On The Move Podcast Series

Many distribution centers are grappling with the challenges of aging equipment, labor and skill shortages, or limited visibility into business operations. Yet in practically every DC, there are hidden opportunities for improvement in all these categories — if you can extract them from the millions of data points you're already generating every day. Armed with these insights, even small increases in productivity and cost savings can significantly impact your bottom line in less than twelve months.If you'd like to speak to one of our representatives, please contact us here: Automation (honeywell.com)

Every material handling operation has its own challenges, whether it's the types of products or packaging you handle or an innovative process that's unique to your organization. As a result, many warehouses, manufacturers and fulfillment businesses find themselves in a frustrating position: they have a problem that could be solved with automation but can't find the exact equipment they need. But even though great ideas don't always come pre-packaged, practical solutions may be closer than you realize.If you'd like to speak to one of our representatives, please contact us here: Automation (honeywell.com)

There's a growing recognition that manual labor is no longer sufficient to keep up with the exploding pace of e-commerce. Demand for higher throughput and volume is simply multiplying too quickly. It's also not enough to move faster; increases in throughput rates for omnichannel fulfillment also require more accuracy, not less. Automation offers an obvious solution to many of these challenges — increasing throughput rates, improving accuracy, and enabling scarce labor to be used more effectively to achieve omnichannel fulfillment requirements.Joining the podcast today are Laura Bickle, senior offering manager; and Mike Disney, senior account manager, both of Honeywell Intelligrated. We'll explore the benefits and opportunities offered by advanced automation solutions for today's distribution and fulfillment (D&F) operations.If you'd like to speak to one of our representatives, please contact us here: Automation (honeywell.com)

Distribution and fulfillment, or D&F, operations are facing more challenges than ever before. Most distribution centers, or DCs, already know that automation can help them solve many, if not all of these problems. But automation may not be feasible for you quite just yet. Your operation may not have the budget for it, or may not be able to get the equipment you need right now because of supply chain delays. You might also feel that your business needs to grow a little more before you're ready to make that commitment.

Robots designed specifically for the logistics industry have come a long way in just the last few years. A new generation of smart robotics is capable of functioning autonomously, responding to constant change, and scaling up or down as needed. But even this is only the beginning. Today's robots have reached a new level of sophistication that allows them to benefit your operation not only by working independently, but also by working together in seamlessly integrated solutions.

For distribution center (or DC) operators, finding, training and retaining workers are among the greatest impediments to productivity and profitability. Historically speaking, labor costs contribute up to 65% of total operating expenses. Today, labor scarcities and rising wages are driving these costs even higher. Onboarding workers to meet performance expectations is only half the battle. Once they're integrated into your unique DC workflows and processes, keeping them engaged and motivated to stay is equally as important.On today's show, we'll examine how robust coaching and incentive tools within labor management software (or LMS) can address these escalating labor challenges.To view our webinar on this topic, click here. To subscribe to our podcast updates and receive exclusive communications from Honeywell Intelligrated, click here.

When it comes to prioritizing performance metrics in a distribution center (DC), maintaining the highest possible customer service levels should arguably be at the top of the list. Fulfilling this promise requires seamless execution across a diverse range of DC systems, processes and contributing key performance indicators (KPIs). At the end of the day, the goals are relatively simple: deliver the right products to the right customers, on time, in the correct quantity and at a competitive price. Today on the show: we'll be exploring how DC operators can measure performance to achieve these key customer service objectives. The guest today is Armadeep Singh, head of product management and technology at Honeywell Intelligrated.To subscribe to our podcast updates and receive exclusive communications from Honeywell Intelligrated, click here.

If there's one trend that will be hot in 2022, it's a growing demand for automated solutions in the logistics industry. There are two big reasons why: unprecedented e-commerce demand, plus significant advances in the technologies that drive robotic solutions.Joining us today are Bob Carver, principal account manager for Honeywell Intelligrated; and Corinne Bertino, software solutions consultant for Honeywell Intelligrated. Today on the show: we'll explore the power of warehouse management system (WMS) software, and why it's an essential component to any distribution and fulfillment (D&F) operation that hopes to expand beyond a certain level in today's omnichannel marketplace.To subscribe to our podcast updates and receive exclusive communications from Honeywell Intelligrated, click here.

