FIND YOUR ROBOTICS FIT

摘要

Robotics are a hot item in warehouses right now, with strong double-digit growth projected by most analysts over the next few years. There's a big difference, however, between knowing that robotics has market momentum, and knowing how to properly scope a robotics solution. The dilemma with scoping robotics for a DC is that plenty of "it depends" are engrained in finding a good fit. It depends on what workflow you want to automate. It depends on order mix and volume, product dimensions, layout and labor considerations. That said, if you back up from these parameters, some best practices emerge around knowing operational priorities, having a handle on data like SKU dimensions, and being clear about the problem. "The No. 1 step is to look at what the dynamics of your business are, and where you might use robotics to improve your operations," says Dwight Klappich, vice president of supply chain research with Gartner. "From there you examine specifics like what's the nature of the materials that need moving or handling, because moving a pallet with robotics is going to send you in an entirely different direction than doing collaborative picking of small items."