Collaborative mobile robots: Bringing greater productivity and flexibility to warehouse operations
Abstract
In an increasingly digital world, warehouses need to implement automation in order to reach optimal productivity and customer demand. Customer behaviour changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have only heightened the need for automation, bringing record-breaking, peak-level demands to fulfilment operators at various points throughout 2020. This paper discusses the many benefits of implementing wall-to-wall fulfilment automation, including collaborative mobile robots, into warehouse operations. Most commonly users see greater efficiency, flexibility and workplace morale. The paper also explores a use case of how global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin greatly improved efficiency in its warehouse and solved major material handling challenges by adding collaborative mobile robots into its fulfilment centre.
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Author's Biography
Fergal Glynn is Vice President of Marketing at 6 River Systems, Inc. (6RS), where he is responsible for demand generation and branding. Before 6 River Systems, Fergal was a member of the leadership teams at Docurated (acquired by Quark Software), Veracode (acquired by CA) and BlueNote Networks (acquired by Aspect Software). Earlier in his career, Fergal was a programmer at Fidelity Investments and Oracle. Fergal holds a BEng in computer engineering from the University of Limerick in Ireland and an MBA from Babson College.
Corey Cook serves as the Senior Programme Manager for Training, Logistics and Sustainment for Lockheed Martin Corporation, overseeing advanced technology concepts focused on logistics process improvement. In that capacity, he is responsible for logistics and sustainment strategic planning; technology innovation, integration and development; strategic initiatives and cross-corporate business initiatives. His programmes include global supply chain, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and analytics, 5G network capabilities, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and sensor technologies. He served more than 20 years in the US Navy, initially serving in the Navy Nuclear Program before receiving his commission as a Naval Supply Corps Officer. He received a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Christopher Newport University, an MBA, and a Master’s degree in project management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Citation
Glynn, Fergal and Cook, Corey (2022, March 1). Collaborative mobile robots: Bringing greater productivity and flexibility to warehouse operations. In the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Volume 4, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.69554/NDUE1531.
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