Episode 118 – Current State of Automation
In this episode, I was joined by two guests for the November 2020 cover story of Material Handling Wholesaler. I discuss the current state of automation with Nathan Bivans, CTO of FORT Robotics, and Martin McVicar, Co-founder and CEO of Combilift. Key Takeaways Both Nathan and Martin are involved in automation and robotics but in two different ways. Martin and Combilift provide forklift solutions that help to maximize your warehouse space by allowing you to use more narrow aisles due to their unique designs. Nathan and FORT Robotics help to bring safety and security solutions to the automation and robotics world for all industries to help ensure human safety and protect companies from potential security breaches. As we discuss the current state of automation, Martin discusses how the industry has taken a step back from automating everything possible to really take a look at the full process and see what portions could benefit the most from automation. The emphasis is on ensuring that the process is fully optimized before a company starts to automate for the sake of automation. Additionally, we hear from Nathan what we have been hearing from many guests that automation demand is increasing due to the pandemic to help meet the increased consumer demand and also to help meet the new requirements of social distancing. One thing I have noticed through the pandemic is that it has created interesting opportunities to push technology forward due to necessity. Nathan discusses how the automation world is seeing technology push forward from a hardware standpoint. He talks about how the increased demand for automation has helped to reduce the cost of the components needed for automation which has helped to make automation more accessible for many industries and companies. Martin also discusses something I have been seeing since MODEX 2020 which is an increase in collaboration between different companies allowing for robotic solutions to communicate better in an operation. These collaborations help to ensure that when a company is implementing automation their system will properly communicate with the solutions and get the most benefit from it. The collaborations also help to push the technology forward for the benefit of all. An interesting coincidence between Nathan and Martin is that they both grew up around farms and working on farm equipment. This generated a very interesting discussion on how many of the population in current times do not have that type of exposure which makes something like operating a forklift more difficult to get used to and pick up on. Due to this, companies like Combilift are making their products easier to adapt to and pick up on. Martin provides some really interesting insights on the thought process beyond just getting the machine to move which include calculating loads in your head or understanding how to properly lift something. He talks about how they are putting systems in place that will do this for the operator to make training and operation easier. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 118: Current State of Automation
Episode 117 – NetSuite
In this episode, I was joined by Ranga Bodla of NetSuite. Ranga is the VP of Field Engagement and Marketing for NetSuite which is an Oracle business unit. We discuss NetSuite, supply chain impacts from COVID-19, and the idea of reshoring. Key Takeaways NetSuite is a robust software platform that can manage many aspects of the business from financials to CRM and of course supply chain. Ranga gives a brief overview of how NetSuite is able to track products through the entire supply chain in real-time and how the size of the businesses that are using NetSuite is very broad. He mentions how the capabilities are suitable for even just a company starting out with a few people who need flexibility and the ability to grow. One of the big shocks to the supply chain from the pandemic this year was how supply quickly dried up for certain items due to closures in certain regions of the world. Ranga discusses how companies might have become dependent on single sources because it had been so easy to get materials in the past. Due to this and trying to run leaner many companies say that this strategy does not work for mitigating risks and might not be the way to operate going forward. Additionally, he points out how it is not easy to just quickly setup manufacturing somewhere else. From this realization, organizations are looking at how to make themselves more nimble. One way to do this is through the concept of reshoring which means bringing certain aspects of the supply chain to a more local location. Ranga discusses how this does not mean uprooting your entire supply chain and moving it but can refer to just starting to move only certain aspects. Most commonly a company would look at manufacturing to be closer but Ranga also points out that sourcing and other aspects of the supply chain can be brought closer to start off with a slower transition. He also mentions the idea of being closer provides an option to not be dependent on ocean freight which can help to improve lead times on certain materials and reduce potential issues during transport. Overall, the pandemic has certainly made us all look at business in a different way. With most of the podcasts that I have done through this time, there is an underlying theme of pivoting and adjusting. The idea of reshoring is just another way to look at pivoting and adjusting your business to adapt to the current times. While it has been a dark time, it has also been a time for a lot of opportunities to emerge and some very different thinking of how to make things still happen. Listen to the episode below and let us know if you are adjusting your supply chain in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 117: NetSuite
Episode 116 – Vargo
