EP 198: NutraScience Labs
On this episode, I was joined by Adam Gershenson of NutraScience Labs. Adam is the Director of Logistics & Fulfillment Operations at NutraScience Labs which specializes in creating and distributing vitamin and supplement products. We connect and discuss his career path, the importance of communication in the warehousing world, and some of the unique aspects of NutraScience Labs. Key Takeaways Adam and I have a lot in common when it comes to our career paths as we both started out in this industry as temps. His career path is very impressive and a great example for those that are just getting started in the industry and where it can lead to. In just about 10 years from starting as a temp, he was able to work his way up to the director level position that he now sits in at NutraScience Labs and when I talked to him, I could tell that he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. We both discuss how important it is to understand the jobs that are being done on the floor and how that helps you lead at a higher level. Even during the pandemic, Adam discusses how he was out there helping get orders out the door and doing the work with the team when it was needed. When I speak to others that are working in the industry, I am always curious about what is unique about their operation. For NutraScience Labs have some items that are potential allergens and he discusses how they need to be segregated so they do not mix with other products. It is a very interesting conversation because slotting into play which I am very interested in, as you may know. Adam shares how the products are recognized and how the system can help to direct them to the proper locations and areas for items that need special attention. This is very important and it is great that they are able to utilize technology to help them. One of the biggest tips that Adam shares with us is the importance of open communication in this line of work. He shares how his belief is that the warehouse employee is the last line of defense before the product gets to the customer and how important their job really is. Adam and I discuss the importance of having open communication with all levels of the company so that the sales can be met properly and that the orders are shipped out properly to continue sales and reduce customer service headaches. His approach is very similar to one that I take in my day job as an inventory control manager and I certainly had some great takeaways from him as well. I hope you do too. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 198: NutraScience Labs
EP 197: SOTI
On this episode, I was joined by the Vice President of Product Strategy at SOTI, Shash Anand. SOTI is a suite of software solutions that allow companies to look at their mobile setup and create a more efficient flow on those platforms. We discuss what SOTI does, how they allow users to build their own mobile apps, their recent T&L Report, and lost time. Key Takeaways SOTI is all about your mobile connectivity and ensuring that it is running as efficiently as possible. Their SOTI ONE platform is an integrated suite of business mobility solutions that allows you to do multiple things from having remote connectivity to all of your devices to developing your own apps for mobile devices in a very easy-to-use platform. Shash even shares that you can easily convert Word and Excel files into mobile apps quite easily. With this type of connectivity, you can ensure that your operations will continue to run smoothly and that you can constantly improve on your mobile offerings. Recently, SOTI released their T&L Report entitled “Mobilizing the Delivery Workforce: State of Mobility in Transportation and Logistics” which focuses on looking at mobility in our industry and what trends are happening or issues are being seen. I was very interested to know how the report had changed since pre-pandemic times. Shash shares some of the noticeable differences between the two reports and one of the big ones was the impact of online returns. He said there was an increase of 41% for online returns which was directly linked to the increase in online sales. This all goes back to the retail experience and customer experience. One of the biggest and potentially most frightening findings was that employees are losing approximately two days of work a month due to mobile downtime and technology issues. This is staggering and blew my mind when I heard it. Two days a month in our world is a ton of time and a lot of lost productivity that should not be the case. With the technology not being upgraded and connectivity issues not being resolved this is too often the case for companies and it needs to end. Shash and I discuss how companies can recognize these issues and then what actions can they take to eliminate this lost time. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your thoughts. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 197: SOTI
EP196: IAM Robotics
On this episode, I was joined by the Founder and CEO of IAM Robotics, Tom Galluzzo. IAM Robotics is a Pittsburgh-based robotics company offering material handling and piece picking solutions for the warehouse. Tom and I discuss the Pittsburgh robotics scene, how IAM Robotics was founded, their offerings, and their collaboration with Tompkins Robotics. Key Takeaways Many of the robotics companies that have been on the show are Massachusetts-based but there is also a great robotics hub that has been developing over the past few years in Pittsburgh. Tom goes into detail about why this is happening and how the local talent pool is really helping to push the robotics scene forward. He spent some time at Carnegie Mellon as well which is one of the places really pushing robotics forward. Also, as many robotics companies in our space have gotten started, IAM Robotics was also an idea that came