INTELLIGENT VERTICAL: MANUFACTURING
Jim Hilton says it’s
feasible there will be
a rise in expert drone
managers
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ORGANISATIONS
CAN NOW GAIN VALUABLE
INSIGHTS INTO ACHIEVING PEAK
LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE AND
PROFITABILITY.
Motor Company, needed an automated
tracking system to monitor and guide each
step of over 150 daily vehicle conversions at
its Chicago-based modification centre.
TDM worked with Zebra partner, Lowry
Solutions, to implement robust vehicle
tracking by using Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) technology. Zebra
fixed RFID readers and antennae were
integrated and chosen because of Lowry’s
relationship and familiarity with its products,
plus Troy Design & Manufacturing had done
extensive research and heard numerous
industry recommendations favouring Zebra
over its competitors.
The result was that automated work-flow
enabled by RFID led to more precise visibility
and data collection. This set a higher
standard for facility efficiency and output.
With its vehicle tracking infrastructure
deployed, TDM found numerous advantages
with RFID automation. Operators are now
more focused on performing their tasks and
their workflow is streamlined with less paper-
based documentation and tracking duties.
Going forward, TDM hopes to become
more innovative, especially with its
implementation of RFID. With its
abandonment of manual, paper-based
tracking, over 90% of its operations are
already automated, overseen by human
eyes, resulting in improved productivity.
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INTELLIGENTCIO
In summary, as highlighted by TDM,
automation will drive better processes at
every stage of manufacturing, but it remains
fundamental that human interaction is
essential to respond and make decisions on
how data is best used for maximum efficiency.
The human touch in T&L
Automation has many clear benefits for T&L.
In the warehouse, automation driven by
mobile computers and scanners can ensure
that the most up-to-date stock inventory
is available for staff. This is important as
consumers are now demanding within-the-
hour delivery. Quite a challenge. Inventory
checks have become more efficient due
to the use of mobile computers. The latest
versions of this technology can scan bar
codes up to 70 feet away, ensuring that
human time, and energy, is spared to do
more work in other areas of the warehouse.
The next stage after smooth warehouse
operations is delivery logistics. Here,
automation can help carriers of freight and
parcels across ground and air to build a
smarter, more connected distribution network,
resulting in real-time informed decision-
making that improves loading operations.
By capturing data such as load density and
trailer capacity, organisations can now gain
valuable insights into achieving peak levels
of performance and profitability. During this
process, human interaction monitors how full
freight is and human thinking is needed to
decide when the vehicles can leave to make
vital deliveries. This new level of intelligence
planning is very important today, as logistics
companies must keep up with the rise
of the ‘on-demand economy’, driven by
e-commerce and the expectation of instant
delivery. This drives the desire for solutions
that can further optimise speed, accuracy
and efficiency of the loading process.
The future
Automation will bring many new exciting
developments to manufacturing and
T&L. As Manufacturing 4.0 arises, so too
will Manufacturing 5.0, pushing IIoT to
drive even more cost-efficient operations.
Technology will drive visibility and data-
capture to improve productivity. There
is naturally cause for some concern that
humans could be replaced by machines, but
it is also possible that automation can create
new jobs. For example, as the use of drone
technology increases in delivery of consumer
goods, linking back to T&L, it’s feasible that
we’ll see a rise in expert drone managers. It
isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.
Additionally, in the warehouse, if there is to
be a rise in driverless forklift trucks, it’s very
probable that those former drivers will be
deployed in roles to monitor operations. Or
better still, their human time can be spent
doing more challenging problem-solving
work within an organisation. What is clear
is that automation will need some form
of human response or interaction to run
smoothly. This will ultimately save some
traditional roles and no doubt create new
roles and drive redeployment where it is
needed. We are approaching a brave new
AI world, but there will always be demand
to have a human mind at the centre of
efficient operations. n
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