Ken’s Foods selects Westfalia Technologies to automate new Atlanta-Area warehouse
The warehouse will be the second Ken’s Food facility to install and streamline operations with Westfalia’s automated storage/retrieval and warehouse execution systems Westfalia Technologies, Inc., a provider of logistics solutions for manufacturers and distributors, announces its automation technology will be installed in the new Ken’s Foods, Inc. warehouse located in McDonough, GA. Westfalia’s automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS) and Savanna.NET® Warehouse Execution System (WES) will fully automate the food manufacturing company’s 343K sq. ft. facility. This will be Ken’s Foods’ second location that incorporates Westfalia’s warehouse automation solutions. Ken’s Foods produces salad dressings, sauces, and marinades for a global network of customers. Westfalia’s technology will provide a reliable, temperature-controlled warehousing environment with a customized solution addressing all material handling, automatic layer picking, and integrated case picking requirements while delivering almost zero touches from receiving to shipping. The Savanna.NET® WES will streamline operations and provide seamless software integration between Ken’s Foods’ ERP system as well as all storage, order selection, and material flow automation. “Ken’s Foods Inc. has benefited greatly from the automation that Westfalia provided in our Massachusetts facility,” said Jim Bourne, Director of Transportation and Offsite Distribution at Ken’s Foods. “The system has allowed us to expand our operation in a smaller footprint and handle activities in an accurate and efficient manner. We look forward to putting a second system into our supply chain at the McDonough location as we continue to grow and meet our customer’s needs.” “Warehouse automation is critical for today’s food manufacturers to effectively keep up with high demand and a shrinking workforce,” said Dan Labell, President of Westfalia. “We are confident our automated warehousing system will optimize the McDonough location and operations for Ken’s Foods and are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with them.” The new warehouse will be built across the street from the existing Ken’s Foods manufacturing facility, further simplifying operations and taking more than 40 trucks off the highway each day.
Deane Nash joins Brown Machine Group as General Manager GN Thermoforming Equipment
Skilled leader to focus on operations, tracking, and improving supply chain management BMG (Brown Machine Group) has announced the appointment of Deane Nash as General Manager of GN Thermoforming Equipment. Mr. Nash, an accomplished executive leader skilled in manufacturing management, brings more than 30 years of experience in plant startup, operations management, program launch management, and promoting business growth. He will be focusing on operations and developing superior tracking systems, as well as improving supply chain management and ensuring on-time delivery in light of pandemic-era constraints. Mr. Nash will also play a major role in supporting engineering teams and providing world-class technical sales and customer support. “I am extremely excited to join BMG, where I hope to drive performance with a strong focus on quality, service, on-time deliverables, and profitability,” said Nash. “My past success has been based on the power of effectively utilizing available resources and being a catalyst of change, with a clear and dynamic vision for future direction and goals. I look forward to using these skills to establish strong, mutually beneficial relationships with GN Thermoforming Equipment customers, suppliers, peers, and associates.” Mr. Nash is a highly self-motivated entrepreneur, with 33 years of experience in Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive manufacturing organizations. He is known for his very shop floor-centric hands-on approach, which has resulted in great success for himself, his team, and his colleagues. Prior to joining GN, Mr. Nash spent 13 years at Precision Resource, a Tier 2 supplier of automotive, electronic, heavy industry, ordnance, and power-tool fine-blanked components and assemblies as Engineering Manager and previously was Operations Manager for China. He also served 16 years with Magna International, where he managed a highly automated CNC manufacturing plant as well as a high-pressure aluminum diecasting facility. “With his extensive manufacturing management experience in the automotive industry, Deane Nash is a great addition to our team,” said Jerome Romkey, President of GN Thermoforming Equipment Ltd. “He brings a great mix of general management, new factory construction, program management, continuous improvement, and sales to the table, as well as engineering, quality, and manufacturing skills that will help us in our quest for quality, on-time delivery, and ensuring a superior solution for our customers.”
EP 223: Say Ohi to Instant Commerce
On this episode, I was joined by the Founder and CEO of Ohi, Ben Jones. You may remember Ohi from way back in the archives when I visited their facility to learn about their micro-warehousing setup. We caught up to discuss how Ohi has evolved, the instant commerce landscape, and what’s in store for the near future for Ohi. Key Takeaways Ohi has continued forward with micro-warehousing and adjusted its strategy a bit to become an instant commerce business. Not only are they focusing on fulfilling from their micro-warehouse locations but they are also transforming retailers’ back rooms by allowing them to utilize that inventory to fulfill online orders. By doing this they are getting down to incredible delivery times within 2 hours from order time. Not only does it allow consumers to get their orders faster but they are also finding the consumer is more likely to interact with the brand for a longer period of time while they are waiting for their items to be delivered. As Ohi just closed their Series A round of funding they are ready to expand and bring the Ohi platform to 25 more locations over the next year. Ben is sure to note that while expanding they will stick to their micro-warehouse roots and utilize these smaller spaces that are closer to the consumer to meet the delivery times they are pushing for. Keeping the micro-warehouse model allows them to be flexible in their space and also allows them to get closer to the consumers especially in densely populated cities where a large warehouse would be very difficult to develop. The great thing about this is that they are able to utilize spaces that are vacant or may not be as desirable for retail operations. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 223: Say Ohi to Instant Commerce
AutoScheduler.AI announces Webinar on Prescriptive Warehousing