out of the DARPA project and then evolved into what it is today. IAM Robotics has two offerings in its robot fleet. The first is the BOLT which is an AMR that can move material throughout your facility in multiple ways. Tom explains how flexible this solution can be due to the top being adaptable to your needs. You can put conveyor sections on top, pallets, or even a customized top. The next offering is an AMMR or autonomous mobile manipulation robot that can maneuver around like an AMR but has a piece-picking arm on top that can grip on to products. Tom discusses both in detail and talks about how they are really one of the only companies right now that are commercializing the AMMR. One of the big takeaways from MODEX 2020 last year was that so many more companies were collaborating and finding ways to offer more to customers by combining solutions or having their solutions work together. IAM Robotics is no different and has recently collaborated with Tompkins Robotics and their T-Sort solution. As Tom explains, this now allows the robotic solution to pick the item using the SWIFT solution and then pass it on to the T-Sort which will sort the merchandise for shipping. He also hints that there will be an additional collaboration in the near future that we should be looking out for. I believe that collaboration is the key to ensuring operations are getting the most efficient solutions with remaining open to flexibility. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 196: IAM Robotics
EP 195: TOUGHBOOK S1
On this episode, I was joined by two guests from Panasonic, Dan Diliberti and Mike Bates. We discuss the new TOUGHBOOK S1 and how it was developed with varying warehouse environments in mind. Dan is the Head of Mobility Products and Market Strategy and Mike is an Enterprise Account Manager. Dan talks to us from the mobility side and Mike discusses a little more on the broader side of Panasonic. I was previously lucky enough to get a trial with TOUGHBOOK laptop at MODEX 2020 so was very interested to learn about the technology behind this new tablet. Key Takeaways One of the best things that stood out to me about the new TOUGHBOOK S1 is that it really came out from listening to the voice of the customer. The big goal for mobility with this tablet is that it can have flexibility when it comes to where it is utilized. Dan discusses how customers were saying that they liked having the tablet on the forklift but they also wanted to be able to remove it and use it off the forklift at the same time. I think this is a great thing because it makes your worker more flexible and also reduces the number of assets you need to have. The operator now has the ability to utilize that tablet while operating their machine and also utilize it if there is a need for them to be off the machine doing QA work or some other type of work. Additionally, from a power standpoint, the tablet has the ability to do a warm swap for the battery which means there is a swappable battery instead of just an internal battery and it also means that when that battery runs low you can switch for a new one without losing your place. This can really help you going throughout the day and preventing you from having slowdowns in the work that you are doing. I know from my personal experience there have certainly been times where I have needed to be on the floor most of the day with my laptop and at some point, I have to put a pause on the work to plug in somewhere. Overall, this is an incredibly flexible solution from the TOUGHBOOK line which I think we need in operations as we grow and expand our technology. We also discuss their Productivity+ program which allows full control of your Android-based devices. It can help your company to keep track of all of the assets as well as keep them up to date. It also gives the ability for remote access and helping to resolve issues with IT easily. This is very important especially as distribution networks expand and the number of devices being used increases. Productivity+ can certainly keep you in touch with all of your devices ensuring that they will last through many shifts. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 195: TOUGHBOOK S1
EP 194: SVT Robotics
On this episode, I was joined by A.K. Schultz the Co-Founder and CEO of SVT Robotics. A.K. and I connected during ProMatDX 2021 earlier this year to discuss SVT Robotics and their mission to help improve the deployment and integration of robots from multiple vendors. Key Takeaways SVT Robotics is not technically a robotics company from a hardware perspective but they are leading the way in ensuring that robots are here to stay in our industry. They are doing this by making it incredibly easy to deploy and integrate robots and automation solutions from multiple vendors in the same operation. One of the big challenges as technology has developed is ensuring that multiple automation solutions can coexist in the same operation and work together. A.K. and the team at SVT Robotics is tackling that challenge and creating an amazing solution so that these types of scenarios are completely feasible for companies. The solution that SVT Robotics has come up with is the SOFTBOT Platform. This platform creates a standard for multiple robotics and automation platforms to connect to. What this allows you to do is simply configure the setup that you would like in the SOFTBOT Studio by dragging and dropping the different automation solutions you are utilizing. Since all of the background work is done this automatically connects them without any coding or engineering on your end. It is this simple connection that is what is driving these types of multi-faceted operations to move forward with automation. Why is a technology like this so important? As robotics and automation adoption rates increase and the accessibility to these technologies also increases there will be more scenarios where more than one solution is under the same roof. This is inevitable as many solutions are only focused on one process. The key will be ensuring that all of these technologies are able to communicate effectively with each other in order to have continuous flow through your operation and really see the benefits of each solution. SVT Robotics has created the technology to allow this to happen and it will only increase the opportunities for companies utilizing the technology but also the companies creating the solutions. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 194: SVT Robotics