It's safe to say that most organizations' overarching business goals include improving efficiency and throughput, increasing overall equipment reliability and uptime, gaining better production numbers, and cutting costs. A key way to achieve all of these goals is by leveraging lifecycle support services (LSS) to optimize critical equipment and processes.Today on the show, we'll explore two different service approaches that can help companies to meet their objectives: outcome-based services and critical path optimization. The guest today is Diane Blair, Director of Field Operations at Honeywell Intelligrated.Listen to the full podcast and discover Honeywell Intelligrated's Lifecycle Support Services five-phase approach to ensure all key areas of the critical path are optimized.

An estimated 50% of all maintenance and repair operations budgets is dedicated to spare parts. With that much of a financial commitment, ensuring those items are on hand and easy to find is crucial. This is especially because they're so important for preserving continuous uptime and minimizing disruptions from equipment failures. Many operations could stand to brush up on their spare parts tracking, storage and handling processes — so today on the show we're going to share seven best practices for doing just that. The guest today is Cindy Olmsted, Director of Parts Commercial Excellence at Honeywell Intelligrated.Listen to the full podcast and learn how your operation, big or small, can optimize overall maintenance and repair tasks.

If there's one trend that will be hot in 2022, it's a growing need for automated solutions in the logistics industry. There are several reasons why: labor challenges, unprecedented e-commerce demand, plus significant advances in the technologies that drive robotic solutions.Distribution centers (DCs) have to deal with several growing challenges, all at the same time. There are hundreds of thousands of unfilled jobs within warehouses right now. The most current statistics indicate that the warehouse industry now employs over 50 percent more workers than it did five years ago. And 13.6 percent of that growth was in the last year alone. But it's still not enough. The warehouse and transportation industries had a record 490,000 openings in July. Every automation technology that a DC utilizes helps to offset these challenges. The idea isn't to replace workers. But if you can move an employee from an injury-prone job like unloading pallets to doing quality checks, picking orders, sorting inventory, delivering completed orders, and so on, you can use the workers you have more efficiently to increase fulfillment accuracy and get customers their orders faster.Listen to the full podcast to discover what other strategies and technologies can help DCs to combat the challenges they are currently facing.

Maximizing material handling equipment (MHE) uptime is a key to success in the competitive e-commerce retail sector. Distribution and fulfillment (D&F) center operations teams have always relied on their maintenance crews to keep these critical assets running properly in all scenarios. But as retailers face consistently high order volumes, traditional preventative maintenance (PM) programs are proving costly and ineffective. E-commerce acceleration is also putting intense pressure on D&F operations. Maintenance teams are under even more pressure to ensure assets never unexpectedly go down, as the warehouse runs the risk of missing promised dates and attempting to make up the downtime with labor overtime hours. Listen to our podcast to discover how companies are making the shift from reactive maintenance strategies toward more predictive, data-driven approaches with enterprise performance management (EPM) tools designed specifically for maintenance and operations teams.

As the foundation of warehouse automation, machine control software is essential for long-term operational success. But many programmable logic controls (PLCs) and machine control platforms are in the sunsetting phases of their lifecycles. Learn how and why you should upgrade to a modern machine control platform that serves as a stable foundation upon which you can build best-fit software solutions. You can also learn more about this topic by watching a webinar on this subject at: https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/automation/resources/webinars/from-obsolete-to-modern

The rise of robotic palletizers has led many to conclude that the conventional palletizer's days are numbered. But are they? In today's distribution center (DC) operations, there are specific applications that favor each of these palletizing technologies. Determining which palletizing technology is the better choice requires operations to consider their product mix, speed requirements and application. You can also learn more about this topic by downloading a white paper on this subject at: https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/automation/resources/whitepapers/conventional-vs-robotic-palletizing

