EP 298: Vanderlande at MODEX 2022
Joining me this week from the booth at MODEX 2022 is Jake Heldenberg from Vanderlande. Jake is the senior manager of Warehouse Solutions at Vanderlande, where he works with customers to develop innovative warehousing solutions. Based out of the Netherlands, Vanderlande has a strong presence in North America with three primary markets: parcel, airports, and warehouses. We focus on the warehouse side and what they are hearing from the MODEX floor. Key Takeaways Jake shares some of the more popular warehouse solutions Vanderlande’s customers are implementing as the industry shifts to high automation solutions. Jake provides insights on the optimum picking solution for various industries. We discuss the partnership between Vanderlande and RightHand Robotics to provide innovative item-picking solutions for their customers. One of the key benefits of this partnership is the technology that allows for quicker and more precise picking. While everyone at the show seemed to be looking for automation, Jake and I discussed the importance of flexibility of automated solutions such as Vanderlande’s Fastpick and building pallets to any configuration that fits the customer’s needs using Vanderlande’s load forming logic software. By providing flexibility through different solutions, many of the problems for customers can be solved. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 298: Vanderlande at MODEX 2022
EP 297: Procensis and the importance of user interface in the warehouse
We are coming to you live from the Procensis Solution Center for this week’s episode of The New Warehouse. My guest this week is Aaron Bolton, a founding member, and CTO at Procensis. Procensis provides solutions focusing on the latest technologies using mobile and wearable computing devices. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of user interfaces and their impact on the warehousing industry. Key Takeaways We reflect on the good old days of Telnet and Greenscreen compared to the Procensis modern interface and how the horsepower of today’s devices allows for a much more flexible user interface than in the past. We have certainly come a long way in user-friendliness. For those interested in reducing training time and speeding up the onboarding process, fun and easy-to-use interfaces cut training time from weeks or months down to days or hours. The Procensis interface creates great flexibility and agility in the face of labor challenges and seasonality. Another advantage of the Procensis mobile interface is the ability to provide real-time feedback. With Procensis, workers can see how they are doing in real-time, including picks per hour and a total number of scans. This visibility gives employees a greater understanding of their performance and how it compares to their co-workers. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 297: Procensis and the Importance of User Interface in the Warehouse
EP 296: Toyota Material Handling at MODEX 2022
Joining me from the booth at MODEX 2022 for this week’s podcast is Brett Wood, the president, and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America. In addition to Toyota, Toyota Material Handling includes brands like Raymond, Bastian Solutions, and Konstant. Brett and I discuss how Toyota’s main product – forklifts – have evolved and what industrial equipment solutions the company offers today. Key Takeaways Brett talks about three things that keep him up at night and how Toyota is working on countermeasures to handle challenges throughout the global supply chain, such as helping suppliers adopt Toyota philosophies to improve performance. We also discuss how customers react to the Toyota way of doing business. Another big challenge facing the company is the labor shortage – both in terms of having enough workers and having the right talent/skillset. To combat this, they have created task forces (in partnership with dealers) to work on best practices for hiring technicians (with a focus on female technicians). The pandemic accelerated Toyota Material Handling’s digital marketing efforts – something already in the works before COVID-19 hit. Brett discusses how virtual tours of factories and Virtual Reality (VR) training are just a few ways Toyota now engages with customers and educates employees. Most notably the VR forklift training from Raymond is quite an incredible solution. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 296: Toyota Material Handling at MODEX 2022
EP 295: Enersys at MODEX 2022
Joining me on this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast is Harold Vanasse from EnerSys®. Enersys is the world’s largest industrial battery supplier. They supply a wide range of industrial batteries and chargers for fork trucks, floor care equipment, ground support equipment, rail batteries, AGV batteries, and more. The company also has a large division that focuses on power for telecommunications data centers and telecommunication infrastructure. Key Takeaways While traditional lead-acid batteries still dominate the market, Enersys sees a trend toward maintenance-free battery products (e.g., thin plate pure lead or lithium-ion) as they require less upkeep than traditional flooded lead-acid batteries. Developing a power profile is essential to understanding the type and number of batteries needed for a facility. Enersys uses software called insight that can model a power study of a facility using data collected from equipment. This information allows them to see how likely the battery will need to be charged at a specific time and plan accordingly. Enersys is committed to providing safe, dependable, and resilient power solutions for industrial and material handling applications. Enersys’ commitment to safety is one reason they are excited about receiving Underwriter Laboratory (UL) 2580 listing. Harold gives up the details on why a UL certification is so important for the customer. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 295: Enersys at MODEX 2022