How Technology Enables Execution in Complex DCs AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, presents a free webinar hosted and moderated by DC Velocity magazine on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, at 2:00 PM EST. United Facilities, a 3PL with over 8 million sq/ft under management, and AutoScheduler.AI will co-present, “Prescriptive Warehousing: How Technology Enables Execution in Complex DCs,” discussing the work performed at a major CPG. “Running a Fortune 500 supply chain is hard with scarce labor, complex business demands, siloed operations, and difficult fulfillment challenges,” said Keith Moore, Chief Product Officer at AutoScheduler.AI. “Attendees will learn how AutoScheduler and United Facilities worked together for a global Fortune 500 company to maximize their supply chain performance and grow capacity by streamlining its warehouse operations.” In this free webinar, the discussion will include: How United Facilities and their customers are using an innovative digital strategy and analytics to drive efficiency in their warehouse operations; How to orchestrate historically siloed functional disciplines like Receiving, Shipping, Cuts Management, and Labor planning to create opportunities like cross-docks; How to balance the confluence of process and technology to maximize efficiency and get more out of the headcount; How to kick off and manage complex projects using advanced new technologies that are innovating and driving value in distribution centers. Attend if you want to learn more about warehousing best practices in optimization, what best-in-class shippers are doing to stay ahead of the curve, and how you might be able to drive more decision automation at your distribution centers today. The speakers will include: Bryan Bradley, Solutions Manager at United Facilities, Inc., a 3PL and packaging solution company based in Peoria, IL that services numerous Fortune 500 shippers, is helping businesses with continuous improvement, innovation, and analytics at facilities around the country. Bradley’s previous experience has been in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, ranging from large agricultural manufacturers, glass manufacturing, retail distribution, and project management focused on data-driven solutions to the dynamic logistic environment. Bradley received a BS in Integrated Supply Chain Management. Keith Moore, Chief Product Officer at AutoScheduler.AI., focuses on creating the future with the prescriptive warehouse. Moore works with top ten consumer goods, beverage, and distribution companies to drive efficiency in distribution centers. Hart Energy Magazine voted him as an Energy Innovator of the Year in 2020; he was selected as a Pi Kappa Phi 30 under 30 member and holds multiple patents in neural architecture search and supply chain planning. Journals and groups like ISSA and OTC have published Moore for his work in both cyber security and predictive maintenance applications. Before venturing into the supply chain business, Moore was a Director of Product Management at SparkCognition. He helped raise over $120M in capital and grow the business to one of the most prominent start-ups in the Austin area. Moore received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Attendees at the November 11th webinar will learn about new technologies on the market, what the best companies are doing to get better, and how to drive more decision automation in distribution centers today. To register for the webinar on Nov. 11, 2021, at 2:00 PM EST, visit: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3483212/7148EBD16FE7195A2689EF7E7965735A?partnerref=as1
EP 222: Supply Jane
In this episode, I was joined by author Megan Preston Meyer. She has created the Supply Jane series of books for children which focus on teaching supply chain concepts to elementary level kids. We discuss her background in analytics, why educating children on the supply chain is important and how the idea for the books came about. Key Takeaways Megan’s background is in analytics and insights which have ranged from all different aspects of the business. As we all are well aware analytics and insights are a huge part of the supply chain. While Megan was going through her career in the analytics world she realized that she was always finding herself telling a story with the data. She makes incredible points about the difference between showing someone a spreadsheet and actually giving them a story that the data tells which is much more digestible. As she realized that she had a knack for storytelling she started to think about writing. She landed on the supply chain because she realized it was something that was never really advertised or promoted in schools so she thought it would be a good thing to write about. The idea for her books focused on the character Supply Jane actually comes from a hike with her husband where they were coming up with supply chain puns. As you can see, Supply Jane is very close to the supply chain which is the perfect character to fit into her books. Originally she had not set out to write for children but when she realized that kids were not being exposed to the supply chain early in their lives or at least they were not realizing that it was all around them she knew that was the path to go on. Currently, she has two books with one discussing the concept of FIFO and the other discussing bottlenecks in manufacturing operations. I wanted to highlight Megan’s book because I think it is an incredibly important thing to be bringing more exposure to the supply chain world earlier on in individuals’ lives. Even as I currently teach a supply chain course at a university level, many students are not very familiar with the concept of the supply chain. With the importance of the supply chain in our everyday lives and to keep the global economy running it is important that we continue to develop the talent pool for our industry. Supply Jane is a great way to start kids off right and give them exposure early on. I highly recommend getting it for the kids in your life. Buy the book here. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 222: Supply Jane
Emerging Trends in E-Commerce Fulfillment
When the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, the e-commerce fulfillment landscape underwent a massive shift in response to spikes in consumer demand, with disruptions to labor, logistics, and product supply. Most of those disruptions were already taking shape prior to the pandemic and were only accelerated by new business restrictions and social distancing protocols. Today, e-commerce fulfillment requires more advanced systems and technologies to solve for the changes impacting the industry most: overloaded parcel carrier systems, shortage of labor and increased consumer demand for accurate, fast order delivery. The overloaded parcel carrier system is driving e-commerce fulfillment operations to take on more of the work previously handled by parcel carriers. Sorting packages for ZIP code zones for regional carriers to transport packages to local markets is now handled by the e-commerce company, not the parcel carrier. Space and labor to handle the additional sort processes are now something that e-commerce fulfillment operators must consider if they are building new or upgrading existing warehouse systems. Labor — with its high cost and low availability — is another ongoing challenge for e-commerce fulfillment warehouses. Automation is an obvious solution. However, automating the right tasks and efficiently integrating the technology with the existing warehouse workflow is an ongoing struggle. Automation and any new technology should make fast, accurate decisions that support the fulfillment center’s service-level agreements (SLA) through a synchronized and sequenced workflow, typically