Inbound Logistics | July 2023

Technologies, a provider of machine vision and AI that ana- lyzes fast moving vehicles, rolled out its latest railcar AI detec- tion model. Leveraging this new algo- rithm, the RIP system can detect The AI-powered Synkrato Digital Twin solution allows companies to perform analytics, make predictions, simulate scenarios to optimize slotting, and identify optimal picking paths, putaway locations, and workforce allocation.

for the supply chain, offers robotic case pick capabilities that can help distributors serve retail customers. Symbotic is implementing its robotic warehouse automation technology in Associated Food Stores’ Utah distribution center. Associated Food Stores, a provider of groceries and other goods and services to independent retailers in nine Intermountain states, is deploying the AI-powered system to improve retail-facing operations, including picking and delivering products to stores.

when a cushion unit head, which is sim- ilar to a shock absorber, is damaged or missing, so that it can be replaced before greater damage occurs, preventing poten- tial derailments. “AI will help with predictive mainte- nance. A generative AI assistant will keep tabs on equipment monitoring sensors and will give alerts when breakdowns will occur. It will also generate charts to show real-time equipment status and even contact technicians to schedule any larger repairs,” says Sigler.

computer vision, and machine learn- ing technologies, that create digital twins for vehicles throughout the supply chain and detect anomalies from the assembly line to the dealership and end customer. The Spinframe solution uses AI to identify defects and external damage. The platform can oversee a large number of vehicles without human interven- tion in various locations, such as ports, logistics hubs, parking lots, and ser- vice centers. AI can also be trained to ag damaged products during the fulllment process. Amazon has deployed AI at two fulll- ment centers, with plans to add it to 10 more locations, to isolate faulty products before they are shipped to consumers, reports The Wall Street Journal . The AI is integrated with imaging sta- tions at Amazon’s fulllment centers. Trained on product photos, the AI identi- es any damaged items and diverts them to workers who will then double-check the products. With the damage rate esti- mated at fewer than one in 1,000 items, the AI solution allows workers to focus on their primary job of picking and pack- ing orders.

OPTIMIZING WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. Articial intelligence can

sit on top of a WMS and make it more responsive to an organization’s needs. AutoScheduler.AI is one WMS accelerator that optimizes resources to improve operations. The software shows who is doing what, where, and when, and draws up plans to help facilities min- imize travel, reduce touches, ship on time/in full, and drive labor efciency. Its dynamic warehouse plans are injected into the WMS to optimize activ- ities based on constraints and enable sites to run optimally. The AutoScheduler.AI platform was developed with P&G and implemented at P&G, Unilever, General Mills, and other companies. AI also supports advanced ware- house digital twin solutions such as Synkrato. The Synkrato Digital Twin integrates with the WMS, constantly ingesting data from multiple sources to create a real-time 3D representation of the warehouse.

IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE. The interactive, natu- ral-language interface of

AI is a t for customer service. “Using large language models (LLMs) allows sales reps to quickly learn more about shippers’ and carriers’ unique needs by identifying characteristics of their business,” says Alex Schwarm, head of data at Arrive Logistics. “These LLMs have vastly improved conversa- tional interfaces, allowing less technical users to quickly get answers to basic questions, letting the data team focus on more complex work such as enhanc- ing or developing new performance metrics to enable us to better serve cus- tomer needs.” AI tools can also foster self-service. For instance, import shippers, especially smaller companies, can use a new, free AI tool from tech company eezyimport to identify import goods classication codes. The AI tool can convert text into the harmonized tariff schedule (HTS)

REDUCING EQUIPMENT DOWNTIME. AI’s ability to spot the rare, but costly, anomaly also

HELPING WITH QUALITY CONTROL. AI tools can monitor product quality

applies to equipment used in the supply chain, from materials handling systems to tractor-trailers to railcars. For instance, the Railcar Inspection Portal (RIP) solution from Duos

throughout the supply chain. For example, Spinframe offers vehi- cle-inspection systems based on AI,

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