EP 193: RightHand Robotics at ProMatDX 2021
On this episode, I was joined by Vince Martinelli of RightHand Robotics at ProMatDX2021 . Vince has been on the show multiple times since we first started way back at ProMat 2019 and it has been great to see the evolution of RightHand Robotics. The last time we spoke we were discussing how companies are trying to keep up with the E-commerce spike and predictions for 2021. For this episode, we discussed Right Pick 3 and how 2021 is developing for robotics and automation. Key Takeaways RightHand Robotics is known for their piece-picking robotic arm which has been highly regarded in the industry but a big portion of that is the software portion in addition to the gripper they are using. At ProMatDX they were showing off Right Pick 3 which is the latest version of their system. One of the big things with the latest version is the upgrade of their processor which can allow them to handle much more processing and give more bandwidth to do additional things with the picking arm. Another big thing is the approach to slotting, which you know I love. One of the interesting conversations that have been developing a bit through a few podcasts is the concept of slotting when it comes to robotics and how it differs from how we would typically slot a facility. The new system is allowing for items that are difficult for the grabber to get or having a reoccurring issue being picked to easily be identified. This allows you to take your slotting to another level and adjust accordingly so that you can get maximum throughput from your picking robot. Vince discusses what they are seeing through 2021 so far and it certainly sounds like robotics and automation are continuing to accelerating in the adoption area. He mentions there are a few new clients they have signed and they were also seeing some interest at ProMatDX which is promising. As the technology is evolving, I believe the adoption rate of robotics will only keep increasing and more rapidly over the next few years as well. It will be great to see how things have evolved throughout the rest of the year when we connect again at MODEX in person next year. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 193: RightHand Robotics at ProMatDX 2021
EP 192: B&C Logistics
In this episode, I was joined by the president of B&C Logistics, Brian Severson. B&C Logistics is a 3PL that provides multiple distribution services including food grade storage and handling for small to medium-sized businesses to help them grow and distribute to larger retailers. We discuss food grade warehouses, OTIF, and MABD. Key Takeaways When it comes to distribution, often times a box is a box but there are some intricacies when it comes to different industries and types of products that you are handling. Last week we talked about some of the unique factors for the beer, wine and spirits industry with BWS Logistics and in this episode, I speak with Brian about some of the unique aspects of food-grade distribution. B&C Logistics provides food-grade storage and has a top rating when it comes to being audited to ensure that they are keeping food-grade products safe for the consumer. Brian dives into some of the challenges in maintaining a food-grade warehouse and how you should go about ensuring that your 3PL is keeping up to these standards. He recommends diving into the audit history and those report findings. He explains how detailed they can get even getting down to how many flies are in your trap and what type of species they are. B&C Logistics has vast experience dealing with larger retailers and their strict requirements. They specialize in helping to get your company distributed through Wal-Mart and one thing they know very well is the importance of OTIF when it comes to these retailers. OTIF stands for on time and in full meaning that the order was delivered on time when it was set to by the retailer and that the order was in full meaning all items and quantities were delivered together and at the correct time. Being on time ties into the MABD which is the must arrive by date. Hitting the MABD plays heavily into the on-time portion of OTIF. These metrics are incredibly important when dealing with these retailers because this is how they will score you. As Brian explains if your OTIF is low then there is a good chance you will lose shelf space at the retailer and that will severely hurt your business. Listen to the episode below and let us know how you hit your OTIF numbers in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 192: B&C Logistics
EP 191: Manhattan Associates COVID-19 guidelines