Whenever we talk to distribution center (or DC) operators about their biggest challenges, the same topic is always at the top of the list: finding enough labor. And while attracting enough workers is hard enough, finding people with the skills you need most is even harder. Lean about the many options for training and enhancing your workforce. You can also learn more about our training programs at https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/services/automation/training

With so many downsides to manual depalletization, automation would seem like an obvious solution. Until recently, however, mixed-SKU pallets have been particularly challenging for robots to handle. The job doesn’t sound like rocket science. Pallets arrive with a virtually random assortment of items or SKUs, each potentially positioned, oriented and labeled in a different way. All you have to do is pick up each item and put it onto a conveyor. But while humans can easily deal with unstructured and ever-changing tasks like this, robot programming has taken a while to catch up. As a result, most automated depalletizing solutions to date have only been practical for operations that handle consistently sized cases and load configurations. These have typically required specialized expertise or costly third-party solutions to integrate, and often suffered from limited aftermarket support. All of these limitations, however, have been overcome by major improvements in three key technologies: • Significant advances in vision and perception • Development of sophisticated machine learning • Innovations in gripping technology This podcast will highlight the significant benefits these solutions have to offer modern DCs and other fulfillment operations. It will also examine the increasingly attractive business case for doing so. You can also learn more about this topic by downloading a white paper on this subject at: https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/automation/resources/whitepapers/overcome-manual-depalletizing-challenges

E-commerce order fulfillment demands have introduced unprecedented complexities in distribution centers (DCs) and fulfillment environments. As delivery windows shrink and product varieties (SKUs) multiply, fulfillment speeds and order volumes are accelerating beyond the capabilities of even the most sophisticated DCs. While many online retailers are transitioning to advanced automation and robotics, traditional strategies of planning fulfillment waves days (or even hours) in advance are no longer viable. Order priorities can vary widely and change in an instant, and DC operators need the flexibility and agility to adapt continuously to fluctuations in demand and resource availability. Increased process automation is becoming a necessity, but the integration of multiple automated systems and workflows can result in even more complexity. System interdependencies often are overlooked or underestimated, and a decision made in one system can create a cascading effect of unintended consequences in others, resulting in process inefficiencies at best — or productivity bottlenecks due to frequent manual interventions and reactive troubleshooting in worst case scenarios. The progressive uptake in automation also has led to the proliferation of data from nearly every corner of the DC. Learn how data science techniques — such as machine-learning algorithms, advanced data-driven optimization techniques and artificial intelligence — can leverage this abundance of data for insights into the interplay between automation systems. Combined with sophisticated warehouse execution system (WES) software, these tools can enable dynamic, real-time “decision intelligence” to achieve optimal execution strategies and business results in complex fulfillment environments. You can also download our white paper on this subject at: https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/automation/resources/whitepapers/leveraging-data-science-decision-intelligence-dc

Many companies are considering automated sortation solutions to address growth, facility consolidation, acquisitions or simply to become more efficient. However, there are a lot of sortation options available — which can make finding the optimal solution difficult. Several factors influence which sortation solution would best fulfill the requirements of your distribution center (DC) operation. In this episode of the On The Move Podcast, we’ll start by discussing the different types of automated sortation solutions available in the market today. We will then explore the various factors, such as item type, size and diversity, that should be considered in order to select the right sortation system for your facility. To learn more about your sortation options and how to select the right “mission-critical” solution, download our white paper, “Sorting Out Your Sortation Options" at https://sps.honeywell.com/us/en/support/automation/resources/whitepapers/sorting-out-your-sortation-options.

There’s a growing interest in using robotics to help fulfillment operations keep up with the increasing demands of e-commerce. But unlike manufacturing — where robots can do the same job day in and day out — logistics tasks are unpredictable, inexact and often aren’t repeatable. Tackling the more dynamic, unstructured environments of today’s DCs calls for a far more sophisticated solution. Learn about some of the cutting-edge technologies and practices that are finally making robotic solutions capable of achieving their full potential in today’s DCs.