driven by a WES (Warehouse Execution System). The significant increase in returns is also having a substantial impact on the labor required to effectively manage inventory. How to considerably reduce labor via automation is a prime consideration when building or retrofitting a facility. Lastly, inventory positioning to keep the right merchandise closest to the demand source is another new consideration for e-commerce fulfillment facilities and requires growing the number of sites within a network. Combining store inventory, dark stores, warehouses, and other sites to create an integrated fulfillment network continues to be one of the most impactful solutions to decrease overall order cycle time. These types of integrated site networks take time to establish and are strategically placed geographically. Each node/site will maintain a different inventory mix, have different workflows and varying processes for fulfilling orders. Adapting to these three factors is driving several key developments in e-commerce fulfillment. Creative solutions are emerging to mitigate the challenges brought by the above-mentioned market forces. Here are four of the most prominent trends in e-commerce fulfillment today. Trend 1: Implementing Micro-fulfillment Sites Large distribution centers maintain huge volumes of idle inventory, potentially long distances from the demand source, which increases the inventory carrying costs and transportation expenses. To mitigate those expenses and reduce order cycle time, there is a movement toward operating multiple “micro-fulfillment” sites. The key to undertaking the micro-fulfillment strategy successfully is repositioning inventory across the various sites to accurately meet demand supported by the required transportation resources. Positioning inventory for micro-fulfillment can be done in several ways. Store fulfillment — In this model, online orders are routed to a local store and processed for pickup or sent out for delivery from the inventory located within the store. Store fulfillment allows labor to be deployed across store purchases and online orders, and it is typically close to the demand. The accuracy of the inventory locator systems can slow down the order cycle time and integrating the point-of-sale with the warehouse system to accurately track orders and inventory can create challenges as well. Dark stores — This option is like store fulfillment, but it utilizes closed stores that perhaps did not have enough foot traffic to maintain needed sales per square foot requirements. Operating as a fulfillment center, the dark store offers proximity to demand and labor to support reduced order cycle times, transportation expenses, and inventory carrying costs. Taking over a dark store can be a cost-effective way to expand into a new territory or market, without a long-term commitment and the capital expense associated with a full distribution center build-out. Converting a dark store to a micro-fulfillment center does present certain obstacles. The location will only house limited inventory and identifying the correct inventory mix may take some trial and error. Even carrying a small inventory can require a warehouse/fulfillment technology stack, albeit one that is scaled down and customized for the space and merchandise mix. Package storage spaces must be included in the space as well. Designing and building a system that takes advantage of the existing infrastructure and the smaller scale of the dark store can offer real cost savings and higher returns. A successful deployment model and execution strategy can be replicated in dark stores globally, allowing for quick and inexpensive expansion opportunities. Dedicated micro-fulfillment centers are often planned as part of the fulfillment process to decentralize fulfillment in densely populated centers. In this model, daily inventory transfers occur based on inventory location. In many ways, they are like dark stores –scaled up in size with on-hand inventory in strategic locations to support consumer demand. Trend 2: Incorporating Returned Merchandise Returned merchandise is one of the most labor-intense processing functions within an e-commerce fulfillment operation. Returns typically require human intervention for the initial dispositioning — the complex decision tree of whether an item gets destroyed, restocked, or donated requires manual inspection and special handling. Understanding disposition criteria and criteria for each item per vendor adds another layer of complexity. Lastly, entering the return into an inventory system and noting its disposition is typically another process that can’t be easily automated. Designing a system that makes the disposition process efficient, smooth, and fast requires a high level of customization to account for the warehouse’s specific workflow and space layout. Consumer demand for easy returns, refunds, exchanges must be satisfied, while also minimizing inventory loss and maximizing resale. Integrators are increasingly focusing on more automation in the initial storage area for returned merchandise. One strategy is equipping the area to handle multiple SKUs and simplifying the “put- away” task for each SKU. In addition, having multiple locations where each SKU is
MHS Lift launches unique customer Web Portal to streamline service & repairs
MHS Lift, Inc., an award-winning, nationally recognized material handling equipment company, recently launched a brand-new, completely custom service web portal and mobile application that allows customers to stay up to date throughout every step of the service and repair cycle. My Fleet 365 provides a unique, seamless experience for service and repairs. Customers can use the app to place service orders by scanning a QR code on a forklift and then managing and track orders right from their mobile device. My Fleet 365 works intuitively with MHS Lift’s service database, granting customers access to all their company’s information 24/7, 365 days a year. “With the goal of creating a portal that was seamlessly integrated with all of the information we have available, we brainstormed, researched, and implemented features that we feel each customer would want to know at every step of the service and repair cycle – regardless of the size of the business,” says Andy Levin, President, MHS Lift. “And we want our customers to hold us accountable because we stand by our amazing service. That’s why customers can use My Fleet 365 to review our average completion time or average jobs completed within a 24-hour window.” Other reporting includes a cost breakdown of their warehouse fleet and a year-by-year spending comparison on service. My Fleet 365 will also enable businesses to measure their service level using the all-new Key Metrics Reports. Other My Fleet 365 features include: Customized look and reporting for each client Real-time status of open jobs and ETAs of service parts Multiple options for placing any service request QR code capability in the mobile application Invoice capabilities Preventative maintenance Cost breakdown of fleet “MHS Lift is dedicated to bringing the highest level of customer service to each of our clients while providing optimal solutions to increase productivity, operate efficiently, and ultimately make every business more money,” says Brett Levin, Vice President, MHS Lift.
