can package up to 1,100 units per hour. The auto-boxing technology means no more wrestling with a tape gun, as the machines measure, build, tape, and weigh products in one single continuous process. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 315: Sparck Technologies at MODEX 2022
Episode 314: The New Peak with 6 River Systems
Welcome to The New Warehouse podcast. In this episode, Kevin is joined by John Evans, Sr. Customer Success Manager/3PL Team Lead at 6 River Systems. 6 River Systems is a solutions provider offering wall-to-wall solutions for warehouse operations of all shapes and sizes. They’re a company that is constantly striving to make warehouses more efficient with flexible, user-friendly, and innovative products. John and Kevin discuss all things peak and how 6 River Systems helps customers address labor challenges and conquer the peak season. Key Takeaways Kevin and John discuss how peak season has changed since the pandemic. They emphasize the importance of data in forecasting peak season and preparing for it. John notes that organizations are becoming better prepared for peak season, partly due to lessons learned from the pandemic. He cites partnering upstream as an example of how businesses try to learn from the past to better cope with future challenges. John discusses the mission to empower associates by making them bigger, faster, stronger, and happier with the help of collaborative robots like Chuck. Collaborative robots are not displacing jobs but empowering the workforce to achieve productivity faster. With a system-directed user experience, the Chuck robot will direct the associate through their workflows with instructions on the screen. The Chuck collaboration speeds up the onboarding process for new associates and helps operations managers to achieve productivity faster and easier. John shares they are seeing new hires achieve a 90% productivity rate within seven days of hire. John shares how important it is for employees to understand their roles within the company and where they fit in the team. Not only a deep understanding of their day-to-day tasks but what are their larger goals like what their manager expects of them each day. They want to see they have a career path of some sort. John shares a story of one such company that displays all of its workflows and a clearly defined training plan for all employees to see. They don’t see a ton of turnover because there’s that career opportunity that they’ve fostered within their building with the transparency that each associate gets. 6 River is working towards empowerment through gamification and making the system fun. John sees the secret to creating a happy and engaged workforce is providing a clear career path, having cool systems in place such as collaborative robots, and making the work simple. Collaborative picking provides a unique employee experience that allows small and medium companies an edge in retaining and attracting talent beyond increasing wages. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 314: The New Peak with 6 River Systems
Episode 313: Zebra Technologies at MODEX 2022
From the booth at MODEX 2022, Todd Boone, Director of Product Management Robotics and Automation at Zebra, joins Kevin for this week’s episode of The New Warehouse podcast. Zebra is a company that has been around for over 50 years and operates in over 100 countries. They offer a wide range of hardware, software, services, and digital solutions to help businesses automate workflows. In this episode, Todd discusses Zebra’s warehouse solutions which include everything from printers to the equipped worker to Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR). Key Takeaways While many people know Zebra as a printing company, Todd points out they offer so much more from machine vision technologies, data capture, sensors, and a variety of other technologies that provide insights customers need. Todd shares Zebra’s unique booth experience at MODEX 2022. Instead of the typical display of products, they created a process flow in the booth with an overhead walkway. Guests could walk through and see which products were involved at different points of the process and get a visual of what insights they could gather from when something is picked until it is shipped out. MODEX 2022 presented one of the first opportunities for people to get together since Zebra’s acquisition of Fetch robotics. While AMRs are a new product for Zebra, Todd feels they are a natural fit for the solutions they provide and a benefit for customers to have one single vendor offer multiple complimentary solutions. Todd explains that most customers are seeing robotics as a complementary worker and not a replacement. Todd explains how the technology they are deploying are tools to empower workers and allow them to perform their jobs at a higher productivity level. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 313: Zebra Technologies at MODEX 2022
Episode 312: U-Turn Transport