On this episode, I was joined by Peter Schnorbach of Manhattan Associates. Peter is the Senior Director of Product Management at Manhattan Associates and we connected back at ProMatDX to discuss some COVID-19 guidelines they had put out and also talk about which ones will continue on beyond the pandemic and their labor management system. While we seem to be moving on from COVID there are still some really great pieces of information on how it has an impact on the way we move forward. Key Takeaways Manhattan Associates brings software solutions to the marketplace to help your business operate more efficiently. They are well known for their supply chain suite which covers a wider variety of systems that operate in our space. This includes a warehouse management system (WMS), a yard management system, and what we focused on in our discussion which is the labor-management system. The labor-management system helps to track all productivity in your operation so you can ensure that you plan your resources properly and understand your capacity utilization. When it comes to COVID Guidelines I think we have all become pretty familiar with them. What I was interested in learning from Peter was his thoughts on what guidelines will stick with us as we head out of the pandemic. There were two very interesting guidelines that sound like they will stick and definitely caught my attention. The first was the utilization of mobile apps to communicate with your employees. I learned about two apps that I had not heard about previously which are Shyft and Work Jam. These apps allow you to send out notifications to your employees on when shifts are available or when extra coverage is needed. I love this idea because it gives you more flexibility and better planning tools because you do not need to wait until the employees come in for work next to ask if they can cover a different shift. The second takeaway from our discussion around COVID guidelines was the guideline to maintain and create open and honest communication within your operation. I believe this is such a key factor to overall success in business not just during COVID but all the time. Doing this allows you to have better insights into what is happening in all aspects of your operation because your employees will tell you what is going on without any hesitation. This is the best way to improve and ensure that you are on the proper track for growth. Listen to the episode below and check out all the guidelines from Manhattan Associates after the episode. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 191: Manhattan Associates COVID Guidelines
EP 190: BWS Logistics
In this episode, I was joined by Rob Bussey of BWS Logistics. Rob is the National Account Manager at BWS Logistics and he is always on the job, confirming two loads right before we started recording this episode. Rob and I discuss BWS’s specialty which is the beer, wine, and spirits industry, and some of the unique aspects of that business when it comes to the logistics side of things. Key Takeaways BWS Logistics focuses primarily on handling the logistics aspects for beer, wine, and spirits companies. Not only do they handle the finished product but they also handle the packaging for bottling as well. Rob actually talks about how the demand for cans cannot keep up and they need to import empty cans from different countries. As mentioned above, they provide great service and I experienced it as a bystander when Rob had to answer a call at 8 pm at night right before we hit the record button to ensure two loads were going to deliver properly to their customer. One of the things that I was interested in learning about when talking to Rob was some of the unique aspects of the industry BWS Logistics deals in. Rob discusses some of the unique things like temperature regulation and how special blankets can be utilized to capture the right temperature for wines or other spirits. We also get into some of the rules and regulations with shipping certain products. It was really interesting to hear how expensive some of the freight can get due to the rarity of the liquor or the quality of it. Definitely a unique industry. Rob has many years of experience in the logistics industry so I asked him what he thought is next for the industry. He says the big focus is on expanding the track and trace capabilities of shippers and carriers. While the technology has grown and developed over time, Rob says there is still plenty of space to keep improving. We discuss how the consumer expectation of tracking on the B2C side is now translating over to the expectations on the B2B side and some of the steps being taken to give customers better visibility. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 190: BWS Logistics
EP 189: An SOP for your SOP’s
On this episode, I was joined by Dave Baiocchi of Resonant Dealer Services. We focused the discussion on something I love, the SOP! This is the latest in our partnership with Material Handling Wholesaler for their July 2021 issue. Dave wrote the cover story entitled “Unifying your dealership data: ERP or SOP?” which discusses the different aspects of technology and how it can help you organize your data. Key Takeaways Dave has been focusing on the customer experience and how that has evolved over time. One thing that certainly increases as your business grows is the amount of data that you accumulate. Many people will bring in technology to help track this data and get it organized. However, the one big point that Dave makes is that employees need to know how to use this technology. That is where the SOP comes in or the standard operating procedure. Why do I love SOP’s so much? The SOP is such a great tool in any operation or company because it gives you guidelines on how to do a process the correct way every time. It creates repeatable results and avoids any deviation from the process which can cause issues. Additionally, they make the training process much easier and ensure that nothing is missed during the training of new hires. This is a big focus of Dave’s article on how things can get lost from employee turnover if there is no documentation. Having an SOP is great but can be a big undertaking to create. If you are well established and have no SOP’s in place then it may seem daunting to start. Dave advises that you have a dedicated person at the minimum to start. As far as what process to start with, Dave recommends focusing on the processes that have the biggest impact on your customer. With this mindset, you’ll be able to ensure your customer is getting the same experience every time. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 189: An SOP for your SOP’s
