EP 258: Warehouse Education
In this episode, I share my own knowledge from experience on how to increase your warehouse education. I have been asked this question a few times in the last couple of months about not only increasing knowledge in the warehouse industry but also how to help grow your career in the industry so I thought I would share some of my answers on this episode. Key Takeaways Like myself, many that find themselves in our industry have not had any kind of formal warehouse education. This often leads to a point where people want to increase their knowledge in some way which is where I found myself a few years ago. I pursued the CLTD certification from APICS and ASCM at the time and I still highly recommend it. The certification was very comprehensive and it really helped me to understand some concepts that I probably would not have exposure to until later on in my career at a more senior level. Other options are to do programs at local community colleges or other associations. Another way to learn and grow in the industry is to network with other people. I know this is said all of the time but the truth is it really works when you put some effort into it. As you network with people in your industry you start to learn things just from talking with them and hearing the challenges that they have gone through. If you develop a good relationship with them, meaning you both get value out of the relationship, then you end up with someone that you can call on when you are trying to solve a problem. It is also helpful because you might want to do something that you do not have experience with so you can reach out to someone in your network who may have had the experience. The last suggestion is to get some experience in the field by working as a warehouse associate and doing the physical processes. This is something I suggest to my students all the time. It is very easy to get a job in a warehouse because they are hiring like crazy and you could even go through a temp agency. Of everything I could recommend this would be the most beneficial because it will help you better understand what is going on on the floor when you need to adjust strategies or lead them in a different way. Listen to the episode below and leave your tips on how to help your career grow in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 258: Warehouse Education
EP 257: JLT Mobile Computers
On this episode, I was joined by the US Regional Sales Director at JLT Mobile Computers, Glenn Lundgren. JLT Mobile Computers is focused on bringing rugged mobile computers to multiple industries including the warehousing industry. We discuss rugged devices, what to consider when looking for new devices and why try before you buy is the slogan to live by when replacing devices. Key Takeaways JLT Mobile Computers has been offering customized mobile computer solutions since 1994 and is currently the largest computer manufacturer in Sweden. They are focused on rugged devices as Glenn expresses their belief that rugged devices are a must in the harsh environments that their customers work in. We discuss what qualifies these devices to be rugged and to see a rugged device in the warehouse it actually goes through the same qualifications that would be needed in order for it to perform in a military setting. This ensures that the device will not be impacted by dust, extreme temperatures, or water penetration. When it comes to upgrading equipment or putting new equipment in place you want to ensure that you are making the best choice as you will most likely have to utilize that equipment for multiple years to come. Glenn shares some insights on why it is important to truly understand your needs while you are searching for the right equipment. He discusses the importance of getting all parties involved and making sure that the device fits into both the physical and systemic needs of the operation. It is also important to understand how the device does in your specific environment which leads us to the discussion on a try before you by. Try before you buy is a concept that JLT Mobile Computer lives by because they believe that their customers cannot make the right decision without trying their equipment first. They want the customer to get what is right for them and not just to sell any device the customer is interested in. Setting up a proper demo includes having all parties involved and sharing what the expectations of your next device are with JLT. Then the most important part is actually trying the device with your team on the floor. When they are utilizing it you want to get as much feedback as possible and then have your solution provider make adjustments. This is also a great way to find out if your service provider is going to be willing to work with you through different issues. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 257: JLT Mobile Computers
EP 256: Warehouse Cleanliness
In this episode, I discuss something very important in the warehouse, cleaning! This is an incredibly important part of maintaining a well-run operation and I hope that sharing some of my experiences can help you as well. I also hope that I can learn from your experiences so please leave a comment below with your tips for keeping a clean warehouse. Key Takeaways Cleaning your warehouse is important because it creates a better overall work environment for your employees. It not only makes people feel more comfortable but it can also have a positive impact on productivity and reduce safety risks throughout the facility. As I discuss in the episode is also something that can be impressive to new hires and maybe be a swaying factor when candidates are considering different places to work. From a safety perspective, having trash or other debris throughout the warehouse can create tripping hazards or potential issues for forklift operators that can lead to accidents. Saying you are going to clean is one thing but it is important that it is a part of your culture. To start this you need to ensure that you have proper standards in place and have expectations in place for employees. Without this everyone will just come up with their own definition of what cleaning means and you will have some areas cleaned to a certain level while others are to a minimal level. Once you have these set then you can properly communicate these to the employees and they can easily follow the guidelines. Being sure to enforce these standards is also key to having employees understand their importance in the everyday workflow. One key point in keeping your warehouse clean is that you have to enable your employees to be able to do this. Having the right tools to clean is incredibly important so that they can do the job that they need to do. Just like you want to provide the proper equipment for them to pick or ship you want to be sure that cleaning is easy for them. It needs to feel like less of a chore and more as part of the daily routine. If they suggest something that would make it easier for them then listen and act. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 256: Warehouse Cleanliness