EP 294: Steel King at MODEX 2022
Live from MODEX 2022, I sit down with John Clark from Steel King Industries for this week’s episode of The New Warehouse. We discuss everything from what customers are asking for most to seismic activity’s role in pallet rack design. Steel King manufactures steel-based pallet racking and related storage solutions, including dynamic racking, pseudo automated solutions, wire mesh racks, containers, safety materials, and more. Key Takeaways Pallet racking has evolved over the years to accommodate smaller case and tote storage and pick zones for conveyors and other forms of automation. Racking solutions will continue to combine or integrate with automation, including interfacing or integrating with conveyor solutions. The pandemic exposed the weaknesses of the supply chain, which means that companies are rethinking practices like Just in Time (JIT) inventory to have safety stock on hand. With the right racking solution, facilities can maximize storage space, allowing growth and improving capabilities. The flexibility to accommodate new technology and navigate through various supply chain disruptions are now top of mind for many in the industry. Rather than being seen as just a place to store things, racks are becoming part of an overall solution that includes people, processes, and technology. The flow of materials through the warehouse needs to be taken into account for today’s business needs and future business needs when designing a racking solution. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 294: Steel King at MODEX 2022
EP 293: Clean Data with Cognistx
In this week’s episode of The New Warehouse, I sit down with Sanjay Chopra, co-founder and CEO of Cognistx. Cognistx is an applied AI company that builds adaptive, multi-strategy artificial intelligence products and systems. These systems help companies improve operations through AI applications. Key Takeaways Sanjay and his co-founder Dr. Eric Nyberg took their experience working on the Watson project for IBM and the Carnegie Group to launch Cognistx over seven years ago. Starting on primarily bespoke-type projects, Cognistx has evolved to focus more on products such as their data quality engine. We discuss the importance of clean data. Companies have been collecting data for years but have not been as careful about what goes into their data warehouses. Clean data allows the AI to provide more accurate predictions, identify optimal delivery options, and identify anomalies. The adage “garbage in/garbage out” definitely applies here. The data quality engine from Cognistx uses AI to clean data so it can be used for predictive modeling, correlations, etc. Clean data enables new technology, automation, and robotics to perform more effectively. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 293: Clean Data with Cognistx
EP 292: Autostore at MODEX 2022
Joining me for this week’s podcast from the booth at MODEX 2022 is Mark Hasler, Business Development Manager at Autostore. With over 900 global installations, Autostore is a goods-to-persons automated storage retrieval system (AS/RS). Autostore’s unique cube storage automation allows organizations to maximize space and utilize nontraditional warehouse space to serve their customers. Key Takeaways Mark discusses a future in which the consumer directly interacts with the AS/RS system. The pandemic has forced retailers to find ways to get goods to customers faster. Autostore’s compact size allows retailers to move closer to the consumer by utilizing smaller spaces such as strip malls or retail locations. Autostore provides an exciting solution when warehouse space is scarce and expensive. For warehouses busting at the seams, Autostore allows them to operate in a much smaller warehouse footprint. In some cases, implementing Autostore resulted in a 75% reduction in footprint by eliminating aisles and shelves. We also discuss an actual “lights out” solution through future integration of Autostore’s cube storage automation and robotic picking. The potential here is fascinating as organizations look to support growth while navigating labor challenges. In some potential future cases, we may see the customer actually do the picking from an Autostore system at a retail location. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 292: Autostore at MODEX 2022
EP 291: Vecna Robotics at MODEX 2022
