This month in modern: Focus on the fundamentals

While I’ve always been a fan of our theme issues—such as our show coverage, technology, packaging and lift truck—I’ve always felt it’s our non-themed issues that show the depth of Modern’s coverage.

This month, our editorial team takes us inside a facility that’s improved connectivity to give productivity and employee morale a boost; we explore the multiple methods companies are using to create more sustainable warehouses; we offer our annual snapshot of the Top 20 warehouses; we take a look at the power choices available for lift truck fleets; and we share our annual look at bins, totes and containers.

While we spend a fair amount of time on the continued evolution of automation, executive editor Bob Trebilcock shines the spotlight this month on the success an operation is having by optimizing conventional technologies.

Trebilcock takes us inside the 100,000-square-foot facility operated by Pocket Nurse, a provider of educational, simulation and training materials to the healthcare industry.

“The key takeaway from this story is don’t forget the fundamentals,” says Trebilcock. “Our industry is going through an automation boom, and the solutions on the market today are remarkable. And because we assume it all just works, it’s easy to forget that things as fundamental as your Wi-Fi network and your automatic data capture solution are critical to productivity.”

As Trebilcock reports, Pocket Nurse has implemented automation in the form of a WMS and conveyor and sortation system to speed things along. However, the bottleneck to productivity was an aging WiFi infrastructure and older data capture equipment that couldn’t keep pace. “Upgrading both has led to impressive productivity achievements,” he adds. “So, remember, pay attention to the little things.”

On the theme of sticking to the fundamentals, senior editor Roberto Michel offers his Big Picture take on how operations can create a more sustainable facility. “My sources stressed the fact that green and sustainable warehouse operations can happen by small measures,” he says. “But the biggest impacts tend to come from longer-term plans that encompass the whole DC network.”

As Michel reports, it’s best to take a more holistic approach in energy savings planning, from the lighting to the automation level. “The bigger picture is that establishing a green warehouse is no longer just about green building design,” he says. “As fulfillment centers become more asset intensive, the energy efficiency of the automation is becoming a growing opportunity to create a more sustainable operation.”

While you’re thinking through energy conservation methods, consider the options for your motive power sources. As Michel reports, lift truck fleet managers are aware that there are more battery chemistry options for lift trucks than ever—and there’s a good chance that many have become confused, even a little frustrated, trying to compare batteries.

“Fleet managers want to make confident decisions about what battery chemistry is best,” says Michel. “In the end, every option has its strong points, so it comes down to using the goals of each operation to guide it down the best motive power path.”