Today’s guest is Aaron Smith, founder of U-Turn Transport and host of the Escape the Odds podcast. Aaron is on a mission to change the lives of men and women who were once formally incarcerated by providing them with a path to build a career in logistics. Aaron shares his own story of incarceration and how he was able to turn his life around with the second chance he was given. You won’t want to miss Aaron’s inspiring story and learn how he is helping solve the logistics industry’s labor challenges while helping people escape the odds. Key Takeaways Aaron and his partner put together a box truck training program based on their knowledge in the industry. The program can reach the masses quickly and has a low barrier to entry since there are no CDL requirements for box trucks. Aaron shares that box truck transport is really popular because they provide these different outlets to get loads and opportunities to create some income. The training gives men and women, formerly incarcerated or not, the opportunity to be their own boss by teaching them how to acquire a truck, how to get loads, how to work with brokers and dispatchers, obtain their MC number, DOT number, and preparing them to be successful. Aaron combined two of his passions: prison reform work and entrepreneurship, and spawned his podcast titled escaping the odds. Now with over 70 episodes, and a Just Society Award winner, Aaron leveraged his podcast to build his network in the entrepreneur community. On his podcast, Aaron interviews the formerly incarcerated, who are now business leaders or successful entrepreneurs. The show is a source of inspiration and a great resource for business tips from people who have changed the narrative and become successful business owners. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 312: U Turn Transport
Episode 311: The Cannabis Industry with DIZPOT
The cannabis industry is growing at an unprecedented rate, and with that growth comes the need for innovative technology solutions. DIZPOT is one such company that provides packaging and logistics and a platform to help manage costs and mitigate risk in the cannabis industry. John Hartsell, CEO of DIZPOT, joins Kevin on this episode of the New Warehouse podcast to discuss all things cannabis-related, including branding and packaging needs for a highly regulated market. Be sure to check out this episode to learn more about what DIZPOT is doing for the cannabis industry and logistics! Key Takeaways John shares that as the cannabis industry has consolidated, license holders have increased their multi-state operations to nearly all legal markets. John notes that each state has disparate commercialization, rules, and compliance regulations, creating a need for different packaging and compliance information. John predicts with the legalization of cannabis at the federal level, we could see a situation where there are centralized locations for the cultivation, processing, and sale of cannabis. When this happens, John believes many existing cultivation centers will likely expand and become centralized locations for distribution. This would allow for interstate commerce of cannabis and would make it easier for people to access legal cannabis. The cannabis industry is growing at an unprecedented rate, and with that growth comes the need for innovative technology solutions. John shares how automation plays a crucial role in the packaging and extraction of cannabis. John believes that to support continued growth, we need support for small businesses to upgrade and update their equipment to be manufacturing more goods in the United States, as well as improve port infrastructure to keep pace with other locations in Asia, Africa, and South America. A new division of DIZPOT is DIZLOGIC, a 3PL and freight forwarding software for international transport services. It improves the transparency of where products are today in transit, mitigating risk when they become retail items. DIZLOGIC covers logistics from production and manufacturing through the market, providing valuable information to help target demographics geographically. John also shares the intelligence of the DIZLOGIC platform and how it helps manage costs for those in the cannabis industry. The New Warehouse Podcast Episode 311: The Cannabis Industry with DIZPOT
Episode 310: Raymond Celebrates 100 Years
Show favorite and CEO of Raymond, Mike Field, joins Kevin for a special episode of The New Warehouse Podcast as they broadcast from their headquarters to celebrate their 100th anniversary. Mike promises a nearly year-long celebration beginning with unveiling their interactive exhibit that showcases innovations and employee journeys over the past century. Mike and Kevin discuss the previous hundred years, what the future looks like, and Mike’s favorite moment from his time with the company. You won’t want to miss this insightful episode! Key Takeaways Mike reflects on how it all started with the original patent of the double-faced pallet. He credits Raymond’s success to its commitment to listening to its customers, the family-like atmosphere for employees, and focusing on its three core principles. Mike believes the commitment to three core principles, innovation, quality, and success, contribute to longevity while helping customers run better and manage smarter. Raymond focuses on understanding the customer’s process before rushing to automate. This philosophy has driven them to be a leader in innovation and will continue moving forward. Mike feels the family-like atmosphere is another key contributor to their success as a company. Seeing the dedication of employees’ to doing things the right way has led to excellent customer service and growth. When the anniversary celebration concludes at their headquarters in New York, the interactive exhibit will hit the road and travel across the country to their various solutions and support center facilities, with the celebration ending at ProMat in March 2023. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 310: Raymond Celebrates 100 Years!