EP 221: Warehouse Standards
In this episode, I discuss warehouse standards and their importance. This has been one of the most important things to getting fully effective processes in place during my career in warehousing. Standards Breakdown What is a standard? A process that is proven to be effective and is repeatable with the desired outcome Rules that are put in place to ensure the right outcome is achieved every time How to develop a standard Map out your process that you want to standardize Include all aspects of the process; no matter how small Evaluate the process to see if it makes sense; can you improve any steps? Ensure the process gives you the desired outcome Get feedback from the parties doing the process Document, document, document If the standard is not documented then it might as well not exist Tribal knowledge will kill you when the person with the knowledge leaves Everything should be documented and readily accessible for reference Update documents accordingly when changes are made Create a standard for organizing your documents Training The key to having your standards succeed is to ensure the training is robust All employees should be well versed in the standard and trained from when they begin Do not throw them out there and train later Start them right and with the expectation Follow up on training periodically and ensure that it is top of mind Improvements Be sure to review your standards for potential improvements periodically Value your employee’s input; they know the process the best If something doesn’t make sense question it The New Warehouse Podcast EP 221: Warehouse Standards
Seven ways Warehouse Automation keeps food and beverage operations running smoothly
Efficiency is key in all warehouses, but especially in the food and beverage industry. If operations don’t run smoothly, products could spoil, waste money, and potentially endanger people’s health. It should be no surprise, then, that food and beverage supply chains have embraced warehouse automation. Automation is growing in warehouses across industries, with food and beverage leading the trend. According to one survey, 94% of food packaging operations already use robotics, and half plan to increase their automation levels. Here are seven ways how this warehouse automation trend is sustaining smooth operations in food and beverage. Accounting for Labor Shortages Like many industrial facilities, food and beverage warehouses face a growing labor shortage. Fewer people are entering the industry while demand rises, leaving companies short-staffed and facing rising personnel costs that exacerbate the issue. Warehouse automation mitigates these concerns by improving productivity without hiring more workers. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other autonomous machines can help the workers that facilities do have accomplish more at once. Consequently, food and beverage warehouses experience the benefits of a larger workforce despite their staff numbers remaining unchanged. These benefits are particularly helpful during peak seasons. A warehouse may have sufficient staff during most periods, but some seasons bring higher demand. By renting or re-deploying robot fleets, these facilities can meet this higher demand without looking for hard-to-find seasonal workers. Reducing Picking Time Picking is often one of the most inefficient areas of any warehouse operation. This inefficiency creates further complications in food and beverage warehouses, as many of the handled goods have limited shelf lives. By automating picking processes, either in whole or in part, facilities can prevent spoilage and ensure optimal freshness. Automated case picking systems can pick and palletize pallets with no direct labor even when pallet orders have mixed SKUs. Semi-automated solutions like pick-to-voice systems can also help, increasing accuracy by 50% and productivity by 10-15%. Picking automation systems are remarkably diverse, enabling any warehouse to find a solution that works for their needs and budget. As food and beverage product offerings become increasingly varied, these automated picking solutions become all the more valuable. More efficient picking processes will help warehouses ensure specific SKUs reach their intended customers without sacrificing productivity. Improving Inventory Management Robots like AGVs (automated guided vehicles) may be the most recognizable examples of warehouse automation, but they’re not the only type. Food and beverage facilities also employ software-based automation solutions, particularly in inventory management. These automated inventory management systems improve visibility, enabling more timely and effective actions. For example, smart bin-level management systems can provide immediate and reliable feedback about grain silo levels. These automatic updates help facilities see when they need to order more inventory or ship products nearing the end of their shelf life. Automated warehouse management systems can also analyze operations to propose layout or workflow changes. These adjustments, in turn, help facilities optimize their operations. While a human analyst could theoretically provide the same service, automated solutions work far faster and provide ongoing improvements. Optimizing Maintenance Schedules Similarly, automated alerts over machine maintenance minimize disruptions in food and beverage operations. Predictive maintenance systems track equipment performance metrics to predict when a machine will need maintenance. These systems then automatically alert workers, informing better maintenance schedules. In addition to preventing costly breakdowns, predictive maintenance prevents unnecessary equipment checkups, saving additional money. By automating the performance-monitoring process, warehouses free workers to focus on other tasks. Since they only schedule maintenance when it’s needed, they reduce unnecessary downtime, too. These optimized maintenance schedules become increasingly valuable as facilities implement more machines. Automating this process ensures other automation reaches its full potential. Preventing Safety Incidents Warehouse automation also makes facilities safer, in turn ensuring smoother operations. Food and beverage companies can use robots to handle the most hazardous tasks, removing human workers from danger. With fewer injuries, facilities will have fewer disruptions, letting them achieve more consistent workflows. Safety incidents have a massive impact on workplace efficiency. In 2019, workplace injuries led to 70 million lost days, not including time lost on the day of the injury or for future medical checkups. A such, preventing injuries doesn’t just protect workers; it ensures ongoing productivity. The most prominent hazards in food and beverage warehouses are also in the most easily automated areas. Carrying heavy objects, reaching products at heights, and loading trucks can cause repetitive strain injuries and falls. But robots can handle most if not all of these tasks. Raising Storage Density As operational costs and demand rise, food and beverage warehouses must find ways to increase their storage density. Warehouse automation is the ideal solution here, as it can complete tasks without needing as much room as traditional means. For example, automated vertical lift machines can substantially expand storage capacity by utilizing a warehouse’s height. Most of their infrastructure remains off the ground, leaving more room for inventory. Picking and moving items from the top would be impossible with manual processes, but automation makes it possible. Since automated systems can move more nimbly and safely in tight spaces, they don’t need as much “buffer” room for safety’s sake. Consequently, food and beverage warehouse or distribution center managers can pack more items into the same space without sacrificing efficiency or safety. They can then meet higher demands while minimizing space costs. Enabling Flexibility While it may seem counterintuitive, warehouse automation can also improve flexibility. It’s true that human workers are more adaptable than machines, but automation lets them use this flexibility to their greatest potential. Since automation improves efficiency in so many processes, it makes holding just-in-time inventory more feasible. Facilities can then decrease or diversify their on-site inventory, giving them more flexibility when demand shifts, changing processes or stock quickly. This advantage is crucial in food and beverage businesses, as just-in-time shipping maximizes shelf life. Automation solutions like flow-through sortation improve the accuracy and timeliness of store replenishment, giving warehouses more time to adapt as necessary. Machines can handle the processes they do best