EP 188: Panasonic at ProMatDX 2021
In this episode, I was joined by Jim Dempsey of Panasonic. Jim is the Director of US Business Development and Partnerships at Panasonic North America specifically focusing on their mobility solutions. Jim and I connected at ProMatDX to discuss some of their latest technologies in the warehousing space, their projection sortation system, and what future problems they are trying to solve. Key Takeaways Panasonic is certainly a well-known technology company throughout the world and as Jim states, they are certainly known for Blu-ray players and CD players but he actually says that their B2B business is actually the largest percentage of their business. We talk about the pandemic’s impact on the overall demand in the omnichannel space and how Panasonic is helping companies keep up. Jim discusses how they are really focusing on the smart edge and where the transactions are really happening. They enable the smart edge by providing devices that allow you to be mobile like their TOUGHBOOK series and also helping to ensure that these companies are secure from a network standpoint. We also dive into the increased visibility into environmental impacts in the supply chain. With the adoption and increased accessibility to artificial intelligence and machine learning, there is so much more that can be predicted and prevented. Jim gives some great examples of how a supply chain can feel a ripple effect that they may not be prepared for. One of the best examples is of a social media influencer posting about a product and it goes viral or gets a lot of great feedback causing a spike in demand for that item. Jim tells us how some technology out there can actually pick up on this to get your supply chain ahead and meet the demand. When looking at Panasonic’s ProMatDX2021 showcase their Visual Sort Assist solution really caught my attention. They had a customer who was experiencing difficulty with their sortation process and having new hires struggling to remember zip codes and other sortation criteria. What they came up with was a combination of scanning and projection. The system picks up the label of the box and is then able to project an image on top of the box which indicates to the employee which boxes to grab. It is a really cool solution and a great visual management tool. Listen to the episode below and let us know if you’re still using a brick on a stick in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 188: Panasonic at ProMatDX 2021
EP 187: Seegrid at ProMatDX 2021
On this episode, I was joined by Jeff Christensen of Seegrid at ProMatDX 2021. Jeff is the VP of Product at Seegrid and we were able to connect virtually for ProMatDX to discuss Seegrid’s product showcase, their Fleet Geek analytics software, and Jeff’s view on the future of the industry. Key Takeaways Seegrid offers a wide range of AMR solutions to fit your needs through their Palion range. The latest offering from the line is the Palion Lift which gives their AMR the ability to go vertical allowing for a whole new range of flexibility. As Jeff and I discuss, flexibility is incredibly important in warehousing operations, especially when implementing new technology. The Palion Lift comes with the ability to go up to 6 feet, which gives it great versatility in allowing you to stack pallets, pick up and drop off on conveyors, and pick up off lift tables. As Jess says this is just the beginning of them going higher so it will be great to see how the technology develops over time to allow even more flexibility. We also get into Seegrid’s analytics software called Fleet Geek. Their software provides a way for all the data that is occurring in your operation to be collected and then used effectively. Jeff discusses how their real motivation is to create better material flow and manage that better so that the operation is fully orchestrated and the AMR’s are involved in that flow and operating in the smartest way possible. It also allows you to easily identify areas where you are not being very efficient which helps you to quickly correct these and do continuous improvement actions. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your thoughts. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 187: Seegrid at ProMatDX
EP 186: Raymond at ProMatDX 2021
In this episode, I was joined by John Slavik of Raymond. John is the Senior Sales Manager for Intelligent Warehouse Solutions at Raymond and we were able to connect at ProMatDX to discuss their new Courier 3220 Automated Tow Tractor, as well as Pick2Pallet, LED Light System. I have Raymond on the show a few times and they certainly keep evolving to have new innovations to discuss. Key Takeaways The Courier 3220 is the latest in Raymond’s Courier series which is a series of automated tow tractors for warehousing. This model increases the payload to 15,000 pounds and becomes the bigger brother to the 3020. It also focuses on having the ability to navigate ramps as customers were previously having an issue with that John explains. The setup is fairly quick with about a week to implement. Utilizing the vision system for setup it is very easy to get things going. As John explains, you simply drive the tow tractor around the warehouse, and as you do that it learns how to navigate within the area. The other solution I was interested to learn about was the Pick2Pallet LED Light System that Raymond offers. This takes the concept of a pick-to-light system and adds the pallet jack to the equation. Instead of the lights being on a wall or some other type of the area to pick from, the lights are actually built into the pallet jack. John explains how the solution works and integrates with your WMS and voice picking interface. As you are picking and you are telling the system that you have made the pick the trigger will then go for the correct light to light up underneath the pallet that the pick needs to be placed on. It is a very simple solution but one that can bring more productivity to the workforce and better quality to the company. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 186: Raymond at ProMatDX 2021