Just as e-commerce demands outpace their fulfillment capabilities, the rising costs and growing scarcity of labor are cutting into profit margins. Operations can no longer accept the under-utilization of labor, warehouse space or material handling equipment. And to survive, they must also accelerate their transitions to more automated workflows. Register for ProMatDX and visit our showcase page to learn more about the solutions discussed with Tom, Eric and Nicole. The robotics demos are on April 12 with Mobile Robotics at 1 p.m. CT and Mixed-SKU Depalletizing at 2:15 CT, the Advanced Simulation demo is April 14 at 1:15 p.m. CT, and the software demos are on April 15 with WES at 10:30 a.m. CT and WMS at 1:45 p.m. CT and LMS on April 16 at 10 a.m. CT. If you are unable to attend the live presentations the demos will be available on-demand on our showcase page for six months following the show.

When your distribution equipment isn’t running, your operation is losing money. Demand for throughput is more intense than ever before — and on track to get even stronger. Learn more about some of the innovative technologies that are streamlining the entire maintenance task lifecycle and minimizing costly downtime in retail and e-commerce distribution. Register for ProMatDX and visit our showcase page to learn more about the solutions discussed with Eric and Mike. Eric’s Enterprise Performance Management demo is April 13 at 10:15 a.m. CT, and Mike’s TechSight demo on Remote-Video Enablement is on April 13 at 2 p.m. CT. If you are unable to attend the live presentations the demos will be available on-demand on our showcase page for six months following the show.

Necessity is definitely the mother of invention in distribution and fulfillment operations. With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, distribution centers experienced significant operational disruptions and an unexpected spike in e-commerce orders. Simultaneously, health concerns brought heightened scrutiny to operational safety and the imperative to protect employee well-being and confidence. As a result, distribution center managers across the retail spectrum have implemented new protocols, practices and processes to enhance workplace safety and adapt to higher order volumes. Learn how retail and supply chain leaders have quickly adapted by creating operational strategies that can improve their abilities to survive — and thrive — in this uncertain and demanding market.

The unrelenting pressure to provide shorter delivery windows is driving the need for a digital transformation in the supply chain and material handling sector — where many retailers are in various states of transition from manual processing to increasingly automate fulfillment models. Learn about strategies for capitalizing on the benefits of digital technologies.

Distribution center operators and supply chain leaders find themselves caught between rapidly changing market dynamics — such as labor shortages and the digital transformation from manual to automated operations — and unrelenting competitive pressures. And that’s in addition to the demands arising from the rapidly changing behaviors of e-commerce consumers who want ever faster order delivery. Learn how how distribution and fulfillment operators are making the fundamental transition from traditional lifecycle management strategies of “react and respond” to a new paradigm of “analyze and predict.”

It’s time to show Industry 4.0 is more than a concept. It’s time to show how machine-to-machine communication and the internet of things are making a difference in the real world for real companies. And not only are we going to present how Industry 4.0 is bringing positive change to the way distribution centers operate, but also the long-promised increases in productivity, efficiency, and profits.

2020 will be remembered as the year of huge, unprecedented challenges: - The pandemic intensified operational safety concerns. - Consumers changed their buying behaviors in significant ways, accelerating e-commerce growth and forever altering expectations for just how quick order fulfillment and delivery can be. - In response, distribution center operators implemented new guidelines to enhance worker well-being and adapted to increased order volumes. Not only do these new measures require a comprehensive approach to workplace safety, they must also support the need for increased productivity. That’s given us a lot to talk about here on the OTM Podcast. Indeed, we’ve covered so many topics that it would be useful to wrap up 2020 by reviewing some of the big ideas and best advice from our podcast series.

Over the past decade, many companies have steadily built up their distribution and fulfillment capabilities to meet the ever-increasing demands of e-commerce. Then 2020 happened, and the need to make these upgrades suddenly took on new urgency. For many companies, accelerating these initiatives has become a top business priority. Many companies often turn to third-party equipment and systems integrators to help them bring these critical initiatives to life. Integrators like our guest, Conveyco, work closely with companies to understand their business goals and fulfillment processes, and then select from available warehouse automation technologies to deploy best-fit solutions.