VARGO® expands operations in the Columbus region, investing $4 million
VARGO®, a provider of material-handling systems integration, warehouse execution software, and equipment solutions for major fulfillment and distribution centers, has announced plans to expand its operations in the Columbus Region, investing approximately $4 million and creating 24 new jobs. Hiring for software, engineering, logistics, and business analysts will begin in Q4 2021. VARGO® plans to move its Dublin Tech Center and Hilliard operations to a new location at 5555 Frantz Road in Dublin. When determining where to expand, VARGO® evaluated numerous options to further expand its presence including in Austin but decided to do so in Dublin. The company’s recent growth is partially driven by the pandemic’s impact on e-commerce and VARGO®’s industry-leading e-commerce solutions. In response, VARGO® is preparing to meet this increased forecasted demand for its technology solutions by expanding its key operations into a collaborative, tech-savvy office environment in Dublin. “Consolidating our team in Central Ohio will enhance internal communication, facilitate more idea generation and promote teamwork, and Dublin was the perfect place for that comradery and collaboration to happen,” said VARGO® President and COO Bart Cera. “Since establishing operations in the Columbus region 50 years ago, VARGO® has found ongoing success in part because of the Columbus market’s long-time strength in the technology and logistics sectors. VARGO® will continue to tap into the Region’s strong history of innovation in those sectors as we scale our operations even further.” As digitization takes hold and customer expectations evolve, logistics companies face unprecedented change. However, VARGO®’s real-time solutions continue to solve complex distribution challenges for its customers. In fact, VARGO® is the only company that offers COFE® (Continuous Order Fulfillment Engine), which was the first and remains the most advanced Warehouse Execution System. COFE® excels in complex e-commerce distribution environments through its ability to synchronize and sequence all the work necessary, in real-time, across all the fulfillment work resources (people, process, and technologies). The company also has operations in Mason, OH, Berkeley, CA, and Austin, TX. “VARGO® uses cutting edge technical solutions to improve material handling operations for retailers, manufacturers, wholesale and e-commerce distributors,” said Economic Development Administrator Eric Meyer. “Its expansion and consolidation in Dublin help grow the city’s presence in information technology and logistics. We welcome them to their new headquarters in the city and know they will thrive here along with our growing tech cluster.” Technology operations in the Columbus Region are deep and diverse, spanning industries such as logistics, finance, and more. The Columbus Region is a global logistics hub that supports some of the world’s largest brands and top logistics service providers, making it a critical link in industrial and consumer supply chains. The Region’s location gives companies access to more of the U.S. population and employment base than any other major metro, providing unmatched accessibility. Within a day’s drive, you can reach 151 million people and 42,100 headquarters – that’s 46 percent of the country’s population base and 48 percent of headquarter operations. “With innovative Central Ohio-based technology companies like VARGO®, we will continue to see a generational opportunity to build upon successful expansions like this project and especially in the e-commerce and warehousing industries as they evolve and grow,” said JobsOhio president and CEO J.P. Nauseef.
EP 219: Warehouse Moves
For today’s topic, I’m discussing warehouse moves. A warehouse move is in regards to moving an operation from one location to another, adding an additional location, or consolidating locations into one. I have experienced multiple warehouse moves in my career and they can be incredibly stressful times especially when a company is just growing to the point of expansion and setting the course for its future. With the growth of e-commerce and distribution in general, companies are expanding their distribution footprint constantly so I thought it would be a good time to share some of my insights. While a move will never be perfect, I wanted to share some tips that I have learned over my career that will help to make your move smoother. My Warehouse Move Tips You cannot move without a plan. Create a plan that involves the teams who will be executing Make the plan make sense for your capabilities (system, space, transportation, headcount) A plan that is not followed is pointless Do not underestimate the time and resources needed Inventory counts Get rid of any obsolete or non-moving stock before hand – do not move the trash Ensure you have the most accurate inventory you can achieve before moving If possible do a physical in the building you are exiting Count with employees that you trust to have accurate counts Transfer from problems from one building to the next will only cause more issues Count on the way in Standardize and train beforehand Make sure that your standard work is in place at the new facility before inventory reaches the docks If all new staff ensure that they are trained on the processes Make sure the put-away process and flow is totally understood Adjust the flow of goods as needed Some items take longer to put away Adjust the amount of inventory coming on a daily basis if there is a backup Do not create an overwhelming situation for the receiving warehouse Think about the way the product is being sent Do not stress and you will get there The move will happen and it needs to happen Work your plan and adjust the flow as needed Do not create an overwhelming situation for all parties Manage the expectations of leadership and understand deadlines Please share your stories of warehouse moves with me on LinkedIn, in the comments below or email me at kevin@thenewwarehouse.com. Thank you for all your support! The New Warehouse Podcast EP 219: Warehouse Moves
Warehousing industry is “Ready” but deliveries aren’t coming say UK-Based Material Handling Experts
The warehousing industry is ready for incoming deliveries from abroad, but nothing is coming due to post-Brexit customs delays, says Midland Bearings, an equipment supplier to the UK warehousing and logistics sector. The logistics industry has been hit hard by the UK’s departure from the EU, facing increasing delivery costs, high customs fees, and a worrying reduction in lorry drivers. The industry has also had to work with the Government’s frequent delays and uncertainties, all while trying to catch up on business lost over the pandemic. Important policies like the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), which was promised to be put into action years ago have been victim to numerous delays. A similar situation has also been seen with the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) which has finally been put in place, but to the disappointment of many in the industry who believe it’s not in working order. In an industry that’s already been struggling during the pandemic, these delays at the border are piling on further strain on businesses. Warehousing—as well as ports, retailers, and forwarders—are ready and waiting for deliveries in hopes of getting their businesses back to ‘normal’, but the government has made any immediate hope of improvement very unlikely. Phil Chesworth, Managing Director at Midland Pallet Trucks says, “Everyone in our industry has worked extremely hard to stay afloat over the pandemic. It’s really tough to see these delays hold us back. The government needs to seriously address these problems, and quickly, to avoid causing any more issues. “We know from our customers that warehouses have prepared themselves for deliveries picking up, but these deliveries simply aren’t coming. It’s really disappointing to see companies who have tried their best be penalized due to government delays.”
