We're all too familiar with today's problems in distribution yards-they require repetitive, manual tasks to be performed in often hazardous, inhospitable conditions. As one of the most under-invested-in links in the supply chain, distribution yards operate today much as they have for decades. Yet, yards play critical roles in getting more than 10 billion tons of freight annually from warehouses onto the open road. It's time to re-think what's possible for the role distribution yards play in the supply chain. Distribution yards are ideal for automation for three primary reasons: 1) operations involve manual, repetitive tasks, 2) yards require dull, dirty and dangerous work and 3) yards are located on private, well-defined property. As yard automation solutions become more widely available, successful deployment of this technology depends on forward-thinking design and planning. Three key areas must be considered when planning for yard automation-property, process and people.
展开▼