In this episode, I was joined by Art Eldred of VARGO Solutions. Art is the Client Executive of Systems Engineering at VARGO and was a previous podcast guest during our ProMat series on Episode 11. We discuss VARGO’s COFE system, differences between WES, WMS, and WCS, benefits of being waveless, and also trends during COVID-19. Key Takeaways VARGO is a systems integrator which means they do not manufacture any components but what they do is put together the best solutions for fulfillment applications. This allows you, as a customer, to get the best of breed solutions and have the ability to put them altogether through VARGO’s experience and design knowledge. In addition to being a solutions integrator, they also provide software that helps all of these different technologies to work together and communicate. The COFE (continuous order fulfillment engine) system is VARGO’s Warehouse Execution System (WES) which helps to optimize and synchronize workflows within the warehouse. This allows all aspects of the warehouse to work together so that inefficiencies are reduced. Art gives a great background on how COFE was created and also what exactly a WES is. He discusses how the idea of a WES came from the original manufacturing execution system which allows all parts of manufacturing to operate in sync so that workflows continuously through the operation. WES, WMS, WCS, what does it all mean and what is the difference? Well, Art gives a great break down of what each system’s purpose is and how the WES is the overall system that helps to coordinate the others. Overall the differences are due to the type of decision making of the system and also the timeliness. Each plays a part in the overall process but the only one that can really coordinate all of the moving parts and do it with time in mind is the WES. There is also a great break down of the differences on VARGO’s site here. Since VARGO is working with multiple companies on helping them increase efficiency, I asked Art about what trends they are seeing due to the pandemic. Art discusses how the biggest thing they have seen is how companies are looking to be more capital conscious and help to mitigate issues with labor. Due to this, there has been an increased demand in companies looking for flexible automation solutions that can be set up right away. As you will hear, Art discusses how this has caused the popularity of the robots as a service model (RaaS), which we have discussed on the podcast before, to rise and give companies a real chance to get through this. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts on WES vs. WMS vs. WCS. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 116: VARGO
Episode 115 – A. Duie Pyle
In this episode, I was joined by John Tillison of A. Duie Pyle. John is the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales for A. Duie Pyle and also has an extensive background in the trucking industry along with being an adjunct professor for supply chain management at Duquesne University. We discuss Pyle’s longevity in the industry, current trucking trends, sustainability in trucking, and also optimization of shipments. Key Takeaways John has been involved in the trucking industry since 1983 and has seen many different changes to the industry throughout his career. He currently works for A. Duie Pyle which is a longstanding company in the trucking industry. He gives us a great history on the company and how it was started and ran out of the family’s dining room. It is a really interesting insight into how the company was able to evolve over multiple generations of the Pyle family. He also gives some great historical tidbits throughout the company’s growth as well. We also discuss how the trucking industry has seen issues due to safety on the road. John discusses how accidents have caused insurance rates to steeply increase which has hurt a lot of the smaller carriers who cannot afford to keep up with rates in an industry with small margins. He discusses how safety has been improving in the trucking industry and how crash avoidance systems have come into play which has helped the number of incidents decrease. We also talk about the importance of training your drivers and being sure that you are putting safe drivers on the road. This is incredibly important as road safety is very important to keep lives safe and ensure that everyone makes it home okay. As supply chains look to become more sustainable there is an emphasis on the trucking industry to reduce emissions. John tells us how A. Duie Pyle is taking steps towards reducing emissions and becoming more sustainable. They continue to work on reducing emissions in their fuel-powered trucks and most interestingly they have already started to utilize electric-powered straight trucks in the New York City area. He talks about how the technology is developing regarding electric-powered trucks and how they are finding success with the fleet coming out of their Bronx terminal. He predicts that in the next few years they will be moving more of the fleet over to electric power. Listen to the episode below and let us know what you think the future of trucking looks like in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 115: A. Duie Pyle
Episode 114 – Mobile Robot Guide
In today’s episode, I was joined by one of my peers, Mike Oitzman who is the founder and publisher of the Mobile Robot Guide. His platform is just as it reads, all about mobile robots for all industries. He recently released his 2020 Warehouse Solutions Buyer’s Guide for all things autonomous mobile robots in the warehouse. We talk about his background, what readers can expect from Mobile Robot Guide, how robots have evolved over time, and how to get the latest Warehouse Solutions Buyer’s Guide. Key Takeaways Mike’s career started in factory automation and then evolved into working with software companies as well. He is an experienced product manager in the technology space. As a mentor for a local high school robotics team he took a personal interest in mobile robots and got the opportunity to go back to one of his previous employers to work on their mobile robot line. Through that, his interest continued to grow and he started following all of the different mobile robot companies. He eventually decided to go out on his own and do some consulting than in 2018 he had the idea for the Mobile Robot Guide due to there being no one who was covering this topic in the industry. Now, the Mobile Robot Guide is 2 years old and has a weekly newsletter that is incredibly comprehensive covering all things mobile robots. Many of the companies we have covered on the podcast are frequently covered in Mike’s newsletters as well. He stays on top of all of the latest news so you can be sure that if there is something you need to know about mobile robots you will find it on his site. Additionally, he is constantly tracking the solutions that are on the market so that he can develop comprehensive buyer’s guides for this sector. With the buyer’s guides, Mobile Robot Guide has been able to put out extensive and well thought out information resources for decision-makers to be able to easily compare the large array of options on the market. Earlier this year Mike was able to put out the 2020 Disinfection Solutions Edition which covers all automated mobile disinfection solutions which have seen an obvious increase in demand due to COVID. Now, Mike and the Mobile Robot Guide have released the 2020 Warehouse Solutions Buyer’s Guide which covers all autonomous mobile robots in the warehouse space. Luckily for us at The New Warehouse and our listeners, Mike has extended a 10% offer for the 2020 Warehouse Solutions Buyer’s Guide by simply using promo code WAREHOUSEPOD10 at checkout. The guide is your comprehensive look into all autonomous mobile robot solutions for the warehouse. It is an incredible time savings on market research and will educate you on what you need to look for in vendors and the right questions to ask when it is time for the RFP process. Buy it here now. Listen to the episode below for more information and let us know if you bought the guide in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 114: Mobile Robot Guide