This week’s podcast is another interesting discussion from MODEX 2022, where I sat down with Daniel Theobald of Vecna Robotics. Vecna offers end-to-end automated pallet handling solutions. We discuss some fascinating solutions Vecna is bringing to the industry, including fully automated pallet jacks and how information sharing and collaboration are critical for industry growth and making purchasing easier for the customer. Key Takeaways The Vecna Omni, while still in concept, is a high-reach, fully automated forklift that goes into any aisle 8 feet or wider. The Vecna Omni’s double deep reach capability can turn existing racking in a warehouse into an Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS) without the significant infrastructure costs. The fully functioning OMNI concept met with over-the-top praise at Modex. Another exciting product from Vecna is the CPJ co-bot pallet jack. The Vecna CPJ co-bot is a fully autonomous pallet jack designed to boost the productivity of your existing staff by allowing them to use touch-and-go automation. The employee will “spear” the pallet and then touch a button to send the pallet jack to its destination without having to ride along with it. For the industry to move forward, information sharing and collaboration are essential. As co-founder and president of MassRobotics, Daniel discusses his views on industry collaboration, standards, and how working together will help solve challenges across the industry. Their interoperability standards are paving the way for a more cohesive industry. Listen to or watch the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 291: Vecna Robotics at MODEX 2022
EP 290: 40 years of DCL Logistics
Norman Tu, CEO and Founder of DCL Logistics, and his sons Dave and Brian Tu joined me on this week’s special Father’s Day episode of The New Warehouse. DCL Logistics is a full-service fulfillment company that handles direct-to-consumer fulfillment, retail fulfillment, and other value-added services. We discuss the 40-year history of DCL Logistics, the family dynamic of working together, and what it will take to grow in the logistics business over the next 40 years. Key Takeaways Pivoting from manufacturing floppy discs to starting DCL Logistics wasn’t easy. Norman recalls it took a long time to build a strong reputation as a legitimate player in the logistics business. Norman and his sons attribute the growth and longevity of DCL Logistics to drive and hunger, a good team of advisors, treating employees like family, and a culture of nimbleness and agility. DCL’s strategy for customer service is to partner with their customers rather than just view them as a transaction. This calculated approach allows them to spend more time nurturing existing customer relationships and working less on customer acquisition. By choosing to super-serve its customers with a focus on quality and adaptability, DCL encourages a partnership that helps both companies grow. Both Brian and Dave didn’t initially set out to join the family business, and Norman encouraged them to choose what was right for them. Each brings their unique strengths, different perspectives, and experiences to work towards the exact purpose of growing the business. While they admit to having healthy discussions, Norman feels delighted to think the company is in the good hands of his sons. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 290: 40 Years of DCL Logistics
EP 289: Raymond at MODEX 2022
In this episode of the New Warehouse, I’m joined by Mike Field, president, and CEO of Raymond Corp. Recently, celebrating 100 years in the industry, Raymond is a global provider of material handling products and intelligent intralogistics solutions. In the interview, Mike discusses the company’s history, products and solutions, and plans for the future. He offers advice for listeners looking to jump into automation, along with one of my favorite quotes. Key Takeaways Mike explains the iWAREHOUSE forklift fleet management system. With this comprehensive telematics suite of solutions, warehouses can track and report on vehicle data to help drive productivity in the workplace! Mike shares how it works with real-time locating tools for operators that will allow them to understand their work better than ever before. Mike and I discuss why locations with flawed processes are unsuitable for adopting automation. If processes are flawed, bringing in automation will only speed up a flawed process. The Raymond Corporation’s approach to adopting automation is to ensure the customer is in the proper position and the right processes are in place. Laying this solid foundation allows warehouses to automate the right thing in the right way. The Raymond Corp. believes continuous improvement through focusing on the art and science of picking can create a core competency for organizations. Raymond’s advanced operator assist technology allows the truck to move by itself as the order selector places products on the truck as it moves along within the control of the order selector. Mike explains how this adds value by allowing the order selector to focus on what they do best and not operating machinery. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 289: Raymond at MODEX 2022
EP 288: Safety with Toyota Material Handling
In this episode, I was joined by Paige Johnson and Dixon Churchill of Toyota Material Handling North America. Paige and Dixon are both a part of the environmental health and safety team at Toyota’s Indiana facility where they manufacture material handling equipment. We discuss their safety culture, how they have reduced injuries by 59% and how they continue to improve their safety culture. Key Takeaways Toyota is a well-known company for its many divisions but in our industry, we know of their forklifts which fall under the material handling division. They are also very well known for their culture which is constantly studied and many times has tried to be replicated. For this episode, we focus on their safety culture and how they are able to maintain continuous improvement in that area. As you will hear in the episode, they have been able to implement some very interesting ideas for maintaining safety and they have