Smart robotic solutions are finally up to the task of automating the chaotic, ever-changing environments of distribution centers (DCs). And with labor shortages making it increasingly difficult to meet the rising demands of e-commerce, the timing couldn’t be better. This On The Move podcast will explore how smart automation processes can help your operation push what’s possible, boosting throughput and productivity while making more efficient use of labor. Learn how practical robotic solutions that are delivering a competitive edge for leading DC operations, often with minimal infrastructural changes.

Maximizing throughput without sacrificing accuracy or damaging product is critical to the success of any distribution center that hopes to keep pace in today’s evolving marketplace. At the same time, these capabilities need to be achieved with solutions that are easy to operate and maintain, preferably with proactive safeguards to identify maintenance risks before they cause unexpected downtime. On this podcast, we'll explore how to get the most out of your critical conveyor and sortation systems with next-generation machine control and modular control system options.

At PACK EXPO Connects, attendees were able to find the latest packaging and distribution operations solutions designed to drive productivity, cost savings, operational efficiencies and a competitive edge. NextGen Supply Chain Conference provided an opportunity for attendees to discover how smart robotic solutions can help their DCs adapt to increased order volumes, support social distancing protocols, and thrive in today’s uncertain economic environment. On this podcast, we'll explore many of the solutions showcased at these key industry events.

Data science insights are driving new areas of optimization, prediction and autonomous systems in our labor workforce. It is now possible, for example, to determine the number of workers you’ll need to run your operation at peak efficiency next week. You can also predict where each of your employees will work most effectively, which incentives will motivate them to get their jobs done, and who’s thinking about quitting. Learn how data science is bringing game-changing insights to the supply chain and how it can even help you hire the right number of people.

Used in automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) or micro-fulfillment center (MFC) workflows, GTP strategies integrate shuttles and robotics to automate a variety of labor-intensive fulfillment processes. See how GTP technologies help DC operators respond to high order volumes while increasing accuracy, productivity and process efficiency.

New social distancing protocols are changing the way DC operators monitor and maintain their equipment. Connected technologies and services are augmenting diagnostic capabilities with real-time, sensor-based analytics while on-site technicians leverage tools to collaborate with off-site experts. Learn how these strategies combine to create robust lifecycle management programs.

Take a journey into the future of omnichannel distribution by exploring the possibilities of emerging simulation capabilities. See how data-driven design methodologies can simulate a future iteration of your DC operations, incorporating advanced automation and sub-system validation.

DC operations directors are managing increased throughput expectations while adapting to emerging workplace safety requirements. Succeeding in this “new normal” will require innovative strategies like implementing Honeywell Voice - which utilizes voice-guided workflows - to meet customer demands while implementing workplace protocols.

As distribution and fulfillment (D&F) operations ship record-breaking volumes of goods to customers, how are DCs taking care of their employees? We’ll explore how an LMS can help DC operators influence behaviors, track results, and properly engage their workforce to drive productivity and safety. Learn how LMS has proven to be essential for any distribution and fulfillment operation looking for answers to today’s escalating labor management challenges.

Maximizing distribution center (DC) and warehouse utilization while consistently maintaining peak performance levels are common goals shared by all operations, regardless of their size. To accomplish these objectives, it’s critical to start by identifying and evaluating each operation’s unique business requirements and finding solutions that address their most common challenges. Learn how Voice technology consistently delivers business results in multiple workflows in a wide variety of essential DC processes and workflows.

The material handling industry is in the middle of a historic digital transformation from manual to automated processes in distribution center (DC) and fulfillment operations. To keep pace with unrelenting e-commerce fulfillment speeds and order volumes, many DC operations have taken significant steps in making the transition to more automated, digital processes. Even with these improvements, many continue to strain under the weight of modern commerce complexities, rising customer service expectations and labor availability challenges. Automation alone is simply not enough. To unlock the operational intelligence needed to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace, DC operators now need to connect these systems via industrial internet of things (IIoT) technologies. Learn about the market conditions driving this digital transformation and examine how fulfillment operations can take the next steps in the digitization process by connecting DC assets, people and processes to address modern commerce challenges.