EP 113: Salute to Women in Material Handling
This episode is the latest installment in our partnership with Material Handling Wholesaler where we bring you some additional insights for their monthly cover story. For October 2020, we are doing a salute to women in material handling with guests Emily Soloby and Rebecca Butao. You may remember Emily from Episode 54 as the founder of Juno Jones and also co-owner of AAA School of Trucking and now the host of the Hazard Girls Podcast. Rebecca is the National Accounts Manager at Hannibal Industries dealing with all things racking. I have to admit that this is probably one of my personal favorite episodes that I have done and it was a lot of fun to record. Key Takeaways Both Emily and Rebecca started out their careers in different industries than the material handling industry but eventually saw opportunities that lead them to where they are now. As Emily and Rebecca describe the journey that has gotten them to where they are now you can see the benefits of pursuing potential opportunities. They both were willing to take a risk and also stayed mentally strong to persevere through whatever criticism might have been thrown their way. One of the big things that have helped to give more exposure to women in the material handling field and other non-traditional industries is the growing communities. Emily and Rebecca both discuss how they are involved in different communities where like-minded women are able to connect and discuss their experiences in these industries. Rebecca discusses MHEDA’s Women in Industry Initiative and Emily talks about her Hazard Girls Facebook group that she created as their community platforms. What they have found is that there are many women going through similar things and the community helps to support them. With no surprise, Rebecca and Emily have faced a lot of adversity throughout their career. I have heard things myself towards women in our industry and it is just a terrible thing. There is no reason for it and to me it is ridiculous. It is sad to hear what they have been through but it is truly motivating to hear how they took those comments and turned them into motivation to drive them through their career. It is truly a great motivator that anyone can learn from and use to motivate themselves through adversity. Listen to the episode below and check out the October 2020 cover story of Material Handling Wholesaler here. EP 113: Salute to Women in Material Handling
Episode 112 – Semtech
In this episode, I spoke with Pedro Pachuca who is the Director of Wireless Products at Semtech Corporation. Semtech provides the technology that supports the IntelliPallet that was previously discussed on Episode 65 with Pallet Alliance. Pedro and I talk about what Semtech does, their LoRa technology, how the relationship with Pallet Alliance came about, and other supply chain applications they are involved in. Key Takeaways Semtech is a provider of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors and advanced algorithms for infrastructure, high-end consumer and industrial equipment. They help to drive leading technologies like mobility, data centers, and the internet of things (IoT). One of their main platforms that helps to power the IntelliPallet is their LoRa technology. The name LoRa is derived from “long-range” because the technology provides a much longer range in communication versus some other technologies. This technology requires very minimal power and no GPS for tracking purposes. Pedro discusses how LoRa enables devices and items to communicate so that they can be tracked or have data collected. Semtech continues to build on this technology and new advances are able to develop devices that use ten timeless power. Most impressive is that a device that would typically be powered for 3 months could now be powered up to 3 years. This is a huge reduction in maintenance and also the cost of replacements. If you remember from Episode 65 with Pallet Alliance they are using the LoRA technology to track pallets throughout the supply chain to help companies retrieve their custom pallets. With 1.5 billion pallets in circulation, the cost of previous tracking technologies was too high to practically use. Now, due to LoRa not using GPS, it helps to significantly reduce the cost of implementing the technology which was the perfect fit for Pallet Alliance’s IntelliPallet. The device gets put on to the pallet in an area that is unlikely to be damaged when it is being handled by machinery or in transit. During the COVID pandemic Semtech’s newest technology, LoRa Edge has been utilized to do tracing for individuals. It has the ability to read MAC addresses so it can be used to track individuals by their wireless devices. Additionally, Pedro discusses how LoRa can do temperature tracking from a distance that comes into play when dealing with individuals who may be sick. Listen to the episode below and get your own asset tracking kit on Amazon here. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 112: Semtech
Episode 111 – Boxlock
In this episode, I was joined by the Chief Commercial Officer of Boxlock, Andrew Kelley. We discuss the Boxlock product, how it came about, and how it is being utilized in the supply chain. Key Takeaways Boxlock is, very simply, a lock for a box but it is an incredibly smart lock. The idea behind Boxlock is that it is a contact-less way to handle deliveries to either businesses or residences in a secure manner. It allows for only specific access to a designated box or container by the owner or by the designated delivery person. This ensures that only the expected item can be dropped in the container and also retrieved by only the intended recipient. With Boxlock the key becomes very digital and very flexible. Instead of a physical key for the lock, barcodes are utilized to unlock the Boxlock. A barcode can be present on the shipping label which allows the delivery person to scan the barcode and unlock the box if it is the right location. When the recipient is ready to retrieve the package they then utilize a barcode that is present on their phone to unlock the box and retrieve the package. Adding to the flexibility, the owner also has the ability to push a one time use barcode out to anyone of their choosing to unlock the box. Andrew gives a great example of how a driver may be running late to pick up a delivery at