Tag: Warehouse Management Equipment

More Warehouse Robots Added at Walmart and Amazon But Not at a Human Cost – Yet

More Warehouse Robots Added at Walmart and Amazon But Not at a Human Cost - Yet
More Warehouse Robots Added at Walmart and Amazon But Not at a Human Cost – Yet

The move toward automation is affecting the retail industry, but is it a threat to employees yet? Retail giants Amazon and Walmart are adding warehouse robots to handle different tasks. While this might seem like a concern for employees, they can still count on being able to do their jobs using warehouse equipment for now.

Amazon Robots

Amazon first made the company’s interest in robotics known in 2012 with the purchase of Kiva Systems. Since that time, Amazon has set up cashierless stores and put robots to work moving items around inside its warehouses. These robots have allowed Amazon to store more inventory and handle customer orders at a quicker pace. This has led to shorter delivery times, making customers happier overall.

Walmart Robots

Walmart also uses robots in warehouses to take care of some tasks and plans to add more. Newer robots will be moving groceries around warehouses at a grocery distribution center in California in 2020, and a New Hampshire location will have automated carts available for moving items that are part of online grocery orders.

Other plans for robots at Walmart include an unloading system that removes items from trucks and sorts them while bringing them to warehouse shelves.

Effects of Robots on Jobs

Adding automation to warehouses is expected to create some jobs, but it could also lead to job losses for some warehouse workers over time. While warehouse workers don’t have to worry about losing their jobs to robots just yet, they should keep an eye on automation news.

If you need warehouse equipment to keep your business running smoothly, visit DJ Products. We have a wide selection of this equipment available to help your employees handle warehouse tasks more efficiently.

Improve Your Warehouse Picking Productivity

Warehouse truck works
Tips to Improve Picking Efficiency

As sales from online retailing continue to grow, optimizing warehouse productivity has become more crucial than ever. Our electric tugger carts let you allocate manpower more efficiently. What methods can you use to help order pickers boost their productivity?

Here are expert tips to streamline operations and maximize efforts of your order pickers.

Use a Team Approach

Your employees are on the front line. They know better than anyone what works and what needs to improve. Create a team that includes yourself along with the appropriate supervisors and one or two order pickers to review operations and discuss solutions.

Establish and Track Goals

Your employees can’t fulfill expectations if they don’t know what those expectations are. Set goals that are realistically ambitious and keep employees informed of their progress. Workers will also be able to see how their accomplishments contribute to the company’s success.

Remove Roadblocks

When confronted with obstacles, frustrated employees often develop workarounds that add time and effort. If you and your team uncover constraints to the order picking process, make it a priority to eliminate them.

Consolidate Fast-Moving Items

Do you have a system for slotting your fast-moving products? Setting up a “hot zone” for these products requires no financial investment and the layout can be adjusted as item velocities change, such as during the holiday season.

Implement Batch Picking

Discrete order picking can result in a lot of unnecessary walking. Analyze your orders to determine if they can be batched to reduce the number of passes a picker has to make.

Reduce Costly Workplace Industries with Tugger Carts from DJ Products

Workplace injuries are one of the biggest drains on productivity. Visit our website to learn how our battery-powered tugger carts improve both safety and efficiency.