EP 255: 2022 Predictions from Zebra Technologies
In this episode, I reconnected with Jim Lawton of Zebra Technologies. Jim is the Vice President and General Manager of Robotics Automation at Zebra focusing on their robotics division which includes the addition of Fetch Robotics last year. Last time we spoke we discussed the expansion of Zebra’s robotics arm and this time we discussed what to expect for this year in the robotics and automation world. Key Takeaways In 2021 we certainly saw a large increase in demand for robotics and automation due to the impact of the pandemic. Multiple factors driving an increased need for warehouses to perform and perform more efficiently. Due to this companies have had to adopt these technologies at a more rapid rate in order to keep up. Jim discusses how companies have had to let go of the traditionally reserved decision-making in supply chain decisions and pull the trigger in order to get these technologies into their operations and realize the benefits. As we are underway in the new year I was interested to know Jim’s thoughts on what we will see in the robotics and automation world. From his perspective, we will be seeing the adoption rate continue to grow. Not only are companies needing these technologies to help them continue to grow but solution providers are also helping to make these technologies more accessible to companies. Jim and I discuss how for too long the idea of robots and putting them into a company’s operation seemed unattainable and only for the large companies like Amazon to do. However, now robotics companies like Zebra are very focused on ensuring smaller companies can also utilize robotics in their operations and have it make sense. Another issue that has been seen in the technology market is the burden that an implementation can be on an organization. Jim and I discuss why that it is and how that perception is beginning to change. While most technologies have advanced in our lives, many in the warehousing world have not until very recently. Part of that is due to the large undertaking introducing or even upgrading new technology could be. As the professional world is beginning to recognize how personal tech can be an influence on how companies adopt robotics they are ensuring that implementations are much smoother and the experience is a lot less stressful. Jim believes this will continue to be improved on and we will see the idea of implementation being scary become a thing of the past. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 255: 2022 Predictions from Zebra Technologies
EP 254: German Bionic
On this episode, I was joined by the Head of IoT at German Bionic, Norma Steller. German Bionic is focused on making smart exoskeletons to help workers specifically in the logistics sector be more ergonomic. We discuss why this need is so important, the Cray X Power Suit, and how it helps improve your employees’ health over time. Key Takeaways There are multiple different exoskeletons on the market right now and they have definitely been coming on my radar lately since I saw a few on my visit to the DHL Innovation Center so I was very eager to learn more about German Bionic’s offering. While robots and automation are certainly on the rise, Norma is sure to point out that we are far from having robots take over everyone’s job and we will need people to work for many years to come. With this notion, German Bionic set out to develop their exoskeleton offerings. They are currently on their fifth generation which has gone over some overhauling from user feedback which they take very seriously because if they do not provide something comfortable and useful then it will just end up getting covered in dust. The Cray X power suit is the latest offering from German Bionic and as Norma describes it, is like having a robot on your back. The device straps to your back and has support for you to be able to lift up to 66 pounds with minimal effort. This helps to reduce the amount of exertion being done in each lift which saves your body and ultimately results in higher productivity. Additionally, the Cray X offers walking assistance which makes it the first on the market to have two support systems in one. There are tons of steps being done every day by workers in the logistics field so being able to reduce the amount of energy put out in these steps helps to reduce the fatigue of that worker. As Norma’s title suggests, they are very focused on the device being connected as well. The device is able to generate multiple data points that can help you to better understand how your workers are moving and in turn how you can help improve their working conditions for better overall output. With this data, German Bionic is also able to understand how their products are working and more importantly where they are lacking. Using their data they have been able to really understand how to improve their device to make a product that workers want to use and feel comfortable with. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 254: German Bionic
EP 253: Zebra and RFID