a warehouse. If the warehouse closes, the driver can be given a one-time use barcode to unlock what they need to pick up and no one needs to stay behind or the driver does not need to wait until the next day. Huge time savings on both ends. Boxlock in action While the name is Boxlock it is not just a lock for boxes. Andrew discusses how the lock can be utilized to secure specific areas where there may be high-risk or high-value items as well. For example, an IT cage in your facility could be secured with one of these locks and the barcode given to only certain individuals that can enter the area. With their technology, you have the ability to track who is utilizing the lock and maintain a digital audit log. This is a great way to determine when something might have gone wrong or if something goes missing you can determine when it might have gone missing or even who might have been involved. The Boxlock is a great example of how the IoT can be applied to regular everyday things that we use like keys. As Andrew discusses, the future for Boxlock may just be a subscription-based service where the device itself actually ends up being free. With the current capabilities and future planned capabilities, the services provided will be valuable enough to support the subscription. It also has the ability to communicate with different supply chain systems to help further Boxlock’s integration into your overall supply chain. Listen to the episode below and let us know what you think about Boxlock in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 111: Boxlock
Episode 110 – Matthew Caito of The Lacy School of Business
In this episode, I was joined by Matthew Caito who is a faculty lecturer at Butler University’s Lacy School of Business. I first met Matthew briefly at MODEX 2020 earlier this year and then we both spoke at the SEE Conference in Indiana that same week. We caught up virtually to discuss how the education climate has been during the pandemic, what students are interested in learning about and we got into some of his background in the fresh prepared foods business. Key Takeaways Matthew is currently a lecturer focusing on supply chain and operations management topics at the Lacy School of Business but his background is in his family’s fresh produce business. He discusses how his experience grew rapidly through working at his family’s business. Due to the quick inventory turns involved with fresh produce he was able to learn a lot very quickly because it was necessary to help the business survive and grow. He also has some great points about how working with larger companies can help your company to become better. While many complain about the requirements set by large companies like Kroger and Costco, following them can really help improve your business and processes to scale. When I get the chance to speak with anyone involved in education, whether a student or faculty member, I am always curious to know what students are excited about currently. I believe this can tell you a lot about what the future might hold and what upcoming trends may be. In discussing with Matthew, it is interesting to hear the high-interest level that he is seeing in data analytics. I see the same thing on my end from students who I am in contact with. There are a lot of double majors in data analytics and supply chain. What I find very fascinating is how students are not really aware of what supply chain and logistics are until Matthew explains it to them. He mentions how they have sort of a light bulb moment and realize that the supply chain is all around them which creates an interest in the topic. With Matthew’s background in the fresh produce industry, I wanted to tap into his thoughts on what has been happening for the fresh food industry during the pandemic. Matthew gives a great overview and a bit of a breakdown on the fresh produce industry. He also dives into how the industry had been so focused on the foodservice industry that when the pandemic hit, food service businesses had to shut down and pivot to accommodate consumer’s new behaviors in a different channel. He emphasizes the resilience that this industry has and how it was able to go through that pivot and make sure that food was still getting to consumers. Listen to the episode below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 110: Matthew Caito of The Lacy School of Business
Episode 109 – What’s Up Professor?
In this episode of the podcast I was joined by Aldo McLean, Ph.D. at MODEX 2020. Aldo was walking by our booth at MODEX and stopped by to say hello so we threw him on the microphone and talked to him about what it is like teaching the future of our industry and what the students are interested in these days. Key Takeaways Aldo is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Management at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he teaches multiple courses surrounding the topic of logistics. Some of the most interesting classes he mentions are around logistics and specifically on facilities planning. I was surprised to hear this because I do not believe these are widely offered classes at many universities. What I was most curious to hear about from Aldo was what students are interested in when it comes to logistics. As I have heard many times before he explains that students do not start off interested in the logistics aspect of the supply chain so he gets very creative to help them understand exactly what is involved in logistics which results in them increasing their interest level. I believe having individuals like Aldo in the academic environment is very important for the future of our industry. While the supply chain has become more visible with the recent pandemic and shortages, many still view a distribution center as a big concrete box with a bunch of cardboard boxes inside when the reality is there are so many complexities and very innovative things happening inside. It is important that we bring some awareness to that to ensure we continue to have a strong future workforce in our industry. Since Aldo was an attendee I wanted to get his take on what he saw at MODEX and what he thinks is next to come in our industry. He shared an interesting perspective on the idea of stores becoming more like fulfillment centers. In discussing this, he likened the idea of more orders being fulfilled at the store level to how stores used to be a front counter and the clerk would go retrieve the item you want to buy from the back room. As we are moving to more orders being picked and fulfilled within the store there is the idea that the backroom may increase in size and the actual store footprint may reduce. Listen to the episode below and let us know what got you interested in logistics in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 109: What’s Up Professor?
