Several years ago, Boston identified itself as one of the true leaders in robots, right alongside Detroit and a few other hotbeds. Just take a drive up Routes 3 and 93, there you will bump into iRobot, Amazon Robotics, RightHand Robotics, Locus Robotics, and several others.
In 2016, according to the Wall Street Journal, more than one-third of organizations already had robotics in their supply chains; a number that continues to increase. The study had estimated that the presence of Robotics would expand to three-fourths by 2021; now in 2018, it seems we are well on our way to fulfill this statistic.
These vast ‘robotic’ applications range from pick and place, material movement, to specific task functionality. In this year alone, the robotics applications in these areas have more than tripled over any prior year. Many of these applications we have recently encountered center around two main themes; moving material and clean room pick and place.
Several current applications involve transformations to optimize ‘hard to find’ labor in the warehouse, specifically at the last 100 feet. Why? Simply stated, that is where the labor is the highest and precision is the most crucial. Supply chains are starting to adjust and improve to keep up with demands, as well as the replacement of labor. As robotics continue to enhance the delivery method of goods, it is vital for Supply Chains to advance as well.
The price of technology is decreasing; therefore, the presence of robotics is quickly rising among the industry to improve efficiency, lower company costs, and keep pace with the competition. Technology will require companies to either train current staff or stress the importance of professional certifications during the recruitment process. To determine the best Supply Chain Management Certification required of upper-level professional staff will depend on Robotics and Automation integrated within each company
Contact us at Boston Industrial to learn how your company can integrate the newest tech to lower costs and enhance overall efficiency.
Video Title: The Robot Revolution: Automation Comes into Fashion | Moving Upstream
Sited 9/25/2018 via Youtube | Published by Wall Street Journal on 2/16/2018