In this episode, I was joined by Matt Seltz of Zebra Technologies to discuss RFID. Matt is the Senior Director of Operation and Product Success for Zebra’s Advanced Location Technology Business Unit. We discuss the evolution of RFID in the warehousing space, how it creates efficiency, and Zebra’s new portals. Key Takeaways RFID is a radio frequency technology that can be utilized to locate assets through tags. As Matt explains there are both active and passive tags depending on the application. One thing about RFID is that it has been around for quite some time but there have been limitations when it comes to the cost of the tags and also the accuracy in reading and range. Matt explains how the technology has now developed to the point where the accuracy of the reading is very good and the technology improvements are also allowing the cost to come down. The benefits of RFID are creating more efficiencies in your operation, increasing inventory accuracy and traceability. With RFID technology in place, you can get incredibly accurate location placements of your inventory so it helps to prevent the loss of inventory and can help you to pinpoint where certain items are. Additionally, depending on the application it can also help you to be more efficient and reduce the amount of labor needed for certain tasks. Matt gives a great example of how it can reduce the amount of paperwork that receiving docks need to worry about because there is data capture happening on the RFID scans. Zebra just released new RFID portals that are designed for multiple different applications. There is a portal specifically for dock doors which has improvements that create better scans and reduce accidental captures from other nearby tags. There is also a table that has an RFID reader built-in which allows workers to capture RFID information right on the table without needing any additional hardware. The tunnel portal allows RFID tag data to be captured while assets travel along a conveyor. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your thoughts. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 253: Zebra and RFID
EP 252: Battery Talk 2022
On this episode, I was joined by not one but five guests! I call this one battery talk because we were talking batteries for the latest edition of Material Handling Wholesaler magazine which focuses on lithium-ion batteries in our industry. I was joined by Harold Vanasse of Enersys, Robin Schneider of Greencubes Technology, John Gelsimino of Arcon Equipment, David Suarez of One Charge, and Chris French of PowerBattUSA. We discuss the current state of batteries in the material handling industry including challenges with lithium-ion and sustainability of lithium-ion. Key Takeaways Overall the consensus from all guests was that lithium-ion is pushing its way into more operations but it is still incredibly early in the adoption cycle. While there are certainly benefits to lithium-ion the technology is still developing to the point where there are still some unanswered questions because we have just not had to cross that bridge yet. In the discussion, we touch on many of these unanswered questions and it seems the overall opinion is that we are heading in the right direction to make sure that lithium-ion gets on the right track. However, all guests were on the same page with that we will not see a total lithium-ion takeover and lead-acid will still be present in the industry 10 years from now. Some of the challenges that were raised include the sustainability of lithium-ion and the cost of entry. Right now due to lithium-ion being such a young technology for our industry there has not really been a fully developed recycling program or way to properly dispose of the batteries. Currently, they are being repurposed but the end of life has not necessarily been determined or been determined in a way that makes economic sense for all parties involved. Another point to sustainability that Chris brought up was how long will the actual supply of natural resources that lithium-ion needs last. With many things now requiring these resources to operate there may be a shortage at some point. While the total cost of ownership can be greatly reduced by switching to lithium-ion the cost of entry is very high. Most operations can not afford to switch over at once due to this which slows down the adoption of lithium-ion as many businesses do not have the resources for this. Additionally, the benefits can be the reduced amount of maintenance on these batteries but Harold points out that new forms of lead-acid are also becoming available in the market that is maintenance-free so it will be interesting to see how the market develops over the next few years. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 252: Battery Talk 2022
EP 251: Vimaan
In this episode, I was joined by the founder and CEO of Vimaan, KG Ganapathi. Vimaan has just recently come out of stealth and is utilizing computer vision to create wall-to-wall solutions for inventory tracking and quality issues. We discuss how Vimaan evolved, how the technology works, and why inventory control is so vital to an operation. Key Takeaways Vimaan has been in development since 2017 when they set out to initially come up with a drone solution. However, as they began to develop they noticed that so many processes in the warehouse were being automated yet inventory was being ignored. They recognized that they could utilize computer vision in development to address this issue. What they have come up with is a wall-to-wall computer vision system that can constantly track movements in whatever area it is set up in. This allows for exceptions to be caught immediately and then researched. One of the most important parts of an operation is the inventory and its accuracy. However, this often gets overlooked or put to the side with the resources being put to other departments. This can lead to a snowball effect which can lead to your inventory accuracy severely dipping. Having a system in place that can constantly monitor this helps to alleviate this issue and reduce the number of resources needed for inventory. It can also greatly improve your inventory accuracy over time due to constant monitoring. While the inventory accuracy part of Vimaan certainly peaks my interest, KG is quick to point out that it is not just for inventory accuracy. The computer vision system can be put into multiple different applications and can be used to determine quality items like damages as well. It can also be set up in areas like your receiving dock to verify quantities and that products are set up correctly. It is an incredibly versatile tool that is continuing to evolve and I’m very excited to see how it grows. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 251: Vimaan
EP 250: MODEX 2022 Excitement!