Episode 108 – 6 River Systems Then and Now
In this episode, I caught up with Fergal Glynn of 6 River Systems twice! For the beginning of the episode we caught up at MODEX 2020 just before the pandemic hit and at the end of the episode, you will hear our more recent discussion talking about what has happened since MODEX 2020 and what impact COVID-19 has had for 6 River Systems and its customers. FLOW 2020 Before we jump into some key takeaways for this episode, I wanted to let you know that FLOW 2020 is taking place this Wednesday and Thursday (9/16 and 9/17). This is 6 River’s annual event bringing together over 40 speakers for FREE to help keep you up to speed on what is happening in fulfillment, logistics, and automation. FLOW is sure to be an exciting virtual event with lots of information being shared to help you stay up to date during these pandemic times. One of our former guests, Rafael Granato, will also be a speaker so be sure to register and soak up some knowledge. You can register here. Key Takeaways 6 River Systems is focused on empowering the worker by increasing throughput and improving productivity with their automated solutions. They provide a robot named Chuck to help move goods within the flow of your operation. Chuck is incredibly flexible in how it can be configured in terms of size and deployment. With the same technology as autonomous vehicles, Chuck has no need for any changes to your facility and can be put in place with ease. Onboard software is constantly thinking of the next step ensuring that all picking processes are being handled as efficiently as possible. As I caught up with Fergal at MODEX 2020 we talked about the big news since we had first connected on Episode 14 which was that 6 River Systems was acquired by Shopify in the fall of 2019 for a nice sum of $450 million. Shopify recognized the opportunity that 6 River provides them to expand their fulfillment suite. With the acquisition, Shopify begins to be able to increase their physical product offering as well as digital to help fulfillment businesses expand and expand more efficiently. Fergal discusses how the acquisition and support from Shopify are helping them to continue to expand their offerings and improve their technology. MODEX Fergal also discussed how 6 River System’s goal has always been to solve the fulfillment problem in all aspects of the fulfillment center. They started by looking at the picking process which had the most opportunity to improve efficiency. As this has been established, 6 River has built out more robust software that can now handle other functionality in the fulfillment center. They are still utilizing the same AMR, Chuck, but he is now able to handle replenishment, sortation, and pack out in addition to picking. Their ultimate goal is to provide a wall to wall solution to help automate the entire fulfillment process. At the end of the episode, you can hear us discuss how things have changed over the pandemic since MODEX and how 6 River Systems has adapted to the new work environment. What is interesting to hear is how the pandemic has actually helped them to accelerate certain things they already had planned. One of those being deployment. Fergal discusses how they are able to do completely remote deployments now without sending any “Rivs” or 6 River employees on site. This is an incredible step forward for deployments and also a big step in increasing the ease of the 6 River Systems solution. Listen to the full episode below and watch the video of Fergal and me at MODEX 2020 below when we were still having in-person meetings. For more information on 6 River Systems head to their website here. To connect with Fergal find him on LinkedIn here.
EP 107: Veryable On Demand Staffing
In this episode, I was joined by Mike Kinder who is the Co-Founder and CEO at Veryable. At Veryable they are looking at the future of on-demand labor. Mike and I discuss the Veryable model, the labor market during COVID-19, and how Industry 4.0 will impact the labor market. Key Takeaways Veryable helps to solve an operational problem of a need for flexibility on staffing. They are able to cut out the middle person in a way by giving operations direct access to candidates so they can bring them in as needed and reduce on lag time with administrative tasks in between. On their platform, you can go on and see who is available right at that moment. On the worker’s side, it also allows them to go on and adjust their availability or what their qualifications are to give them flexibility on picking up work. As we look at the labor market during the pandemic, we have to look back at how tight the labor market was going into the pandemic. What Mike discusses is how the goal was to find out how to bring in more people into the manufacturing and operations space. However, as the pandemic started to develop he has seen a lot of companies cutting back but also figuring out how to consolidate to reduce the number of resources needed. As we have gone further through the pandemic there has been a need for on-demand workers as companies experience spikes of business for short periods of time. Mike has an extensive background in manufacturing and operations so I asked him his thoughts on Industry 4.0 and its role in labor. I think this is an interesting discussion because much of Industry 4.0 is designed to move away from the dependency of workers. However, Mike raises some interesting points on how there are things happening or things that need to happen to help enable workers and potentially increase jobs for them. He also helps to give a better perspective on what Industry 4.0 is and how too many things are getting put under this umbrella. EP 107: Veryable On-Demand Staffing