Morse Watchmans unveils KeyWatcher Key Control Solutions with powerful new Generation 3 CPU at GSX 2021
New KeyWatcher Gen3 CPU increases performance, operation, and sync speeds Morse Watchmans, the industry leader in key control and asset management systems, will be exhibiting at this year’s GSX show, featuring their latest new key control and management solutions at booth #1714. The company’s flagship KeyWatcher Touch will be displayed with a new Generation 3 CPU that provides improved performance, and faster user interface, and improved synchronization times. The new Gen3 CPU upgrade is also available to current KeyWatcher Touch users for fast and easy enhancement of installed systems. “Nothing can replace face-to-face contact with our customers and partners,” said Tim Purpura, VP of Global Sales and Marketing, Morse Watchmans. “For that reason, we made the decision to exhibit at GSX, while also maintaining all careful protocols to support health and safety. We are looking forward to having in-person conversations and demonstrating our latest new key management solutions and product enhancements to the GSX audience.” Morse Watchmans’ industry-leading KeyWatcher Touch key management system features a 7” touchscreen with an easy-to-use interface and patented SmartKey system with KeyAnywhere technology, making it simple to withdraw and return a key securely to any key cabinet in an enterprise. The solution offers the convenience of scheduled PDF reports that are emailed to authorized recipients. Email delivery of customized or standard reports can be scheduled for any specific time or frequency and they can be accessed using the Morse Watchman’s smartphone app. System administrators have access to view or run reports as needed. The system also enables security management to notify a user via email when a key becomes overdue. The new KeyWatcher Gen3 CPU further improves performance and increases user interface and sync times on new and existing models, effectively allowing more KeyWatcher Touch systems to be connected for added scalability. Additional features include 64GB of onboard data back-up, full Windows® 10 OS with built-in functionality for Morse Watchman’s remote technical support, full support for gigabit networks, and cable connections now possible up to 100 feet.
Larry Olson of Picavi featured in Material Handling Wholesaler
Larry Olson, Senior Sales Manager at Picavi, the provider in pick-by-vision technology, was recently interviewed by Kevin Lawton, podcast host on The New Warehouse. The interview is featured in Material Handling Wholesaler. Olson and Lawton discussed how picking technology has evolved. Listen to the full interview here. According to Olson, Picavi has a futuristic solution to picking which is already a reality. This great technology is harnessed for the enterprise in a very smart way. It allows pickers to see the information they need in order to make a successful pick right in front of their eyes at all times as it is projected through the smart glasses. This creates an almost completely hands-free picking solution that speeds up the pick time and increases accuracy. Material Handling Wholesaler (MHW) is an internationally known publication serving the wholesale material handling industry. About Picavi’s Vision-as-a-Service (VaaS) As order volumes rise, logistics specialists look to introduce a new order picking system or expand their existing inventory of wearables. Too often there is no budget for new procurements. Picavi solves this problem with its new Vision-as-a-Service (VaaS) product category. This offers users unlimited access to the pick-by-vision ecosystem. Picavi has created a win-win scenario that gives everyone incredible flexibility. As the logistics industry experiences the biggest peak in history, many companies are planning to add more devices to their wearables inventory to stay on top of rising order volumes. Picavi is responding to this demand for easy scalability with its VaaS model. This full-service package, with all the necessary software licenses and release upgrades, along with connection to the WMS or ERP system, is offered at a fixed price. Customers also receive personal software support and the full pick-by-vision hardware as a turnkey solution from a single source.
145 new Industrial Manufacturing planned Industrial Project Reports – August 2021 recap
SalesLeads just announced the August 2021 results for the newly planned capital project spending report for the Industrial Manufacturing industry. The Firm tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. Research confirms 145 new projects in the Industrial Manufacturing sector. The following are selected highlights on new Industrial Manufacturing industry construction news. Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Type Manufacturing/Production Facilities – 122 New Projects Distribution and Industrial Warehouse – 58 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 53 New Projects Expansion – 51 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 49 New Projects Plant Closings – 7 New Projects Industrial Manufacturing – By Project Location (Top 10 States) North Carolina – 13 Indiana – 11 Texas – 10 Michigan – 9 Pennsylvania – 7 Ohio – 7 California – 7 New York – 6 Georgia – 6 Iowa – 5 Largest Planned Project During the month of August, our research team identified 14 new Industrial Manufacturing facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by Rivian Automotive, who is considering investing $5 billion for the construction of a 12 million sf manufacturing facility and currently seeking a site in the FORT WORTH, TX area. Top 10 Tracked Industrial Manufacturing Projects ARIZONA: Battery cell developer is planning to invest $1 billion for the construction of a 1 million SF manufacturing facility in BUCKEYE, AZ. Construction is expected to start in late 2021, with completion slated for Spring 2023. Construction will occur in multiple phases. GEORGIA: Medical device mfr. is planning to invest $500 million for the expansion of their manufacturing, laboratory, office, and training complex in PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA by 750,000 SF Construction will occur in multiple phases, with completion slated for 2024. KENTUCKY: Custom corrugated packaging products mfr. is planning to invest $400 million for the construction of a 1.1 million SF manufacturing facility in HENDERSON, KY. Construction is expected to start in early 2022, with completion slated for Fall 2023. TEXAS: A biotechnology company is considering investing $300 million for the construction of a processing facility and is currently seeking a site in the BRYAN, TX area. Watch SalesLeads for updates. INDIANA: A steel company is planning to invest $231 million for a 390,000 SF.expansion and equipment upgrades of their manufacturing facility in TERRE HAUTE, IN. They are currently seeking approval for the project. ALABAMA: Automotive components mfr. is planning to invest $130 million for the construction of a manufacturing facility in OPELIKA, AL. They have recently received approval for the project. NORTH CAROLINA: Consumer products mfr. is planning to invest $110 million for the construction of a manufacturing facility in GUILFORD COUNTY, NC. They are currently seeking approval for the project. TENNESSEE: An aluminum products mfr. is planning to invest $100 million for an expansion of their manufacturing facility in ALCOA, TN. They have recently received approval for the project. NORTH CAROLINA: Outdoor furniture mfr. is planning to invest $62 million for an expansion of their manufacturing facility in ROXBORO, NC. They have recently received approval for the project. UTAH: Insulation and roofing products mfr. are planning to invest $53 million for an expansion of their manufacturing facility in NEPHI, UT. They have recently received approval for the project. About the Report Since 1959, SalesLeads, based out of Jacksonville, FL has been providing Industrial Project Reports on companies that are planning significant capital investments in their industrial facilities throughout North America. Our professional research team identifies new construction, expansion, relocation, major renovation, equipment upgrades, and plant closing project opportunities so that our clients can focus sales and marketing resources on the target accounts that have an impending need for their products, services, and indirect materials.