In this episode, I share my excitement for the upcoming MODEX 2022! Just about two months away we will be at MODEX the week of March 28th and The New Warehouse will have a booth on the floor. You can check us out at booth C4277 where we will be doing interviews right from the floor. Feel free to stop by and jump on the microphone if you like. Here are a few of the things I am looking forward to the most. Five Things I am Excited For Of course the first thing is being in person! I am very excited to get on the floor and see some connections, make some new ones and of course, see all of the great solutions on display. It has been 2 years now since the last in-person MHI event and I believe it will be a huge hit as people will be itching to get back to it. There will be so many interesting exhibits with technology accelerating so much over the last two years. The second thing I am excited about is to see where robots currently stand. There has been a ton of robot adoption by companies during the pandemic so I am curious to see how that has pushed the space forward and also hear from solution providers just how much companies are embracing the technology. Additionally, one of the big takeaways from MODEX 2020 was the large number of collaborations that were taking place. I am interested to see how this has expanded and what new collaborations are also occurring to help move the industry forward. Exoskeletons are also something I am really interested in seeing. I got a little taste of a few at my recent trip to the DHL Innovation Center and I have seen some other companies popping up so I am curious to see some of the different solutions. Also hoping I can try a few on and share my thoughts with you. I think these are really a key to helping workers be safer and also expanding the labor pool a bit as they can assist in lifting heavier items or give the items less weight to those who are lifting. For 2022 in general micro-fulfillment is on my radar and I think there is a big market that is ready to be expanded upon. It will be very interesting to see how companies are going to be addressing this segment and to what extent. I think that technology solutions specifically designed for this space will be a key to seeing success here so I am curious what technologies might be designed for micro-fulfillment. The last thing is the keynote by Shaq of course! I can imagine this will be a very entertaining talk and I am interested to hear what he has to speak about as someone that has been able to diversify himself so much. I think this will be a lot of fun! Listen to the episode below and comment on what you are looking forward to at MODEX this year. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 250: MODEX 2022 Excitement!