Episode 106 – Preventing Theft in the Supply Chain with BSI
In this episode, I connected with Tony Pelli of BSI. Tony is the Practice Director of Security and Resilience for BSI and he came on to talk to me about how theft in the supply chain is increasing especially around PPE due to increased demand. We also discuss how to prevent theft in general and how to make sure your supply chain is more secure. You may remember that I also spoke to David Fairnie of BSI back on Episode 45 about theft within the last mile. Key Takeaways BSI stands for the British Standards Institution which helps create standards for companies to increase their resiliency. They cover multiple different industries but focus a lot on the supply chain which helps to identify where certain risks may exist in global supply chains. The information and risk assessments they provide can help to strengthen your supply chain and reduce the potential of theft or other issues. Tony highlights how the increased demand for products moving through the supply chain due to the pandemic has created more opportunities for theft. Due to consumer behavior shifting to more online purchasing there is more product moving through all aspects of the supply chain with some in high demand (we all remember the great toilet paper rush) causing more opportunities for gaps in security. Another driver of these gaps is the scramble for some companies who are looking to meet demand or enter into a channel that they may have not previously been in. With the rush to enter these channels they may be overlooking some security aspects and other preventative measures. When it comes to in-demand items, PPE or personal protective equipment had an incredible spike in many places. With no previous high demand for PPE like we have seen in recent months, it created a very surprising market for these items like masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. Tony discusses how theft has increased for these items and how a black market has developed as people are desperate to get these items and are not concerned about where it is coming from. He gives an example of how a full truck of masks was stolen at a value of half a million dollars. What we can take away from this theft is that there are people targeting and tracking these loads to steal them so they are not so many opportunistic theft occurrences. One of the most interesting parts of the discussion for me is hearing some examples of actual theft that has happened. Not only is it fascinating how creative and clever some of the schemes are but it is a great way to learn different ways that you should be securing your supply chain. It is pretty incredible to hear the different types of thefts especially the level of fraud that goes on. Tony discusses how individuals will put fake signs on their trucks, claim to be picking up something that is not theirs, or even gets truck driver’s cell phone numbers to reroute them. EP 106: Preventing Theft in the Supply Chain with BSI
Episode 105 – AutoGuide Mobile Robots at MODEX 2020
In this episode, I was joined by Rob Sullivan at MODEX 2020. Rob is the President and CEO at AutoGuide Mobile Robot Guides. He is an innovator in our industry with 16 patents under his belt and also heading up a few different startups. We discuss how AutoGuide came to be, its hardware, software, and the future. Key Takeaways AutoGuide Mobile Robots is a leading supplier of high payload autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). They provide the market with automated tuggers and forklifts. Through Rob’s background, he was able to see a whole in the market where automation was not taking place between the trailer and stocking so he wanted to automate that part of the operation which is what leads to AutoGuide. One very interesting thing about AutoGuide’s AMRs is that the sensors can sense if a pallet is unstable. Rob discusses what happens in this scenario and how the automated forklift can adjust to accommodate the load. What I like most about this part of the discussion is how Rob talks about the robot needing to adapt to the real world where not every load is perfect. This a great point and I am very happy to hear they are thinking in this way. On the software side, there are multiple facets of AutoGuide’s system. One of the most interesting aspects is that their system actually sees the inventory and has an inventory management system built-in. Where this comes in handy is optimizing a pick. The robot is able to know where the inventory is located so they can pick the best location to put away to or to pick from. This builds on top of the optimization that their system is already working on through their fleet management system. Rob gives us his insights on what the future holds which is an interesting business model of utilizing different modules for their automated forklifts. He discusses how they would start with their base model and then they would have different options to switch out and utilize the same robot for multiple different applications. In the future, it is all about integration that will tie everything in the operation together for Rob. EP 105: AutoGuide Mobile Robots at MODEX In this episode host Kevin Lawton is joined by President and CEO of AutoGuide Mobile Robots, Rob Sullivan, at MODEX 2020. They discuss AutoGuide’s origins, hardware, software, and what the future holds in Rob’s eyes. For more information on AutoGuide find their website here. To connect with Rob find him on LinkedIn here.