As operational safety concerns intensify and e-commerce accelerates, distribution center (DC) managers are implementing new guidelines to enhance worker well-being and adapt to increased order volumes. Not only will these new measures require a comprehensive approach to workplace safety, they must also support the need for increased productivity. Learn how Honeywell is providing the tools and technologies you need to thrive in this uncertain environment.

There is a big opportunity to get ahead of competitors by implementing real-time asset monitoring programs. These programs can connect machinery with automation systems to move your distribution center forward. The distribution and fulfillment (D&F) industry is seeing a move being made toward the industrial internet of things (IIoT). This shift in processes helps distribution centers (DCs) see higher throughput rates and a decrease in downtime. Other industries have experienced the positive benefits of IIoT, and it’s time for the D&F industry to do the same. In order to remain competitive and efficient, warehouses must look to incorporate real-time asset monitoring systems into their operations. It has been noted across the industry that few operations have taken the leap to invest in automated systems and material handling operations. It has also been noted that investments in IIoT yield a high ratio for ROI. Although the investment may seem large on the front end, it is well worth it to remain a leader in the industry and keep your operation moving at a scalable pace. Learn how investing in real-time asset monitoring systems has been proven to decrease downtime in distribution centers.

A voice system can enhance your DC or warehouse, enabling you to reduce costs while picking greater quantities of products and improving accuracy. Learn how voice technology can help you to optimize warehouse operations.

There are many ways to ensure your DC is optimally performing. But first, you must be able to learn new strategies and unlearn outdated techniques. A forward-thinking approach to operational warehouse efficiency will ensure your DC is meeting the needs of today and preparing for its future fulfillment capabilities. Having a clear understanding of their operation’s goals and the tools available to help reach them will allow operators to make the best decisions possible for their warehouse. Learn how to increase operational efficiency today and into the future.

There are many factors working against distribution centers. From labor shortage to returns handling, operators must use strategic planning to anticipate future demands. Each year, many warehouse jobs go unfulfilled due to the lack of skilled labor available. Fortunately for DCs, there are many solutions to choose from to make sure their operation or fulfillment center is well-equipped to tackle the problems of tomorrow. Artificial intelligence, robotics control and voice technology are just a few resources distribution centers can incorporate to create better operational workflows. By integrating these solutions into their DC, operators can find answers to today’s problems and be ready for the expectations of the future. Learn how data science techniques can improve automated systems.

Digital transformation has become a priority. Those leading this transition are 75 percent more likely to cite the preparation of a strong business case as a key factor of success in their IIoT programs. Learn how to achieve real business results from your digital transformation.

In the world of e-commerce fulfillment and retail distribution, DC operations and management teams are under constant pressure to reduce operating costs yet simultaneously improve customer service levels. Learn how operational assessments are ideal for uncovering potential opportunities for facility-wide process and performance improvements.

With mobile robotic solutions, warehouse automation doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated or time-consuming. That’s probably why they’re one of the fastest-growing automation technologies currently revolutionizing the industry. Learn how to keep your operation competitive in today’s environment of limited labor and rapidly expanding e-commerce demands.

Modern warehouse execution systems (WES) are engineered to provide robust solutions to emerging challenges. Learn how a WES can be applied across a spectrum of fulfillment scenarios to help you balance workflows, prioritize orders, and increase throughout — all while reducing cost.

Effective lifecycle management strategies are even more critical in unforgiving e-retail business models. Learn the importance of business continuity plans and how they can help ensure the operation of essential functions during any kind of disruption.

High-density, small-footprint, micro-fulfillment center (MFC) automation has emerged where retailers need it most: with direct-to-consumer delivery or in-store pickup. Learn how MFCs combine the latest technological advancements to help retailers shorten fulfillment cycle times and reduce the distance between themselves and their customers.

To meet the recent uptick in consumer demand for click-and-collect services, brick-and-mortar retailers need to employ proven distribution center (DC) fulfillment strategies. Learn how voice technology can not only address e-fulfillment challenges, but also be integrated across multiple in-store workflows.