CeMAT Insider

The industrial internet of things (IIoT) is a hot topic in manufacturing and supply chain management, promising real-time visibility of the entire supply chain through a vast network of advanced sensors, thereby supplying invaluable insights that can be used to optimise processes and workflows across the business.

Believe it or not, warehouse automation is not a recent innovation. In fact, the first automated guided vehicle (AGV) was invented back in 1953, while the first automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) was installed in the 1960s.

The multichannel retail business model, along with increasing levels of global sourcing, have created staggering opportunities for importers and exporters around the world, whether they be huge multinationals or small companies shipping globally for the first time.

Much has been written about connected technology – also known as the Internet of Things (IoT) – and its potential to save money and improve efficiency in the supply chain.

There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to supply chain technologies. There’s robots running fully automated warehouses; chatbots enabling orders and returns; facial recognition technology predicting orders at fast-food chains; driverless vehicles and drones optimising transportation and delivery; and smart labels and blockchain technology helping consumers better understand their products and where they come from.

Two new best practice resources developed by CHEP Australia in collaboration with its supply chain partners are now available to help organisations build the right foundations for effective equipment control.

Cerebos Australia and New Zealand is part of Cerebos Pacific Limited, and is wholly owned by Japanese global food and beverage group, Suntory Limited. Its brands include Gravox, Saxa Salt, Asian Home Gourmet, Tandaco spices, Fountain sauces, Foster Clark custards, Toby’s Estate, and Mocopan coffee.

This post was written by Volker Glöckle, Logistics Automation Industry Management, SICK AG, Waldkirch, Germany

Digitalisation, networking, cloud computing, data security – the fourth industrial revolution is underway – even concerning logistics – and is at the level of prompt and consistent data and information. Making logistics-related object properties available to all members of the supply chain, reveals a whole host of potential for efficiency. The prerequisite for this is a secure data space that is regulated and standardised across the board.

Have you heard the news about lean management? Are you curious to what it is and how you can implement this innovative philosophy into your warehouse? Lean or Six Sigma methodologies are taking the material handling industry by storm.