EP 249: Fizyr
In this episode, I was joined by the CEO of Fizyr, Herbert ten Have. Fizyr is focused on being the world’s best computer vision platform for robotics in the logistics space. We discuss computer vision, how Fizy’r system works and why they have had such success with their platform. Key Takeaways Fizyr means rifle scope in Dutch which is fitting considering they are utilizing vision and targeting items with their computer vision software. Originally they were an integrator who was developing picking cells for various fulfillment companies and they began to create their software along the way. As the software developed they really noticed that there was a standout difference in their software and it was something that was not being done by many others. They then spun the business off and began to develop Fizyr into what it is today which is one of the world’s leading computer vision companies. Computer vision utilizes artificial intelligence and allows robots to be able to decipher different objects to make decisions on what to do. As Herbert explains, typically a robot would see items as a CAD drawing but when it comes to the logistics space it is impossible for the robot to keep up with so many different SKUs. In order to tackle this, the computer vision system needs to be generalized and that is accomplished by building a neural network which Fizyr is doing. By generalizing, the robot now views the packages in certain shapes and sizes repetitively and understands more effectively what to do next. One of the most impressive things about Fizyr is its ability to be so effective and accurate out of the box. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can take some time to get to their most effective part after collecting lots of data but Herbert says that Fizyr is effective out of the box. Due to this, they are one of the best computer vision software in the world. Herbert explains how they have achieved this by really pushing their customers to tell them exactly what they need. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your thoughts. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 249: Fizyr
EP 248: Kivnon
In this episode, I was joined by Mike Kotzian of Kivnon. Mike is the Managing Director for the USA at Kivnon which is an AGV company providing automation solutions for the material handling industry. We discuss the evolution of AGVs, the concept of robots replacing jobs, and Kivnon’s offerings. Key Takeaways Kivnon provides innovative mobile robotic solutions which focus primarily on AGVs and AMRs. They have an extensive lineup of their base model robots that can provide many different solutions. However, even though they have base models they are also very flexible and open to customization of robotics. Mike gives us some detail on some customized solutions that they have done in the past which included a fully stainless steel AGV that could go through washdown. This is pretty unique as you typically would not get a robot wet due to all of the electronic components but pretty interesting they were able to achieve it. Mike has been working in the industry for 23 years now and has seen a lot of the evolution of AGVs over those years. He gives some great insight into our discussion on how things have evolved. He even drops a fact that I didn’t know and was actually pretty surprised by, the first AGV was in operation all the way back in 1954. For him, the most significant evolution revolved around safety how things have changed with bumpers and how guidance is conducted on these robots. As we are seeing massive growth in this part of the industry, Mike believes that the hardware has somewhat reached the level it can be at for now so the real development and thing to watch will be the software side and how that will make the existing hardware functioning in smarter ways. Being that Mike has been involved in AGVs for so long, I was curious how he has seen the debate of robots taking jobs away over the years. In the beginning, he said there was certainly a lot of anger going on even as far as robots being sabotaged on the overnight shifts with no explanation but as time went on people have gotten more comfortable with technology and accepted them. He also explains that on many implementations people did not get replaced but they got moved to more detailed tasks that the robots could not do. As we see this technology grow it really has taken over the jobs that people are not too interested in anymore and I believe that will continue. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 248: Kivnon
EP 247: Inspectorio
On this episode, I was joined by Co-Founder and President at Inspectorio, David Klein. Is it a supply chain SaaS platform that helps you with your quality, compliance, and now tracking? We discuss how Inspectorio was founded, how it has helped companies through the pandemic, and the new tracking component. Key Takeaways David and his co-founders started out helping companies to source manufacturing in Asia for different types of products. Along the way, they developed some frustrations with the processes and being able to ensure that everything was running smoothly. As they were doing this they started to develop systems so that they could more easily handle these types of things. One of the large pain points was ensuring that the level of quality was of the same standard across all suppliers. While they were managing this on their own they started to develop what is now Inspectorio and thought that it would be something companies would want to use so it is now offered as a SaaS platform for all companies to use. Many of the largest retailers utilize this platform and find great efficiency improvements from it. One of the largest pain points for companies during the pandemic has been visibility into their supply chain. Previously things would just continuously flow but the abrupt stop and then the resulting delays have to lead to a lot of gaps in the company’s supply chains. With Inspectorio, however, companies had more visibility into what was happening with their PO’s and where they were in the manufacturing pipeline. By having the data consistent and in a standard format in one platform no matter how many suppliers you are dealing with, you are able to easily have more visibility and make data-driven decisions in a faster way. Along with visibility comes the need to be able to see your tracking and this is where Inspectorio’s new component comes into play. The tracking component of Inspectorio which was just recently launched really allows you to have visibility into your supply chain and understand where your product is. I got a demo of this component and the great thing about is how the platform is fully customizable so you can see the data that you want to see and in the way you want to see it. You can easily hide data and bring in different data if you want which allows great flexibility. The best thing is that it aggregates all of the data from your different suppliers into one spot and reduces the need for manually extracting this data to combine into reports. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 247: Inspectorio
EP 246: BALYO
On this episode, I was joined by the Director of Sales for BALYO, John Hayes. BALYO is an autonomous mobile robot company providing multiple solutions for material handling. We discuss BALYO’s offerings, very narrow aisle setups, and islands of automation. Key Takeaways BALYO offers autonomous mobile robots of different styles from pallet jacks to reach trucks to VNA trucks so they have something that would fit your needs in multiple processes. A French-based company, they are now expanding into the US and John is leading the charge. As John discusses they are very much focused on being able to provide a solution for the movement of materials in the middle of the fulfillment process. With their solution, you can move the product to your put away area and put it away all automated. They are also in the process of opening a solution center that will allow them to show off their solutions utilizing your setup and product. John and I discuss VNA which stands for Very Narrow Aisle. A very narrow aisle allows you to get more utilization out of your space because the aisle space between racking can be closer together. Typically you would utilize these racking setups with special equipment like a specialized reach truck or a turret truck. BALYO is offering autonomous solutions for VNA like the VEENY which allows you to have a totally automated putaway and pick system coming out of your VNA. John likens it to almost turning your racking into an ASRS system. With so many different automation and robotics companies in our industry now there are a lot of companies that do not cover multiple processes. This results in islands of automation which John and I discuss. This means that you end up with multiple solutions from multiple companies for different processes but they may not be able to work together. Interoperability standards may help to resolve this but John believes some companies may be resistant due to wanting to remain competitive. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 246: BALYO
EP 245: DHL Innovation Center Visit
In this episode, I got the chance to visit the DHL Innovation Center in Chicago. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the center and also sit down to talk about it with Megan Wolski who is an Innovation Engagement Manager for DHL. Let me just say, this place is awesome! Key Takeaways Since the DHL Innovation Center opened in Chicago I have been dying for a chance to get inside and I got my chance recently on a trip to the area. With so much technology going on in our space, it is amazing to see some of the top solutions in one space being shown off. Many of which have been featured on the podcast before like ProGlove, Kinetic, Locus, Vecna, Zebra, 6 River, and many more. The wonderful thing about this center is that it is all solutions that DHL has been testing themselves and believe to be part of the future trends that they are seeing in the warehousing space. Through their ability to test and try these solutions at their multiple facilities throughout the world, they have created an extreme wealth of knowledge on what solutions their customers could be a right fit for. This is a huge bonus for any current or incoming customers of DHL as they can set off on the right technology roadmap from the beginning. One of the big things in the innovation center is the focus on trends and how DHL interprets those trends playing out over the next few to several years. We started the tour with a series of videos focused on how the supply chain might look in 2050 and it was very eye-opening to see some of the concepts that could potentially play out. As they are looking at the trends, they create each trend in a section of the innovation center so you can explore some of the solutions that are helping people match the trend. There is a very comprehensive and interactive trend radar that can be found on their site which can give you some insights as to what technologies may be coming up next. In my discussion with Megan, it seems that sensors such as RFID are really going to be growing in adoption over the next year as prices are drastically coming down. While there are multiple innovation centers across the globe, unfortunately, they are not open to everyone but DHL has taken steps to ensure that there are multiple ways to learn about the different innovations they are seeing and utilizing as well as providing educational opportunities online. They have hosted multiple webinars including a 24-hour event which can all be found here. With their global reach and scale, they are certainly someone to watch when it comes to what new solutions will be adopted and have a long-standing in our industry. I did get the invite back so be sure to stay tuned for future The New Warehouse coverage from the DHL Innovation Center. Listen to the episode below and enjoy some photos from the tour. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 245: DHL Innovation Center Visit Share on Facebook
EP 244: Ethics and Culture in the Warehouse