also seen some great results. Paige and Dixon discuss how safety always comes first at Toyota and how it is the first part of their meetings every single day. This is how they are able to keep the safety culture so ingrained in the employee’s minds. Additionally, they have a safety dojo where they are able to review safety training and even re-enact safety incidents that may have occurred so all employees can understand the incident and how to prevent it. They also have a dedicated section of the manufacturing plant which is used to do training on their material handling equipment. This allows the operators to learn how to use the equipment in a controlled environment. The investments in these things show the importance that Toyota puts on safety. One of their most recent safety developments is their on-site medical staff that helps the team to understand how certain injuries can occur and help those that may get injured from having reoccurring injuries. Through this addition, they have been able to reduce their safety incidents dramatically and have the employees understand how their bodies can react to certain things. With the medical team on-site and a gym on-site, they are able to give new hires a week of training in the gym to help them understand what part of their bodies will be utilized in their job. This helps to build those areas so that the potential of injury can be greatly reduced. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 288: Safety with Toyota Material Handling
EP 287: The Alpine Supply Chain Solutions experience
In this episode, I was joined by Mark Zabloudil and Matt Warner representing Alpine Supply Chain Solutions as their customers. Mark is the COO at MJ Holding Company and Matt is the COO at Monat Global they both joined me at MODEX 2022 to discuss their experiences with Alpine Supply Chain Solutions as their customers. We discuss why their companies needed Alpine Supply Chain Solutions help and how they were able to optimize their distribution footprint with their guidance. Key Takeaways Alpine Supply Chain Solutions provides solutions and consulting services that help you optimize your operation and deliver maximum value to your customers. Both Monat Global and MJ Holding Company were in similar positions before they got to Alpine. They both were facing rapid growth with the pandemic fueling a lot of it. Alpine was able to help them understand the space that they had and then optimize their distribution footprint so they could not only keep up with their current demand but also grow into future demand. In MJ Holding’s case, they were looking at highly increased demand due to the renewed interest in trading cards like sports cards and Pokemon cards during the pandemic. They also faced the challenge of having multiple different product profiles where the trading card side of the business had a somewhat regular cadence they also have a toy side that is more of an impulse buy so there is a lot of fluctuation in demand. Alpine Supply Chain Solutions helped them to understand how they could better slot their products and bring in different storage solutions to optimize their space and give them the most flexibility to move products around. Monat Global saw a large spike during the pandemic due to its e-commerce-based business which distributes skincare products via ambassadors who mostly sell and market through social media. Their challenge was matching this demand with their capacity so they could get the orders out within 24 hours and have them delivered to customers at the service levels they were expecting. Alpine helped them to realize their space constraints by analyzing their data and then helping them to understand how much space they actually needed for now and future growth. Through this analysis, they were able to help them determine they should do a two-phase project with one distribution point servicing international customers and the other serving the United States. Additionally, they helped them maximize their space by recommending different storage solutions that helped them to almost double the number of pallet spaces they would have put in on their own. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 287: The Alpine Supply Chain Solutions Experience
EP 286: Rajant at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Justin Warren and Don Gilbreath of Rajant at MODEX 2022. Rajant provides kinetic mesh networking solutions to help industrial applications keep moving. We discuss what a mesh network is and how to help strengthen a network in the warehouse environment. Key Takeaways Rajant has its roots in the mining and defense industry where they have provided projects with kinetic mesh networks that allow companies to continue working without any gaps in their communications or latency. They have now moved into providing this same type of technology which they deliver through radios to the warehousing industry. They saw similarities in warehouses because of the multiple objects that can be interfering with a typical wireless network like racking. Justin explains the difference between a standard wireless network and Rajant’s kinetic mesh network in this episode. Their mesh network works off of radios or as they refer to them as breadcrumbs and allows for stronger connectivity without any issue of structures blocking them. This allows for an uninterrupted flow of communication through your network. With the amount of equipment that is continuously operating on your network and allowing you to expand your capacity, you