EP 185: Fire Safety with the FPI Consortium
On this episode, I was joined by Sarah Swan of The FPI Consortium. Sarah is a Senior Code Specialist at The FPI Consortium and we actually connect recently at ProMatDX. Sarah left an interesting comment about fire safety during a presentation and I had to seek her out for the show. We discuss fire safety for the warehouse and how codes can change and consider when doing a new project. Key Takeaways The FPI Consortium is a life safety consulting company that helps you to manage all of the life safety codes and potential issues that may arise in your facility. This includes ensuring that any projects are up to code and will not give you any issues when it comes to dealing with the city. It is extremely important, as you will hear Sarah discuss, to ensure that everything you are doing meets the proper codes and standards not only for the sake of getting your project done but also for the safety of human lives. The FPI Consortium has many years of experience and extensive knowledge of the code system and ways to ensure your project can be supported and explained to local code officials. One of the most extensive and sometimes pretty unknown parts of our business is the number of codes that go into building out our warehouses and the solutions that go inside them. Even though they may not be so visible and hopefully systems like sprinklers are never used, it is incredibly important to follow them. Sarah and I discuss some of the issues that could arise if the codes are not adhered to properly. We also discuss some instances where you may change something within your operation such as the commodity you are using that could impact your compliance. Sarah gives a great example of this in the episode where a company switched from metal to plastic as their primary material. With technology developing so rapidly in our field I was curious to know if fire codes are keeping up. I have heard of some concerns regarding fire suppression in ASRS systems and Sarah explains that there is fire test being done but they are mostly proprietary. She also breaks down how the coding process works and how it can take a few years for the codes to catch up but insurance companies are typically more up to date. The big concern is that when the codes do catch up, you may run into a problem when expanding on ASRS or other systems. This is where The FPI Consortium would be able to come in and properly explain the situation to the local governance. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with what you learned. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 185: Fire Safety with the FPI Consortium
EP 184: What’s the real deal with non-marking Forklift Tires?
On this episode, I was joined by Darren Stratton of Camso, a non-marking tire company. Darren is the Product Management Director for Camso which is a Michelin brand. We discuss all things tires for the material handling industry and get into the details of non-marking tires. Key Takeaways Camso is focused on the tires that do not hit the road so those tires are used in industrial applications, agriculture, and construction. For warehouse professionals, they provide non-marking forklift tires. They have a long history of providing some of the best tires in the industry and have been for quite some time as Darren explains. He also gets into the history of their origins in Sri Lanka where there is an abundance of rubber and how that has helped to shape how the company evolves. With their expertise in the solid tire field, Michelin took notice and acquired them but they still operate under the Camso and Solideal brand names due to the great brand recognition they have within the industry especially when it comes to non-marking forklift tires. What are non-marking tires? I know prior to this discussion I had certainly seen the term on tires and within the industry but never really understood what it fully meant. Darren explains that simply they make no marks which are ideal when working in a warehouse or manufacturing environment to help keep the floors looking nice and clean. What is the more interesting part is what goes into making these tires? There are certain mixtures of rubber and chemicals that come together to make the ideal tire. Darren gets into detail about what these different mixtures can do and even how the percentage of natural rubber can have an impact on the durability of a non-marking tire on a forklift. One of the biggest questions I had was how can someone know what non-marking tire is right for their needs. Camso has done something very interesting in ensuring that all different levels of their tires have the same lifespan. Darren explains that they did this because the customer should be concerned about other factors like thermal performance which is the amount of heat the tire can withstand before falling apart. This is important to understand because the more intense the application the more heat will be generated into the tire. Michelin and Camso have developed a great tool to help identify what tire is best for you called Connect which can be found here. Additionally, they also have an intensity calculator to help you determine the thermal performance you need. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment about what you learned. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 184: What’s the Real Deal with Non-Marking Forklift Tires?
