information-wise is on a screen embedded in the robot. Once they ful ll one robot’s order and place the pick in its tote, pickers can move on to another robot. Short walks between robots, cart free, reduce physical stress. “Robots constantly move through the warehouse, going to wherever the merchandise is that needs to be picked,” explains Karen Leavitt, chief marketing of cer at Locus Robotics. By working collaboratively with humans, AMRs dramatically lower a company’s cost per pick. “Creating an environment that reduces worker fatigue also increases worker retention because employees are much happier,” Leavitt adds. INCREASING THROUGHPUT A six-year-old company, Locus Robotics contracts with about 200 ful llment warehouse sites that run the gamut of retailers handling direct to consumer, store replenishment, or omnichannel ful llment. Locus works with healthcare manufacturers ful lling medical devices or pharmaceuticals, automotive part suppliers such as ISN, and others. “The goal is to increase throughput in environments that have traditionally relied on human labor as their primary raw material,” says Leavitt. In addition to streamlining operations, ISN views AMRs as a way to address labor challenges. “We’re experiencing high turnover just like everyone else in the industry right now,” says Neese. “However, this approach does not replace anyone’s job. It’s just supplementing, which allows us to continue operations long term with fewer humans since it’s currently very dif cult to hire people.” Attrition rate aside, employees who continue to work at ISN have earned higher wages in the wake of AMR integration. “ISN gained labor-related savings because they didn’t need as many people to ful ll the same amount of work,” says Santagate. “However, they didn’t let anybody go. They just moved people to other work ows. “And to help improve employee retention, ISN took some of the savings they realized and increased warehouse worker wages,” he adds.
LocusBots minimize unproductive worker walking time and eliminate carrying or pushing carts by autonomously traveling to worker and pick locations.
C A S E B O O K S T U DY Ifs, Ands, and Bots THE CHALLENGE
Integrated Supply Network (ISN), an independent automotive tool and equipment specialist serving wholesalers and distributors throughout North America and Europe, was looking for a way to be more effective in their warehouse picking. They were experiencing both labor and peak hour challenges. THE SOLUTION By deploying autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) across their Atlanta area warehouse location, ISN was able to increase productivity 266% and boost employee satisfaction considerably as well. The bots came courtesy of a 10-year-plus association with global technology giant Körber, their WMS provider who, in turn, frequently partners with Locus Robotics, a robotic process automation company. THE RESULTS AMRs have enabled ISN to keep pace with the 15 to 20% annual growth the company has been experiencing over the past few years. Two of ISN’s nine U.S. warehouse locations now use robots, with a third on the cusp and at least two others in line to join. NEXT STEPS ISN is working to develop the coding for putaway so they can derive the benefit of bots when they’re not being utilized during peak throughput hours.
258 Inbound Logistics • January 2022
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