do not want to have any communication issues preventing a service level loss so this option can be very advantageous to keeping your running consistently. When it comes to challenges with your network oftentimes it is due to infrastructure changes that are done without consideration for the network. We discuss how the operations team is not really involved in the network so they may do something like put up new racking but the IT team is unaware and then has no chance to adapt the network to support the change. This results in network drops and then you have the IT vs. operations battle on fixing the network. With a mesh setup, the network is feeding off each other so signals can even be carried from robot to robot or other devices which allows you to make these infrastructure changes with no real impact on the network coverage. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 286: Rajant at MODEX 2022
EP 285: Big Joe Lift Trucks at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by the Chief Marketing Officer at Big Joe Lift Trucks, Bill Pedriana, at MODEX 2022. Big Joe is providing electric walk-behind forklift options that can be utilized in many different warehousing applications. We discuss the origins of Big Joe, who Big Joe really is, and their new automated solution Bud. Key Takeaways Big Joe Lift Trucks have been around since the fifties and Bill explains how the idea came about when the family owners were looking around Chicago for problems to solve. They noticed that people were having to take heavy cast iron cash boxes out of stores and they were just utilizing simple dollies and struggling. That is when they had the idea of making it better by adding a hydraulic cylinder to get the dolly up to counter height which would make it easy to get the cash box onto the dolly. From there the ideas started to grow and they have focused on making simpler solutions when it comes to forklifts and thinking about the standard forklift in a different way. When we think of things in a different way Big Joe takes a look at a standard type of forklift and thinks about how they can improve it. For example, Bill discusses how they have taken a standard pallet jack and made tweaks to it like the sizing of the forks that allows for better maneuverability in smaller spaces and creating other solutions that allow users to better handle loads in unique spaces. They have built a strict lithium rider jack that allows for less footprint and gives the ability to utilize the power better through lithium. They have also recently entered the automation world by announcing Bud at MODEX which is their simplified approach to automation. Bud stands for Big Joe User Directed which means that the user is controlling when it moves but does not need to stay with it. It is essentially an automated pallet jack that the user will load with a pallet and then press the button to send it on its way to the destination. Bill discusses how quickly ROI can be achieved with Bud as it is only priced at around $50 a day through a RaaS model. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 285: Big Joe Lift Trucks at MODEX 2022
EP 284: TAWI
In this episode, I was joined by the Senior Regional Sales Manager at TAWI, Cyrus Choy. TAWI is focused on helping you lift things by making them feel like nothing through vacuum technology. We discuss the origins of TAWI and how their technology helps to address safety concerns and the labor shortage. Key Takeaways TAWI is a Swedish-based company that has roots dating back to the 1970s when they first invented vacuum lift technology. At the flour mills in Sweden, they recognized that lifting 110-pound bags of flour, sugar and other ingredients was very taxing on the worker and also very limiting to the type of worker that could be hired. As they looked at this they realized they needed a better solution to help them lift these bags and that is when they came up with the vacuum technology. TAWI’s vacuum technology has the ability to make your items feel like they are weightless making them much easier to move around. One big issue with heavy packages and products is that they can be very cumbersome to lift and have a high potential to cause injury to those who are lifting them. Not only is weight an issue but also the ability to grab items at the right position. We discuss how maximizing container space can be a potential hazard to unloading. As you are unloading packages from the top of a container it can be very difficult to get a proper grip and do a proper lift on these items. When you utilize a vacuum lift device from TAWI it makes the item essentially weightless so that it can easily be moved around in any position. Allowing this freedom of movement is ideal for preventing strains and other types of injuries that can occur from improper lifting techniques. Not only does the TAWI vacuum lifting technology help to reduce the number of injuries in your operation, but it can also help to address some of your staffing issues. Cyrus discusses how oftentimes companies that deal in heavy material need to hire employees who can handle this heavy material and even then they will still be exhausted and not have a great work environment. When you take the weight out of the items you are now able to have anyone move that material around which expands your potential labor pool. Cyrus shares some examples of how this has benefited the flexibility of certain positions and paid off in happier employees as the technology was introduced. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 284: TAWI