EP 183: Don’t Fork it Up with SIERA.AI
On this episode, I was joined by the Co-Founder and CEO at SIERA.AI, Saurav Agarwal. I was very excited for this episode because the safety technology that SIERA.AI is bringing to the market is game-changing. Just in time for National Forklift Safety Day, I am happy to present this episode to you where we discuss SIERA.AI’s different offerings including collision avoidance for forklifts which is much needed in the industry. Key Takeaways SIERA.AI is focused on improving safety for the material handling industry or simply, as Saurav states, they keep you from forking it up. They do this by recognizing that safety is oftentimes reactive instead of proactive. By addressing the issue of safety being reactive they are helping to ensure that all aspects of safety are not only prevented but also done in a more productive way. It starts with something as simple as the checklist and audit process. As we discuss, oftentimes the checklist process is very messy because it is on paper and there can be many papers to check for a full operation with multiple forklifts and 5 days or more of operation. The time consumed by supervisors to audit these checklists can be massive so they have made the checklist digital so that they are recorded in a much better way digitally and easily accessible for auditing purposes. Now, the most exciting part of SIERA.AI’s offerings is the collision avoidance system. We have certainly seen this technology in the consumer world on cars but SIERA.AI is bringing it into the warehouse to help reduce the staggering number of safety incidents that occur in the workplace. Saurav shares some incredible numbers of how many accidents actually occur and how they have prevented 11,000 incidents in just the last year. There are two versions that can help you avoid collisions in your warehouse. The first is an alert system that will give the operator a notice that they are close to an object and the next version is one that will actually override the operator and stop the machine when it detects a collision coming. The threshold for collisions can be adjusted by the company to ensure that it works within your standards. When these incidents occur, everything is recorded so that it can be reviewed which includes photos and videos of the incident. A huge advancement for reducing safety incidents in the warehousing space. One of the most impressive things about the system is the ease of implementation. The system sounds very robust but according to Saurav, it is very simple to add to any material handling equipment. There are two units that are installed, one the size of an iPad and one the size of an iPhone. From these two devices, you can get all of the great technology that SIERA.AI is offering and continue to get the updates as the technology grows and your business changes. This is one of the best things about their solution because you can constantly be improving your safety setup which is the ideal way to handle your safety culture. Very excited to see what comes next from SIERA.AI. Listen to the episode below and let us know if you’ll be looking at this technology for your operation. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 183: Don’t Fork it Up with SIERA.AI
EP 182: Quadient at ProMatDX 2021
On this episode, I was joined by Sean Webb of Quadient at ProMatDX2021 . Sean is the Director of Automated Packaging Solutions at Quadient and joined me during the virtual event to catch up on what Quadient has been up to since the last time I spoke to them in person at MODEX 2020. Key Takeaways Quadient covers a large array of mailing services from mailroom software and postage meters to automated packaging solutions. Their automated packaging solutions are designed to help streamline your fulfillment operation and ensure that you are not losing time during the packing process. They help to keep sustaining massive throughput with up to 1,100 packages being produced per hour. With this type of throughput, you can be sure that this is a key part of your process especially with the spikes in demand due to the pandemic and the shift in consumer behavior. One of the most fascinating things about their technology is the ability to properly measure the order that is shipping out (can be multiple items at once) and how it creates the box to fit perfectly. The demo videos for ProMatDX, even show a very odd-shaped bike stand and it has no problem creating a box to fit it perfectly. Sean explains how the measurement happens while the items pass through a light curtain and they bounce off the item to create the perfect cube for it to ship in. Not only is it creating the perfect cube for your items but it is also reducing waste in packaging and helping you to maximize the utilization of the trailers you are shipping in. A few months back I got into a discussion on a post about how automated packaging can still ensure that items stay safe and will not get damaged in transit. Sean explains that items that are fragile will still need extra handling but this can happen upstream in the process or the products can be pre-packaged with sufficient protection. Once they are protected, they can still go through the automated packaging solution with no issue and be boxed accordingly. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment if you are thinking about introducing an automated packaging solution to your operation. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 182: Quadient at ProMatDX 2021
EP 181: Going Up with Custom Industrial Products
