Topic: Features

Warehouse and DC managers are feeling the pressure of e-commerce growth, high order volumes, as well as deep concerns around labor availability and international supply chain snarls. In response, our survey found that they’re ramping up spending for automation—but also spending more on their labor force to ensure an adequate pool of workers to keep goods flowing.

The auto industry is learning to bob and weave as one disruption after another takes hold.

These automated fulfillment systems are part of the latest wave of technology, and they are already scoring huge improvements in distribution efficiencies. Here are some best practices to make your own army of piece picking robots successful.

Technology that allows for remote operation promises to expand on the available pool of qualified lift truck operators and bring other benefits like helping companies flex human resources to meet demand surges.

Our editors sat down with Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels, founders of OPSisters to discuss women in the supply chain and logistics industry.

Once considered the purvey of the far-off future, autonomous lift trucks have arrived. Here’s what they can offer.

Selected from our top System Report cover stories from the previous year, Modern’s annual Productivity Achievement Awards honor companies that have made exceptional operational gains through means like warehouse automation projects, robotics, DC network strategy and a spirit of innovation.

The economy has maintained strength, e-commerce is booming, and companies with distribution operations are struggling to keep up.

To maximize efficiency and uptime with autonomous lift trucks, attachments are going all electric, lessening energy drain on AGVs and AMRs while allowing adoption of a predictive maintenance approach.

Modern Material Handling editor sat down with Gary Steen to talk about his career with Hannibal and the racking industry.

In Indiana, Guardian Industries is using autonomous vehicles to lean out its processes, create a safer work environment and ensure more consistency in delivery of materials to its work cells.

A fulfillment solution from Fetch Robotics and parent company Zebra Technologies looks to simultaneously manage human labor and mobile robots, in what’s shaping up as a trend aimed at helping labor-constrained operations.

Our annual automation survey finds increasing budgets for automation and rising interest in automated solutions with reliable parts availability, as well as turnkey, integrated solutions. And though budgets are up, stresses show around labor availability, raising its importance as a driver for automation.

Modex 2022 will feature hundreds of solution provider exhibits, educational sessions and keynote presentations featuring Shaquille O’Neal, Sanjay Gupta and Marriott’s Erika Alexander.

The labor crunch is a serious issue, not just for front-line employees in DC and other supply chain sites, but when it comes to higher-level supply chain talent, too. We surveyed supply chain professionals and found less than one-third feel their companies are highly prepared to handle demand with current staff, while two-thirds have increased wages to try to retain more people.

Building on faster, more robust communications networks, wireless devices from handheld terminals to autonomous mobile robots are on a path to increasing operational efficiencies, regardless of workforce challenges.

Sensors must be kept clean, but safe and steady autonomous operation should minimize unplanned repairs.

Modern's editor sat down with Daniel to discuss the upcoming MODEX Show.

Modern sat down with Rob Thyen to discuss 3PLs and Piece Picking Robotics.

Electric lift trucks are evolving to deal with pressures wrought by e-commerce, including labor shortages and higher handling volumes, through high- and low-tech means.