166 new Distribution and Supply Chain planned Industrial Project Reports – August 2021 recap
SalesLeads has announced the August 2021 results for the newly planned capital project spending report for the Distribution and Supply Chain industry. The Firm tracks North American planned industrial capital project activity; including facility expansions, new plant construction, and significant equipment modernization projects. Research confirms 166 new projects in the Distribution and Supply Chain sector. The following are selected highlights on new Distribution Center and Warehouse construction news. Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Type Distribution/Fulfillment Centers – 55 New Projects Industrial Warehouse – 136 New Projects Distribution and Supply Chain- By Project Scope/Activity New Construction – 60 New Projects Expansion – 42 New Projects Renovations/Equipment Upgrades – 68 New Projects Closing – 2 New Projects Distribution and Supply Chain – By Project Location (Top 5 States) Florida – 15 New York – 11 Texas – 10 California – 9 Georgia – 8 Largest Planned Project During the month of August, our research team identified 5 new Distribution and Supply Chain facility construction projects with an estimated value of $100 million or more. The largest project is owned by Frito-Lay North America, Inc., which is planning to invest $180 million for the construction of a 355,000 sf. warehouse and distribution center at 1496 S. Poinciana Blvd. in KISSIMMEE, FL. Construction will start in early 2022, with completion slated for 2024. Top 10 Tracked Distribution and Supply Chain Project Opportunities New Jersey: A global online retailer is planning to invest $125 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on a 250,000 SF distribution facility in NEWARK, NJ. They have recently received approval for the project. Oklahoma: Economic development agency is planning to invest $124 million for the construction of a multimodal logistics distribution facility in ARDMORE, OK. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Georgia: Online fashion and beauty retailer is planning to invest $100 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades at their warehouse and distribution center in UNION CITY, GA. They have recently received approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2023. Alberta: A brewery is planning to invest $69 million for a 60,000 SF expansion, renovation, and equipment upgrades on their warehouse and production facility in EDMONTON, AB. They are currently seeking approval for the project. British Columbia: A global online retailer is planning to invest $65 million for the construction of a 115,000 SF distribution center at Victoria International Airport in SIDNEY, BC. They have recently received approval for the project. Completion is slated for Fall 2022. South Carolina: Bedding products mfr. is planning to invest $47 million for the renovation and equipment upgrades on the recently leased warehouse and distribution space at 101 Michelin Dr. in LAURENS, SC. Completion is slated for late 2021. Louisiana: A beverage company is planning to invest $42 million for a 120,000 SF expansion, renovation, and equipment upgrades on their warehouse and processing facility in BATON ROUGE, LA. They have recently received approval for the project. Florida: A global online retailer is planning for the construction of a 1.1 million SF warehouse and distribution center at West Midway Rd. in PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. They have recently received approval for the project. Completion is slated for Fall 2022. Tennessee: A global online retailer is planning for the construction of a 1 million SF distribution center in CLARKSVILLE, TN. Completion is slated for 2022. Kentucky: An apparel mfr. is planning for an expansion of their distribution center in BOWLING GREEN, KY by 203,000 SF They have recently received approval for the project. Completion is slated for Summer 2022. About this report: Since 1959, SalesLeads, based out of Jacksonville, FL has been providing Industrial Project Reports on companies that are planning significant capital investments in their industrial facilities throughout North America. Our professional research team identifies new construction, expansion, relocation, major renovation, equipment upgrades, and plant closing project opportunities so that our clients can focus sales and marketing resources on the target accounts that have an impending need for their products, services, and indirect materials.
GEODIS Partners with AHS to Implement Exotec Robotic Solution to optimize e-Commerce Fulfillment
GEODIS, a global transport and logistics provider, and Advanced Handling Systems (AHS, LLC), a full-service provider of integrated fulfillment and distribution solutions, has announced a new partnership to implement the Exotec Skypod System into GEODIS’ eLogistics site in Nashville, Tenn. The cutting-edge robotic system will allow GEODIS to optimize the e-Commerce fulfillment process on behalf of its emerging direct-to-consumer customers. GEODIS recently announced the expansion of its eLogistics service in the U.S. to provide best-in-class e-Commerce fulfillment solutions for startups and growing e-Commerce retailers from four new strategic GEODIS eLogistics locations. GEODIS will partner with AHS to integrate the Exotec Skypod System into GEODIS’ state-of-the-art automated eLogistics facility that will go live in Nashville, Tenn., in Q1 of 2022. An agile and high-performing automated goods-to-person solution for the retail and e-Commerce industries, the Exotec Skypod System is the first of its kind to use mobile robots that can move in three dimensions and reach heights of 36 feet to enable efficient, high-density inventory storage. “eLogistics is an important strategic initiative for our company, and collaborating with our long-term partners at AHS in new technology with Exotec will be winning formula for our exciting new product,” said Eric Douglas, Executive Vice President of Technology and Engineering at GEODIS in Americas. “By implementing the Exotec Skypod System into our GEODIS eLogistics site, we can enable an even faster shipping experience for our customers as e-Commerce continues to drive demand.” Exotec has revolutionized the fulfillment industry in Europe and Japan and continues to grow its presence in the U.S. market with customers like Gap Inc., Ariat International, and Comoto Holdings recently adopting the Skypod system. The Exotec Skypod uses laser scanner navigation and robust software to increase warehouse throughput by up to five times with a two-minute response time for all SKUs. The system is designed to improve working conditions and foster more sustainable warehouse productivity by reducing highly repetitive, physically intensive tasks like walking, lifting, and bending. “The hockey-stick growth of e-Commerce coupled with the growing importance of supply chain resilience continues to be a massive tailwind for scalable robotics solutions like Exotec,” said Romain Moulin, CEO of Exotec. “We are delighted to join forces with AHS and GEODIS to better serve the rapidly evolving needs of the North American market.” “AHS has been working with GEODIS for several years and has formed a strategic partnership to provide ground-breaking solutions to assist the company with best-in-class offerings,” said Chuck Frank, President of AHS. “The AHS team is committed to being on the cutting edge of technology and expanding its market share by investing in the training, deployment, and post-go-live support of trending technologies. Exotec is a great strategic partner of AHS, and we are excited about yet another successful installation of an Exotec solution. AHS is thrilled to be a part of GEODIS’ eLogistics service, and we congratulate their team on their commitment to pushing technology to new levels.” The leading integrator of the Exotec solution in North America, AHS will complete the installation of the system into GEODIS’ eLogistics facility with guidance from Exotec’s execution team. AHS and GEODIS collaborated on the design of the construction build for the GEODIS eLogistics site so it can be easily expanded, with plans to double its initial size in the future. “As we continue to see a significant increase in direct-to-consumer e-Commerce brands today, GEODIS remains dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology solutions that will best meet our customers’ unique needs when it comes to enabling fast and flexible operations,” said Drew Bailey, Senior Director of Design Engineering at GEODIS in Americas. “The integration of the Exotec Skypod System will allow us to further optimize our e-Commerce fulfillment process on behalf of our customer’s thanks to its efficient, scalable, and responsive goods-to-person technology.”