In this episode, I was joined by Jake Jakobson of Custom Industrial Products for the latest in our partnership with Material Handling Wholesaler. Jake is a Manufacturing Engineer at Custom Industrial Products and came on the show to talk about their VRC’s or Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors. We also discuss the safety that these types of conveyors bring to the workplace and how safety is thought about during the product development phase. Key Takeaways Custom Industrial Products if focused on developing custom vertical reciprocating conveyors for all types of applications as well as mezzanines. Jake explains how they can design these products for multiple applications. In the warehouse, they help companies to maximize their space by utilizing vertical square footage that might not have been realized in the past. Their VRC’s also help to create a safer environment. A vertical reciprocating conveyor or VRC is essentially a lift that can be utilized to transport heavy loads from one level to the next. Jake explains that it is different from an elevator because of the way it is built and operates it falls under a different set of codes. Since they are custom built there is a lot of flexibility in what you can do with a VRC especially when it comes to capacity. I found it pretty amazing that they can build them to handle up to 100,000-pound loads. With that type of capacity, you can really effectively move a lot between levels and safely. The VRC has multiple safety precautions in place and helps to reduce other dangerous situations that arise with other options for moving loads between levels. Jake goes into the other options and the danger they can bring. If you are lifting loads with a forklift from one level to the next, you open yourself up to too many dangers, including having openings on your mezzanine where individuals could potentially fall from. We also discuss how safety is thought of when developing a product. Jake explains how safety is thought of in the process and how they need to be cautious of the code’s dependence on the state the VRC will install. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment with your top safety tip below. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 181: Going Up with Custom Industrial Products Share on Facebook
EP 180: Vecna Robotics at ProMatDX 2021
On this episode, I was joined by the Director of Strategy at ProMatDX, Matt Cherewka. We have had Vecna on the show a few times and it is always a pleasure to connect with them and hear what they are up to. For this episode we spoke about what Vecna was showing off at ProMatDX, the current state of automation, and also what Matt thinks will be the next technology to really make an impact on the warehousing space. Key Takeaways Vecna has been focused on self-driving vehicles for the warehousing space and has become known for their tugger and forklift applications like the latest Silverback series which was recently featured on the podcast. Matt discusses how they were showing off these in the virtual showcase of ProMatDX and what the reception from attendees was. In addition to their vehicles, they also had their orchestration software which is really one of the key drivers to their success as it is able to really prioritize the work and ensure the robots are in the right place at the right time. Matt discusses the current state of automation and how things are evolving. He discusses how we are now seeing much more applications of robotics in the warehousing space to address all different functions. On top of all of these different applications is the development of software that will help to get these applications communicated properly. The key is to get to all tie together according to Matt and that is what a lot of companies are working on now which will really help to accelerate the adoption of robotics. As we discuss the evolution in our space, it is not just the technology that is evolving but also the consumer and user of the technology. Matt and I discuss how just in the past few years the consumer has really evolved from being a bit skeptical and curious about robotics to really understand the solutions and wanting to get down to the numbers. He says now what they see at trade shows is that the consumers recognize they need to automate in this way but they really want to understand how they get their ROI from the solution. This is really a great sign of the adoption of robotics becoming more regular and commonplace which will ultimately help drive prices down allowing smaller companies more accessibility to keep up with increasing demand. Listen to the episode below and let us know your view on the current state of automation in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 180: Vecna Robotics at ProMatDX 2021
EP 179: Concentric
On this episode, I was joined by Concentric’s VP of Marketing, Ryan Lynch. Concentric focuses on making sure you have the right power solutions for your material handling equipment. We discuss what Concentric does, different battery technologies, and their Guaranteed Power program. Key Takeaways Concentric is focused on your power and how to look at it in a different way. Instead of looking at it from the perspective of selling you batteries, they are looking at it as selling you a utility which is the power itself. They have developed a program called Guaranteed POWER to help facilitate selling your power as a utility instead of just selling you a battery. Ryan discusses how they will assess your needs and develop the best power setup for your operation with the focus on making your life easier. Their approach is a bit different than how it has been in the past. He discusses how power used to be a second thought or just accepted as that is what comes with the forklift but now, they are focused on looking at power at the beginning of the decision-making process. One thing that Ryan explains is the ideal power setup. His goal is to ensure that if you get a battery with a 5-year lifespan that you do not think about that battery or need to do anything with it for those 5 years. As he puts it, it should be invisible to you. I totally agree with him because we should not be in the business of worrying about batteries unless it is out of life and needs to be replaced or upgraded. There should be no in-between concerns about the battery and whether or not they will get you through the time that they are supposed to. That is why a power assessment like the one Concentric does is so important prior to make a power system decision. Now that we don’t want you to think about your power system, I asked Ryan when should you actually be thinking about upgrading or reassessing your needs. He explains that there are some signs to look for. If you find that your lead-acid batteries are only lasting a few years then you may have an issue. Additionally, if you find that your batteries are lasting well beyond their projected life that could be a potential issue too in terms of spending. Ryan explains that you should be looking at your actual needs and might be able to adjust to a leasing program or some other arrangement that may save you money in the long run. Listen to the episode below and let us know your power situation in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 179: Concentric