On this episode, I was joined by Emily Miner of LRN. Emily is a Senior Advisor on Ethics and Culture for LRN which is a company focused on helping other companies have better cultural and ethical environments. We discussed their recent Benchmark of Ethical Culture report, how the findings impact warehouse employees and how to help your operation have better ethical culture. Key Takeaways The Benchmark of Ethical Culture report was recently put out about LRN and includes their findings from talking to over 8,000 employees about the current state of ethics and culture in organizations. As Emily explains, they realized that these questions had not really been asked in the last few years, and with all of the changes that have happened for society in recent years they believed it was the right time to put this report together. The report is very comprehensive and details not only employee thoughts on ethics and culture but also details them based on the level that the surveyed individual is at. This is very important so that you can understand what level in your organization should you put your initial energy into. One of the biggest findings in my opinion is the difference between the perception of culture and ethics in a company by the different levels of employees. It seems that culture is more visible or apparent the higher you go within the company but where it is the lowest is at the floor level employees such as warehouse staff. I think this is very telling of something that needs to be seriously addressed as warehouse employees do not always get to be as involved in company culture as office workers. It should be equal across the board especially as the importance of warehouse employees has been highlighted over the pandemic due to the importance of goods being delivered to people who are quarantined. The big question, of course, is how do companies improve upon this and I think the start is to get buy-in from all levels of the company. The messaging needs to be consistent and reliable for the employees to feel that there is true culture and that everyone is acting ethically. Emily and I discuss how having different messaging from different leaders can create a lot of confusion and a lack of buy-in from employees. When one leader says to do it one way and then another says it’s okay to cut a corner here or there you end up with a big mess that will need to be cleaned up at some point. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 244: Ethics and Culture in The Warehouse
EP 243: Uncommon Keys from Softeon
On this episode, I was joined by Dan Gilmore who is the CMO at Softeon. Dan was previously on the podcast to talk about Softeon and its different capabilities. This time around we discuss a new white paper they released called “The 7 Uncommon Keys to WMS Success”. Key Takeaways Dan is quick to admit even though he is in the WMS business with Softeon, implementing these systems as well as others is never an easy undertaking due to the complexity and the amount of change that is taking place. In order to properly complete one of these projects, it is important to establish and follow certain guidelines so that everything goes smoothly. Knowing this from multiple projects, Softeon put together this white paper to help people understand some of the most uncommon keys that are often overlooked or not taken seriously enough. One of the keys that Dan shares are ensuring that you have the right team in place for your WMS project. I have seen this be an issue in the past and when the right stakeholders are not involved things get missed or uninformed decisions are made. As Dan points out, while senior-level individuals should be involved, it is incredibly important to involve those who are interacting with the system as well to give their input into how they see the system functioning based on their existing processes. Without this feedback, you can potentially make a very poor decision that would make a process worse instead of improving it. Another key that we spoke about was creating a reasonable and proper timeline for the project. While this seems like common sense, many times there is often not enough thought put into how long one specific action item or task will take. When planning the project you want to ensure that nothing gets rushed and that there is enough time allotted to properly test and set up the system. Dan points out that it is always good to build in a few extra weeks to the timeline because inevitably something will go off schedule and the pressure will be reduced to launch on the go-live date. Listen to the episode below and leave your project tips in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 243: Uncommon Keys from Softeon
EP 242: Autoscheduler
On this episode, I was joined by Keith Moore of Autoscheduler. Keith is the Chief Product Officer at Autoscheduler where they focus on intelligent warehouse orchestration. We discuss how Autoscheduler got its start, what it does and how it will help companies grow into the future. Key Takeaways Autoscheduler is intelligent warehouse orchestration or as Keith says for now it is a warehouse optimization resource until they can come up with a better name or acronym. But the name or acronym doesn’t matter as long as it can perform and provide value which it most certainly does. Originally developed for Proctor & Gamble to help properly schedule all of their workloads between multiple different shifts, Autoscheduler has now grown into a well-developed solution that is available to all companies. Its main purpose is to help take all of the different outputs that each system an operation can be using creates and match them up to ensure that work is getting scheduled at the proper times and the times that make sense. As companies start to add on multiple systems through growth there are often many times where it is difficult to get the information from one system to sync up with another. It has often been a tedious task or one that involves some heavy customization by the company. Through Autoscheduler the systems are now able to align and communicate more efficiently reducing the tedious tasks that existed before. As Keith explains, by simply checking boxes within the platform of how you want tasks to be done it will schedule all tasks to be done that way for the length of time desired. This greatly reduces wasted time within the operation as it will take into account where things need to be as well to have the best flow. With more technologies being introduced to our world every day, more systems are being introduced as well to support the technology and also generate the data needed to drive these technologies. The solution that Autoscheduler provides will help companies handle these growth phases as it will ensure that everything continues to flow together. Additionally, Keith mentions how they are looking at their technology in the way that everyday consumers look at their technology which allows for quick and seamless updates as well as very fast implementations which is more of what someone would expect. It will be interesting to see how they develop into the future. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 242: Autoscheduler