EP 211: Chunker
On this episode, I was joined by Brad Wright of Chunker. Brad is the CEO and Founder of Chunker which is the Airbnb of warehousing space. We discuss the origins of Chunker, how it is helping warehouse space being better utilized and why so much empty warehouse space has been going unnoticed. Key Takeaways Chunker was founded after Brad connected with a friend who was involved in commercial real estate specifically targeted at warehousing space. They had a discussion on how it was difficult to find partial warehouse space because it was not typically advertised or visible. With Brad’s software background, he was able to come up with the idea for Chunker which is essentially the Airbnb of warehousing space. Their platform allows companies with unused warehouse space, no matter the size, to list it for availability. Companies are then able to browse the listings and secure the space through the entire Chunker platform. As Brad says, they are solving the warehouse space issue one chunk at a time, which is where the name Chunker comes from. One thing I was curious about was why has this space gone unnoticed for so long. As Brad explains, most brokers will get a lease signed up, and then they are on to the next deal. They are not necessarily staying in touch asking if they have partial amounts of space available. The other constraint has been time on the side of who has space available. For example, a company buys a 300,000 square foot facility as a move towards their future growth but only currently needs to utilize 200,000 square feet but they do not have time to market the other 100,000 square feet for lease since they are focused on their core business. No one would ever know that this space was not being used because it appears the facility is in use. Chunker helps to solve this problem by providing an easy platform for companies to turn their unused space into money. The idea behind Chunker is very simple but it is such a great resource for companies to utilize to generate additional revenue from their unused space. No matter the size, there is a demand even down to 1,000 square feet of space. Brad also says that in the future they will be working on providing current market rates and what could be expected revenue from your space. I am looking forward to seeing how this platform grows. Listen to the episode below and let us know if you’ll be turning your space into money in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 211: Chunker
Gamber-Johnson unveils the new Zebra TC5X and TC7X Powered/Non-Powered Docking Cradles
Gamber-Johnson has announced the availability of six new protective handheld technology docking cradles to support the popular Zebra TC5X and TC7X products. These handheld computer cradles offer a variety of rugged, reliable, and responsive options to meet your personalized needs, improve labor productivity and safely protect your technology investment to withstand the demands of today’s mobile work environments. Combine them with a Gamber-Johnson mount to create a complete solution for almost any mobile work environment. Features and Benefits: Lightweight, small form factor designed to be resilient and reliable in harsh material handling and enterprise environments. Three versions are available giving you choices to best meet your personal needs. Reduces the potential for costly damages by safely securing your device. Attaches to Gamber-Johnson mounting solutions using the AMPs hole pattern. Easy one-handed docking and releasing operation: To dock: Insert the bottom of the computer into the cradle, push the top of the computer into the cradle until the cradle latch clicks into place. To release: Lift latch to disengage and pull the computer out of the cradle.
EP 209: Capex vs. Opex with Picavi
On this episode, I was joined by the Senior Sales Manager at Picavi, Larry Olson. You may remember Picavi from last year’s MODEX where I got a demo of their pick by vision platform but if you do not they provide a picking solution that is based on the Google Glass platform. Larry and I discuss the latest from Picavi, how the technology has evolved, and also the benefits of opex vs. capex. Key Takeaways Picavi has a very futuristic solution to picking which is already a reality. When I initially learned about it I thought it was a great idea and I still think it is an incredibly practical use for the Google Glass platform which, as Larry states, was a pretty big flop on the consumer side of the market. They have been able to take this great technology and harness it for the enterprise in a very smart way. What it allows your pickers to do is see the information they need in order to make a successful pick right in front of their eyes at all times as it is projected through the glasses. This creates an almost completely hands-free picking solution that speeds up the pick time and increases accuracy as well. One of the developments for Picavi since we last spoke at MODEX 2020 has been their rollout of the vision as a service offering. This offering allows customers to essentially lease the units on a monthly basis without having to heavily invest in large amounts of hardware. I am a big fan of these types of offerings in our industry because we have a tendency to go up and down in the number of units we need on hand. This is especially true during peak seasons where we need more units but the remainder of the year we may end up with units just collecting dust. With the vision as a service model, you are able to get just the number of units you need for that point in time and then return the others when you don’t need them. It also has the advantage of quick swap-outs when a unit is damaged or not working properly which helps to maintain your capacity. Another benefit from Picavi’s vision as a service offering is the financial aspect. This is where we get into the discussion on capex vs. opex. Capex is short for capital expenditure which is a large expense that will go towards some type of asset investment with longer than a year of life. Capex will hit your balance sheet and can sometimes be difficult to get approved in the corporate environment with more hurdles to go through. In contrast, opex is short for an operational expense which is the normal operating expenses incurred by a company. Opex has the ability to be written off during tax time whereas capex needs to be capitalized so getting something approved by your company that is opex will certainly be easier than something that is capex. Listen to the episode below and leave a comment if you can see yourself using Picavi’s solution. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 209: Capex vs. Opex with Picavi