EP 283: CLARK Material Handling at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Brandon Bullard of CLARK Material Handling. CLARK provides material handling equipment and forklifts for many different industries including the warehousing industry. We discuss their new automation partnership, his thoughts on lithium, and how they continue to maintain quality while innovating. Key Takeaways CLARK invented the forklift in 1917 and has been around for 105 years innovating the forklift space while focusing on quality. They provide multiple different forklift solutions for different industries and have many offerings for the warehousing industry as well. Brandon discusses how their focus is on innovation, safety, and ergonomics when it comes to designing and improving their forklifts. The next innovation for CLARK is getting into the automation space. They are doing this by partnering with Third Wave Automation to automate one of their narrow aisle reach trucks. I am very interested to see how this develops because I think one of the next frontiers is getting an automated reach truck that can be utilized in existing warehousing spaces. This will essentially give you the ability to automate the put-away process without having to invest in an ASRS system so a great alternative for companies looking to automate processes in an easier way. As we discussed the high interest in lithium at MODEX, Brandon pointed out that as CLARK continues to innovate they also keep quality in mind as that has been their foundation since the beginning. The importance of quality for them goes above all as they want to ensure that customers have long-lasting products. While they continue to innovate they also focus heavily on the data and analytics to ensure that customers are getting the right fit for their fleet and not just the latest innovation because it’s new. It is important for CLARK to be able to give the customer a complete experience when it comes to providing the right fit as well as the highest quality. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 283: CLARK Material Handling at MODEX 2022
EP 282: INFORM
In this episode, I was joined by the Director of Marketing and Sales at INFORM, Matthew Wittemeier. INFORM brings artificial intelligence-based decision-making to multiple different industries. We discuss what INFORM does and how it has evolved over its history, how it works with the distribution industry, and the importance of clean data. Key Takeaways INFORM started in 1969 and was started to utilize data-based research in a consultative way with companies. As the company has grown they have started to utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics to enhance the algorithms they were already using. This has allowed them to help companies to make better-informed decisions in order to plan their work more efficiently. Not only are the decisions stronger but the speed at which decisions can now be made is incredibly fast. Matthew discusses how a decision that would have taken 110 years to get to in the early nineties now takes seconds with the advancement in technology. Matthew works with the distribution and container logistics side of the business and sees the advantages that this type of technology can have for the industry. Being able to make better decisions and predict things more efficiently allows companies to plan better. He discusses a great example of how a yard can be better managed by utilizing the data that is coming out of it. Creating a more efficient process in the yard can allow for the reduction in errors and lost containers. This can help your business immensely. We also discuss the importance of clean data in your operation. When implementing different systems and technology, if the data is not clean then you can run into many issues. Matthew details how the process of getting clean data should go and why it is so important. He also gives some recommendations on how to ensure you have clean data and when the right time to bring a data scientist in might be. I believe that clean data is incredibly important in order for you to be able to plan for the future of your operation. Join Matthew and the INFORM team at their upcoming webinar on May 25th about YMS. Register here. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 282: INFORM
EP 281: Newcastle Systems at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Pat Hoskins of Newcastle Systems at MODEX 2022. Newcastle Systems is focused on bringing mobile workstations to your operation in order to increase process accuracy and productivity. We discuss how Newcastle Systems is focused on increasing this process accuracy, how they are helping to get more out of employees, and their roots as a lean organization. Key Takeaways Newcastle Systems provides mobile workstations which are very smartly designed and allow for further productivity. I have utilized them myself in multiple jobs and I cannot imagine being in an operation that is not utilizing them. They allow you to have a full work set up where ever you need through their mobile battery technology. Not only are they known for being used in the warehousing environment, but they are also recently seeing success for technicians using their stations too where they can have their tools on the cart and have the computer in front of them to reference work instructions or other needed materials. Pat discusses the importance of process accuracy and why that can slow an operation down. When we look at standardizing