What are the best practices for implementing robotic picking and packing systems in your warehouse?

Warehouse picking processes are extremely repetitive and also very time-consuming. Companies around the world have been struggling to recruit and retain warehouse operators for several years, increasing labour costs. At the same time, picking robots are becoming increasingly available - also in the Robot as a Service model. Developments in machine vision software and robotisation itself are showing new possibilities such as the fully autonomous autopicker from Brightpick. I therefore heartily recommend that you take an interest in robot technology today. I am convinced that in 20 years' time it will be difficult to find people willing to work in warehouses.

Implementing robotic picking and packing systems requires a detailed analysis of warehouse operations, focusing on high-volume tasks. Integration with the Warehouse Management System (WMS) ensures seamless communication. Choose flexible, scalable designs for adaptability. Use collaborative robots (Cobots) for human-robot cooperation. Employ advanced vision systems for product identification. Implement pick and pack optimization algorithms for efficient routing. Define collaboration zones for safety. Monitor and maintain systems regularly. Provide employee training for effective collaboration. Use analytics to track performance and optimize. Implement adaptive learning for continuous improvement.

There are a ton of different technologies on the market. All have their own pros and cons. The key is finding where the automation will have the biggest effect. There is no point automating a process that is already efficient. You also need to consider how easily you can automate the process. If you are selling furniture then that is far more difficult to automate than selling clothing. The level of automation is therefore governed by your products and processes. I would recommend speaking to a number of suppliers and getting their views. The wisdom of crowds will guide you on the type of technology and your budget will guide what level to adopt. Whatever is selected, it needs to be flexible and scalable with your business.

Having a really clear material flow diagram for the warehouse will help guide how the warehouse should be designed. The impact on your operation in the short term may be painful when moving operations around but the long term gain will hugely out weigh this. There may be flooring rework, additional power requirements, software upgrades to consider. These cost are often not considered up front but should be budgeted for. Being transparent with the workforce will be key and getting training for any new system booked in early will reduce the pain. If the whole team is bought into what you are trying to do then you can foster a can-do attitude.

It is incredibly important to do you due diligence on any potential supplier. Make sure you meet their current customer base (within country). You will get a much clearer picture of the supplier from their customers. Making sure you will have local support will be important. If you can't visit a couple of reference sites then that should be a red flag for that supplier. You need to consider the vendor as a 10 year partnership on a project. You really need to be confident that there is a cultural fit and a level of trust in both directions. They must have a proven track record in your industry and country. They will have the experience to know what to watch out for in a new install which will be invaluable.

When implementing robotic picking and packing systems, remember it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each warehouse has unique needs. I've seen setups where mixing manual processes with automation based on peak times significantly boosted efficiency. Also, don't overlook the importance of regular maintenance to keep these systems running smoothly. A friend in the industry once shared that their proactive maintenance approach reduced system downtime by 40%. Lastly, always stay updated with the latest tech advancements; integrating even small updates can lead to big improvements in performance.