Episode 309: Siemens at MODEX 2022
Welcome to the New Warehouse Podcast! In this episode, Kevin is live from MODEX 2022. Craig Henry, U.S. Industry Manager for Intralogistics and Material Handling at Siemens, joins Kevin to discuss automation and robotics. Siemens is one of the world’s oldest and largest engineering companies, and its digital industry sector provides a lot of automation technology inside robotics and automation hardware. Kevin and Craig discuss the age of the robot, and while neither feel robots will take over the world (anytime soon), they agree we will see robots and humans working together more often. Key Takeaways Craig feels that it will not be the robots taking over, and the people are outside looking in, wishing for a job. It is quite the opposite; robots perform monotonous, repetitive, and strenuous jobs that others do not want to do, particularly in the warehouse environment. Kevin and Craig discuss the urgency of implementing automation in warehouses and distribution centers. Shows like MODEX are designed to help businesses automate in a way that provides the best return on investment, addresses the labor gap issue, provides agility, increases throughput, and builds resilience for a sustainable future. Much of what was being shown at MODEX is helping to create awareness of that urgency. As a forklift helps lift heavy objects, robots and automation technology are tools to aid in work. These tools simplify jobs and improve safety by reducing the amount of walking and lifting required of human workers. This ultimately results in productivity and safety gains. Craig discusses how Siemens’ investment in industry 4.0 to develop an integrated architecture yields many benefits for companies looking to automate, such as reducing project costs by 30%, errors, and downtime, to name a few. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 309: Siemens at MODEX 2022
Episode 308: RightHand Robotics at MODEX 2022
Joining Kevin from the booth at MODEX 2022 is Vince Martinelli, Head of Product and Marketing at RightHand Robotics. Unlike other automation systems that move pallets or cases, RightHand Robotics builds data-driven machines that pick individual pieces. Their platform provides flexible and scalable automation for order fulfillment. Vince and Kevin discuss the complexities of gripping technology for individual piece picking. Be sure to check out this week’s episode to learn more about how RightHand Robotics is changing the way we pick and pack orders and to find out what makes up the first three feet of the last mile! Key Takeaways Vince discusses how the RightPick system handles the core task of picking and placing individual items as part of many fulfillment center processes. The piece-picking solution combines an intelligent gripper, a vision system, and control software with learning as a form of hand-eye coordination, providing accountability for picking success. Vince shares how RightHand Robotics utilizes grasping knowledge, computer vision, and AI Machine Learning to create an industrial-grade hardware platform and reliable picking solution. Excited to be back in person, Kevin and Vince discuss the new relationship with Vanderlande. This partnership will work together to bring their respective technologies to the market. Vince jokes, as Kevin asks for clarification, that they are not anti-lefthanders as their CEO himself is left-handed. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 308: RightHand Robotics at MODEX 2022
Episode 307 – Combilift at MODEX 2022
Welcome to the New Warehouse podcast. In this episode, Kevin welcomes Paul Short, president of Combilift North America, as his guest. Combilift is a fast-growing multi-directional forklift manufacturer specializing in helping warehouses maximize storage capacity. Combilift builds fully customizable products and solutions for all types of warehouse environments. They provide a warehouse layout service to customers worldwide designed to increase storage capacity and improve flow. Key Takeaways Paul breaks down some of the products from Combilift, like side loaders, multi-directional lifts, and articulated forklifts, and how each is designed to improve productivity and reduce costs in the warehouse. He also discusses some unique features that set them apart from other manufacturers, like their focus on customer service, ability to customize products, and constantly innovating their product line. Paul shares how MODEX 2022 attendees are anxious to automate their warehouses. However, many companies are still in the learning stages and have a lot of technical stops to make before they are ready to automate. One of the steps that Paul’s team can help with is getting racking systems set up in the most efficient way possible. Combilift prides itself on innovation and making the environment safer for operators and the people around them. They found that removing operators from hazardous situations and improving visibility can create a safer working environment. Listening to customer problems and solutions leads to unique opportunities for innovation throughout the industry. They’ve done this by super-sizing slip sheets in the COMBI-CSS container loader. This time-saver can load and unload entire containers in under six minutes. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 307: Combilift at MODEX 2022
EP 306: Veryable at MODEX 2022
Coming to you from the booth at MODEX 2022, we welcome Jonathan Katz to this week’s episode of the New Warehouse. Jonathan is the Regional Partnerships Manager for the Southeast region at Veryable. Veryable is a tech platform that allows businesses to eliminate labor constraints through its on-demand marketplace for manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing labor. This new way of approaching temporary labor disrupts the industry through flexible work options and greater talent visibility. Key Takeaways Jonathan discusses the growing trend of changing workforce preferences. Workers want the flexibility to learn, control their time, and develop various types of skill-sets. As employers adjust to this trend, Veryable allows a way for them to match labor to demand. Jonathan discusses how the on-demand marketplace addresses one of the most significant challenges warehouses face today, labor availability. The flexible work option allows workers to enter the labor pool that cannot or do not want to commit to a typical nine to five job. Veryable is revolutionizing the traditional model of temporary labor by providing temp-labor insights for organizations they didn’t have before. This takes the guesswork out of salary negotiations and allows employers to choose the most qualified candidate based on ratings, market data, and micro-resumes.