Episode 104 – Brother Mobile Solutions
In this episode, I was joined by Dave Crist who is the President of Brother Mobile Solutions. We discussed their new TD-4 Desktop Thermal Printers, ease of connectivity, and their hardware as a service program. Key Takeaways Brother is well known for multiple different product lines which include sewing machines and their P-Touch line of label printers. Brother Mobile Solutions focuses on printers for logistics solutions and other mobile applications such as in police cars or trucks. They started this line with a full-page printer called the PocketJet which is a thermal transfer printer and totally mobile. Recently, Brother Mobile Solutions released a new line of desktop thermal transfer printers called the TD-4 series. Dave discusses how this line was developed by taking some learnings from the mobile side on connectivity. Typical these types of printers are limited in how they can be connected but Brother was able to have these printers be connected in multiple different ways. The expansion of connectivity allows for the printers to now be connected wirelessly via wireless networks or even Bluetooth. This is a huge deal because it gives your operation a ton of flexibility on where printers can be set up and how you can move them around. It also gives you the ability to bring more printers online a lot quicker when you have a surge in demand or work. We have talked about robots as a service on the show and also are familiar with software as a service but Brother Mobile Solutions has an offering called Shift & Print which is a hardware as a service program. This is very important because it takes what would typically be a capital expenditure and turns it into an operational expenditure. With lower investment, it allows you to have newer technology without putting in a huge commitment financially. The subscription service can be tailored to your specific needs and helps to make sure you are covered during peak season with more hardware as needed. I believe this is the future of most things as it allows companies to keep up from a technology standpoint and financially it is more beneficial for a company. EP 104: Brother Mobile Solutions
Episode 103 – Swisslog at MODEX 2020
In this episode, I was joined by Colman Roche of Swisslog at MODEX 2020. Colman is the VP of E-commerce and Retail Sales at Swisslog and we discussed Swisslog’s business, what they were exhibiting at MODEX and what they are seeing customers asking for. Key Takeaways Swisslog helps to improve your logistical flow through automation. As an integrator, they are most known for automating pallet moves through automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) but have also gotten into e-commerce as that market has exploded. They are the largest integrator of the AutoStore system which allows you to store small parts in a very compact space. Through automation, the totes are brought to the proper area to be picked from. Colman explains how the transition and expansion have happened for Swisslog. Owned by Kuka, Swisslog utilizes its robotic knowledge to help expand and better utilize their offerings. While Kuka is mostly known for large robotic arm applications they also have a line of smaller arms that Swisslog utilizes in their solutions. In the discussion, we talk about a small robotic arm that can be combined with the AutoStore to perform the pick from the tote which allows the picking process to be fully automated from retrieval to actual pick. Swisslog’s main focus is on making a lot happen in a little space. Looking at most of their solutions they try to condense as much inventory into as little space as possible which allows for better space utilization and efficiency. Through automation and retrieval systems they are able to do this and keep very narrow spaces in between pallets. Even in their Kiva like the robot they are able to pack in more products and have it delivered to the picker. This allows for the picker to get more accomplished on just one robot which can increase throughput. Colman reiterates what I saw and what many told me at MODEX was that the marketplace is looking for flexibility. We discuss how flexibility can make a large difference for operations so that they can get the best solutions for their needs. The AutoStore has a lot of flexibility in design by being able to work within an existing space and it can also be implemented with no shut down in operation. This is huge because you can utilize a space that may be awkwardly shaped or not convenient to utilize otherwise. Listen to and watch the episode below. Let us know your thoughts in the comments. EP 103: Swisslog at MODEX In this episode, host Kevin Lawton is joined by Colman Roche of Swisslog at MODEX 2020. They discuss Swisslog’s business, what they were exhibiting at MODEX, what customers are looking for, and what’s in store for the future. For more information on Swisslog check out their website here. To connect with Colman find him on LinkedIn here.
Episode 102 – The World of Dealership Finance
In this episode, I am joined by Garry Bartecki of GB Financial services and also the cover story author of the September 2020 issue of Material Handling Wholesaler. Garry and I discuss the world of dealership finance as we get into the current state of finance due to COVID-19, financing vs. leasing vs. renting, and how operations can work with their dealers to save some money during slower times. Key Takeaways Garry has been involved in the financing world for over 40 years working with dealers in multiple different ways. In those 40 years, there has never been anything quite like what has happened in the last few months during the pandemic. Garry discusses what the current climate looks like in financing which includes banks being more strict with loans. He mentions even companies that are in good standing are getting put under the microscope for new financing. This has to lead to a shift into renting over financing. Rentals are on the rise as there is so much change going on in their current environment. Garry’s guidance is to rent for the current need and then send back the equipment when it is not needed anymore. This allows for more flexibility and also keeps you from any long term commitment that may hurt you in a slower business period. He also recommends taking a look at all your current agreements and discussing with dealers if there are any potential changes to the terms that could be beneficial to you. During the current times, Garry suggests taking a close look at all of your current equipment and what costs are associated with them. He says to prepare for the long haul and not to take on any additional debt through leasing or financing which is why he favors renting. Additionally, he suggests looking at options for your lift trucks that may reduce overall costs like switching to lithium-ion batteries. Overall, taking a magnifying glass to your costs right now is the way to protect your balance sheet and help you get through tougher times. EP 102: The World of Dealership Finance This is the 4th installment of our partnership with Material Handling Wholesaler Magazine focusing on the cover story for their September 2020 issue. Host Kevin Lawton talks to cover story author Garry Bartecki of GB Financial Services about the current state of financing due to COVID. They get into financing vs. leasing vs. renting and how operations can work with dealers to alleviate some costs in slower times. Find the new issue of Material Handling Wholesaler at MHWmag.com Read the full cover story at Material Handling Wholesaler’s website here. Connect with Garry on LinkedIn here