EP 241: KINETIC Insurance
On this episode, I was joined by the Co-founder and CEO at KINETIC, Haytham Elhawary. KINETIC is focused on enhancing workplace safety and ergonomics by focusing on one of the most common injury areas, the back. We discuss the origins of KINETIC, how it has evolved, and their new launch of the insurance arm of their business. Key Takeaways KINETIC was previously on the podcast discussing their wearable device but this time around Haytham joined so we could get the full story on why the company was founded. The device itself is somewhat like a pager that you wear on your waistband or belt. It is able to determine when you are making movements that are not ergonomic and could be high risk for potential strains or sprains. The idea originally stems from Haytham seeing what his mother went through as a nurse dealing with injuries and other pains related to her work. He was able to connect with his co-founder to apply technology to the solution and come up with what is now their wearable device. New to the KINETIC lineup is their insurance arm which now offers worker’s comp insurance. While Haytham is quick to admit that he never imagined selling insurance, the progression of the business makes total sense. Since the wearable device is helping to reduce the number of injuries and therefore potential claims it only made sense that they could pair it in an insurance package that would allow customers to save on their insurance by reducing the number of claims. If you sign up for insurance with them then you are provided with free devices for all your workers and because they are able to see the specific data over time you will see insurance discounts based on how effective your workers are being with the devices. I personally love the idea of the KINETIC wearable and think it is amazing that is solely focused on safety for the worker and no other purpose. This sets it apart as it can truly become a friend to the worker who is wearing it. Haytham shares some of the reactions they have gotten from companies and workers but my favorite is hearing how some workers will notice an overall difference in how they feel over time because they are gradually correcting their movements to be more ergonomic based on what the device is telling them. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 241: KINETIC Insurance
EP 240: Salute to Women in Material Handling 2021
In this episode, I spoke with two women in the material handling industry, Shari Altergott, and Amber Schenck, for Material Handling Wholesaler magazine’s annual Salute to Women in the material handling industry. Shari is from the CX Edge and Amber is with ProLift Toyota both bringing several years of experience in the material handling industry to the show. We discuss their experiences as women in the material handling industry, some of the issues we are still seeing, and how to tackle those issues. Key Takeaways In the material handling industry, we have seen for a long time that it has been mostly male-dominated and it is only more recently that there has been a needed increase in diversity in the workforce. As Shari and Amber both share, they were some of the only few females that were working in the industry when they first got started. It is also notable that when they got started it was not a common thing and any time another female would start it was somewhat of an oddity around the office. While they have seen an increase in the number of peers in the material handling industry they are still experiencing issues where people are not viewing them as equal. Currently, we do see more diversity coming in but as Shari and Amber mention they still see issues where even though more females are entering the material handling industry they are not being treated the same. Amber recalls how most of her team were skeptical when she moved into her current position because she was a female and even now she only has one other female that works on her team out of 19. While they have been able to earn respect over time there is still the lack of immediate respect they should be given. One of the most important topics is how do we start to deal with these ongoing issues and get more equality in the material handling industry. An interesting point that Shari brought up is that when men apply for jobs they are more likely to go for something that they are not fully qualified for and in contrast women will disqualify themselves if they are missing just one or a few of the requirements for the job. To help resolve this, Amber and Shari both discuss ways to create awareness for females in the workplace of how they can develop and how they can go after better jobs even if they may feel they are not as qualified. Listen to the episode below and read the full article on MHWMag.com here. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 240: Salute to Women in Material Handling 2021
EP 239: A Supply Chain Christmas with Megan Preston Meyer
For this very special supply chain holiday episode I was honored to have the previous guest Megan Preston Meyer back to do a reading of her latest book ‘Twas the Month Before Christmas. Have a very special holiday and enjoy the reading as well as the book below! Be sure to pick up the Supply Jane book series for the young logisticians in your life. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 239: A Supply Chain Christmas with Megan Preston Meyer