EP 304: Schneider Electric
No matter where your organization finds itself in its sustainability journey, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode of The New Warehouse. Jana Gerber, North America Microgrid President for Schneider Electric, joins me to discuss the state of sustainability in warehousing and beyond. Schneider Electric specializes in industrial automation and power management products and solutions. In addition to discussing microgrids and sustainability, Jana shares Schneider Electric’s holistic approach to sustainability. Key Takeaways Schneider Electric is working on three areas to help companies with their sustainability journey: strategy, digitization, and decarbonization. Jana explains precisely what a microgrid is and why businesses should be motivated to be on a microgrid to manage power, provide cost predictability, achieve sustainability goals, and improve resiliency. Jana shares cost-effective ways Schneider Electric provides energy service solutions for warehouses and fulfillment centers. Schneider Electric focuses on helping customers become net zero through a holistic sustainability approach. This approach to sustainability provides actionable steps for their customers, providing a map for starting and moving forward on the sustainability journey. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 304: Schneider Electric
EP 305: GMR Safety at MODEX 2022
Joining me from the booth at MODEX 2022 is Jay Jette, president, and CEO of GMR Safety. With a passion for safety, GMR Safety has been protecting people’s lives in warehouses since 1996. We discuss how great it is to be at MODEX, the products and solutions offered by GMR, and what attendees are looking for in terms of dock safety. Jay shares his vision for the future of GMR and how they are looking to expand its product offerings and global reach. We also discuss the importance of safety in the workplace and how GMR Safety is making a difference. Key Takeaways Jay tells us all about the Powerchock. The chock and restraining plate combination of the Powerchock blocks the wheel, this provides a powerful restraining force to hold the vehicle in place. It is simple to install and easy-to-use tool that can prevent dangerous situations while unloading a trailer. The Powerchock provides flexibility for many different vehicle types and can be retrofitted for any building style. Jay explains how establishing customer relationships is critical to success and has earned GMR Safety the number one wheel restraint system on the market. We discuss the solution that recently won GMR Safety an innovation award and how GMR Safety continues to innovate to accommodate emerging technology such as autonomous delivery trucks.
EP 303: Instawork
In this week’s episode, we discuss the state of the warehousing labor market with Daniel Altman, Chief Economist at Instawork. Instawork provides a flexible solution for employers and employees by connecting in-person hourly workers with businesses across the US and Canada. While working across many industries, transportation, warehousing, and logistics are significant for Instawork, especially since the pandemic. Daniel and I discuss the current state of staffing in the warehouse industry and the growing trends among employees and employers. Key Takeaways In the past, warehouses have been cautious in how they approach filling specific roles. The lack of available labor and competition have forced many businesses to get creative when it comes to hiring and seek a more flexible approach. While Instawork offers both 1099 and W2 employee services, Daniel believes the pressure of the labor market is allowing many businesses to see 1099 employees as a viable option. This is giving the opportunity for a test run with employees and employers. Daniel discusses how labor participation declined over the pandemic and how many workers have not returned to the workforce. He also shares what he feels are the three most essential factors in getting people back into the workforce. Daniel provides insights on how long staffing challenges and high wages will continue, as well as his thoughts on how automation will play a role in the future of the workforce. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 303: Instawork
EP 302: Yard Management Solutions at MODEX 2022
In this week’s episode of The New Warehouse, we are talking about an often overlooked aspect of warehousing, yard management with the Yard Management Solutions team. A long-time friend of the podcast, Colin Mansfield, Director of Sales and Marketing, and a new podcast friend, Keegan Adams, Business Development Manager both work for Yard Management Solutions (YMS). YMS specializes in removing inefficiencies and manual processes associated with Yard Management. We discuss innovations and how YMS solves one of the most difficult challenges in warehouses today. Key Takeaways Having won the innovation award twice and now a finalist for the fifth time (MODEX and ProMat), YMS is no stranger to innovation. This year’s entry is YMS connect, a solution that provides visibility over material flow by bringing many different systems (WMS, TMS, IoT trackers, etc,) together. The idea for YMS