Episode 101 – Arrive Logistics
In this episode, I was joined by Darlene Wolf who is the Senior Vice President, Strategic Accounts at Arrive Logistics. Arrive Logistics is a modern third party transportation provider for shippers and carriers. Darlene and I discuss Arrive’s differentiator, COVID’s impact on transportation, and how Arrive is helping companies to keep moving. Key Takeaways Headquartered in Austin, TX, Arrive Logistics is a modern third party transportation provider that focuses on technology to help ensure a carrier network that is strong and efficient for shippers. Taking a different approach is what sets them apart in the industry and allows for better customer experience. With so many transportation companies in the industry, it is important to have something that differentiates you. Darlene heads up the strategic partner’s division which is built up of former shippers. By doing this they have brought the voice of the customer internally and also a group of individuals who would understand what shippers need or have issues with. This can be very beneficial to shippers as it helps them to get what they want out of a transportation company and can help to avoid mistakes that someone with no shipping experience might make. Arrive Logistics also has a specialized division called Arrive Fresh which handles special loads that need different care like fresh food. Darlene has an extensive background within the food industry prior to her arrival at Arrive. She discusses how the industry has changed due to COVID and what impacts companies have seen. Darlene also talks about some of the things that led up to the impacts being felt and how companies are now making changes to reduce those impacts. One of the biggest things that have happened in the world during the pandemic is the constant changes in restrictions and rules. In the episode, we talk about how shippers have changed protocols for drivers and visitors to their facilities. Due to this, we discuss how the importance of having close relationships with shippers has become for Arrive so they can ensure their drivers are following proper protocol. Darlene highlights how important constant communication is at this time and how her team is able to stay on top of the constantly changing environment. EP 101: Arrive Logistics
Episode 100 – Ware at MODEX 2020
In this episode, I was joined by the CEO of Ware, Ian Smith at MODEX 2020. You may remember Ian from Episode 36 where we first introduced you to Ware. Now we are at episode 100!!!! (Can’t believe it!) Ian and I discuss Ware’s partnership with Skydio, skepticism around drones, and how the machine learning platform works. Key Takeaways Ware provides a platform that allows you to utilize autonomous drones for your cycle counting activities. They have created the software that captures all of the data that is needed. As Ian discusses they are not a drone company but a data company. With their platform, the drone simply becomes the tool needed to help capture the data. At MODEX they had just announced their partnership with Skydio to provide drones for their platform. There will always be some skepticism around robotics and autonomy so Ian and I discuss how they address the skeptics around drones being used in the warehouse. Ian explains how they assessed the current options and took a different approach by focusing on their platform instead of the hardware portion. The Ware platform is smarter and utilizes AI to give you more data and get it to you quicker allowing you to see results fairly quickly. Additionally, Ian has an extensive background in drones and addresses skepticism around the drone’s ability to accurately fly around a facility by just demonstrating it. One of the most interesting things about their platform to me is how they utilize machine learning to make the program work better over time. Ian explains how the training data allows for the system to recognize your specific identifiers such as labels, LPNs, and barcodes. As these things are taught to the AI platform it is able to decrease the amount of time it takes to process each location it is viewing. Over time the system evolves which helps your inventory program to become even stronger over time. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 100: Ware at MODEX For more information on Ware head to their website here. To connect with Ian find him on LinkedIn here. For more on drones check out Ian’s podcast.
Episode 99 – PACT Up
On this episode, I was joined by the President of PACT, Rodger Mort. PACT stands for Packaging and Crating Technologies and is a packaging company that provides unique technologies for packaging and crating. We discuss their company, the innovations they have made in the packaging industry, and their efforts for sustainability. Key Takeaways One of the big differentiators for PACT is that they utilize corrugate to build crates. They have challenged the misconception that corrugate is cheap and not sturdy. Through this, they have proven that corrugate is a better option to build crates because it can protect customer’s items better than wood. Additionally, it is a huge cost saving because it reduces the overall weight for shipping and corrugate is less expensive to build with. Another focus of PACT is to create sustainable packaging. Rodger discusses the life cycle of a wooden crate when it ships overseas. Essentially the wooden crate ends up in a large constantly burning pile in China and does not get reused. In contrast, the corrugate that is used for PACT’s crates is actually desired overseas due to the fiber length of the cardboard and can be reused for many different things. The corrugate crate can also be reused due to the strength of the patented design. PACT is all about innovation. Part of the reason for this is due to their ability to listen to their customer’s needs. Rodger gives an example of how they have worked with moving companies to create their Pleatwrap product that is used in place of paper pads. This product is flexible and allows you to fold and wrap items in many ways but when put around items it creates a sturdy, protective covering. With the implementation of this product, like their other products, users see a reduction in damage claims and also a reduction in overall costs due to reduced material cost and time savings. This episode is also a great case example of the effectiveness of going lean as Rodger comes from a lean manufacturing background. When he took over at PACT he started to implement a lean culture that has been incredibly effective. They are able to provide a 48 hour lead time for their crates and in most cases can get your crate order shipped to you by the next day. Rodger talks about how new customers are often surprised that they get their deliveries so quickly to the point where they need to make sure they understand their lead time claims are accurate. A great problem to have. He also gives some great insights on how to keep your team happy as well as your culture strong. Listen to the episode below and let us know if your thoughts on corrugate have changed in the comments. EP 99: PACT Up