our processes it is important that the process is done the same way every time because that is how you have determined the best way to do the process. The mobile carts help to ensure that accuracy because they allow you to do the work where you are actually working. Pat utilizes a great example of receiving pallets where instead of walking back and forth to print labels and check products into the system, you can take the cart with you and do all of those actions at the pallet itself. This helps ensure better accuracy and also eliminates the waste of walking back and forth. As I have discussed with Newcastle Systems on the show before, they are a lean organization and they try to bring that mindset and knowledge into their customer’s organizations as well. Pat discusses how they begin to do that and we discuss the initial challenges of getting people to see the waste that is present in their operation. Once you are able to get people to understand just how much time they are spending walking or quantify it into a cost then their eyes start to open to all of the waste that is potentially present. EP 281: Newcastle Systems at MODEX 2022
EP 280: Caster Concepts
In this episode, I was joined by the VP of Sales at Caster Concepts, Doug Backinger. Caster Concepts is focused on all things casters and helping you to improve your workplace. We discuss what Caster Concepts does, how casters help to improve your operation, and some examples of how switching casters have helped companies improve. Key Takeaways Caster Concepts is focused on custom caster applications for your operation whether it is a manufacturing or warehousing operation. They specifically focus on the very heavy movement of materials up to 100,000 lbs. Casters are the wheels that we have on our various carts such as picking carts, material movement carts, or other rolling items. Their engineering team has brought some great innovations to the world of casters that has allowed for operations to take the movement of materials to a more efficient and safer level. The casters are able to displace weight and handle them in a much smoother motion allowing for freer movement of materials in your operation. Doug shares a great example of how Caster Concepts helped an automotive operation improve by allowing their carts to move 8 batteries instead of 4. While this may seem like a simple thing, the weight of the batteries was preventing them from moving their carts in a safe manner so they had to reduce the number of batteries they moved at a time causing more work and more time. With a switch to a different caster, they were able to prevent this and save the company approximately $4 million in upgraded equipment. These simple fixes need to be sought after and Caster Concepts can help you to realize them. In the discussion, you will hear how the right caster can have immense benefits. Not only will it allow for cost savings and efficiency gains as mentioned above but it also allows your workers to be safer and have an easier day. One of the comments from Doug is that oftentimes the feedback after the casters are installed is that they now need brakes on those casters because their equipment rolls so easily compared to the previous setup. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 280: Caster Concepts
EP 279: OPEX at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Monty McVaugh of OPEX Corporation at MODEX 2022. OPEX is a family-owned automation company based in my home state of New Jersey that continuously brings cutting-edge technology to our industry. We discuss the benefits of OPEX being a family-owned business, how OPEX has been able to continually innovate since its founding in 1973, and their new Infinity ASRS. Key Takeaways OPEX has been around since 1973 and is a family-owned company. Monty is quick to point out that the family is still very much involved in the day-to-day business which has a meaningful impact on the way they do business. They have a very open culture of being able to share ideas for innovation which Monty credits for their ability to stay on top of the latest technology in the warehousing automation space. The President is very engaged in the conversation around ideas drawing from both their experiences and the employee’s feedback. The big unveiling for OPEX at MODEX was the Infinity ASRS system. This is an evolution of their Perfect Pick product after listening to customer feedback and helping to improve upon some of their pain points. One of the most interesting things about the Infinity system is that Monty points out the ability to be flexible and more modular. What caught my attention the most was that the height can go as low as 9 feet. This grabbed my attention because often when we are looking to maximize space in our industry we want to go higher. Monty shares some examples where space above docks or other areas can be utilized by implementing the Infinity in these shorter height areas. With this flexibility, we are able to rethink the space that we are using. While we typically look to make our racking higher or how high a tower can go in this case we can look at small spaces and be able to utilize them. Monty gives some great examples and he also shares how different regions of the globe do not have the same monstrous newer warehouse spaces that we are seeing in America right now. Creating a flexible solution like Infinity certainly gives you an infinite amount of utilization options. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 279: OPEX at MODEX 2022