connect came from a customer who asked for a way to see information from all of their different systems in one place. Understanding that many customers are experiencing the same challenges, YMS version 2, launched in January of this year, takes integration to a new level. The new system’s framework and flexibility open up many more possibilities for solving customer challenges, such as integrating with legacy systems. Customers aren’t just an excellent source for innovation. YMS believes its customers are some of its best salespeople because they help spread the word about how much easier yard management can be. We discuss the process-driven YMS system that is easy to use and visually appealing and makes it simple for employees to report what they are doing and update the system accordingly. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 302: Yard Management Solutions at MODEX 2022
EP 301: OneCharge at MODEX 2022
David Suarez joins me this week from the booth at MODEX 2022. David Suarez is the VP of Business Development at OneCharge. OneCharge is a manufacturer of advanced lithium-ion batteries for the material handling industry. OneCharge offers the most extensive product line of lithium-ion electric forklift batteries for the material handling industry on the market. We discuss why the time is now for those in the material handling industry to make the switch to Lithium-ion. Key Takeaways David provides the most important reasons businesses should consider switching from diesel, LPG, and traditional lead-acid batteries to the more technologically advanced, economical, and safer lithium power. David shares the advantages from a lifecycle perspective of Lithium-ion battery technology compared to previous technology. This addresses one of the top concerns from attendees who show reluctance in switching. Customers are looking for advanced telemetry solutions that provide the most efficient asset utilization geared toward increasing efficiency and getting products out the door. OneCharge’s BMS or battery management system communicates with the charger and the forklift, ensuring the equipment only uses the amount of electricity it needs. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 301: OneCharge at MODEX 2022
EP 300: MHS, Mujin and HAI Robotics at MODEX 2022
How fitting to have three guests join me for what is officially the 300th episode of The New Warehouse Podcast. Brian Reinhart, VP of Sales for HAI Robotics, Bruce Bleikamp, Director of Product Management at Material Handling Systems, Inc. (MHS) and Brandon Coats from Mujin join me from the booth at MODEX 2022 to discuss how the three companies have joined forces to provide the best user experience possible. Key Takeaways Brian, Bruce, and Brandon discuss what they feel are the most exciting products they have seen while at MODEX and what customers are most excited about as they look to take automation further into their processes. No two customers are alike, the needs vary from customer to customer depending on the operation, so it is important to maintain a flexible approach. We discuss how customer demands vary, which emphasizes the need to develop a solution that adjusts to the customer’s changing requirements. Brian discusses how a partner like MHS can bring that all together. We discuss pain points and challenges some of their customers are facing. We discuss how today’s automation solutions are designed to be scalable so that customers can start small and grow as their needs increase. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 300: MHS, Mujin, and HAI Robotics at MODEX 2022
EP 299: ABCO Systems and Automation Today
I’m excited to welcome back Seth Weisberg to the New Warehouse Podcast. Seth is the CEO of ABCO Systems which is a full-service design and build company specializing in material handling solutions. They offer a complete range of services, from sortation and conveyance to multi-level pick modules, garment on hanger systems, pallet racks, and shelving. Over the years, ABCO has evolved significantly, focusing more and more on product flow throughout the building. Key Takeaways Seth and I discuss the relevance of ROI in automated solutions. While ROI remains a primary factor for investing in automated solutions, we discuss other factors that have become even more critical under the current market conditions. Seth also shares his thoughts on the likelihood of ROI with some solutions that are on the market. ABCO Systems is excited to open a new showroom/training center that will showcase different types of automation technology and train technicians. The showroom will feature a pick wall, pallet shuttle, print and apply loop, store organizer, and more. Seth feels this will be a game changer for ABCO as the new showroom allows customers to see the technology in person and learn about available options. We discuss factors contributing to ABCO’s best year in over 40 years, such as focusing on different types of relationships, finding their niche, and hiring strategies. We also discuss what kind of investments set companies apart from one another to remain relevant. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 299: ABCO Systems and Automation Today