PODCAST Episode #53

Pete Allen is Managing Partner at Birch Advisors. And he knows his way around the world of warehousing and distribution quite well!

MANY companies seek him out for consultations, and particularly on strategies for integrating and growing robotics and automation.

✅ What are the unique challenges both at the tactical level (warehousing problems) but also strategic level (gaining traction and adoption from the end users in the industry?)

✅ Do you see robotics as an "either or" in integrations with humans or an "and also"?

✅ What should ops leaders be focusing on building the warehouse of the future?

✅ What type of operation is an ideal one to get the most gains from robotics and how should they explore this ahead of time to minimize risk?

 PODCAST Episode #52

Robotics are everywhere in the distribution industry (and more every year).  You see them in shows and magazines.  BUT what do you really need to know about if they are right for your operation or not?

Mike Bearman, the Chief Legal & Safety Officer at Vecna Robotics, is the perfect guest to chat with about this.  

*Why many warehouse automation projects fail to deliver on their original expectations.

*Common mistakes operations make before, during and after projects.

*Key "do's and don'ts" plus why AI should NEVER be responsible alone for warehouse safety.

*What 'inside scoop' questions should you ask a possible vendor.

*How will it all evolve over the next 5-10 years (employees, robotics, AI).

 PODCAST Episode #38

Anupam Bandyopadhyay, Supply Chain Design Leader, has been leading high level projects in supply chain for almost 20 years including robotics integrations, WMS implementations, AI initiatives and more.

He's currently the Senior Manager / Design Lead for Manhattan Associates and is VP/Mentor with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP Atlanta Round Table) and a new Advisory Board Member with the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA).

It was a pleasure talking with him about the future of operations as he sees them from the technology side! Technology integration, robotics, change management, labor orchestration.... it's all here and more!

 PODCAST Episode #27

Dominic Lindsay is the Founder / CEO of Nexobot.  I had a chance to chat with him for this episode about this awesome new product/service that is making automation accessible to operations of all sizes.  Work in big FCs/DCs and you know how critical the outbound sorter is to your operation.  And while these systems are great, they're also millions of dollars to install and the integration and installation "lift" for these is enormous!  Hardly ever an option for mid-tier operations.  But Nexobot is a LOW-COST order sorter utilizing robots as the prime method for box movement vs conveyors. And it can be fully deployed in a matter of weeks not months.  They're only available in Australia right now, but this is a fast-growing company that you could soon see in warehouses around the USA!  

PODCAST Episode #5

Lots of insight was shared when LaFayette Engineering along with their sister company Mesh Automation (Mesh Automation Website Link) joined the show.  Investing in a big-time automation or robotic engineering initiative for your warehouse/DC might seem daunting, but the impact and gains from it can be BIG.  Kris Cugnon and Jim Webb share their perspectives on how it all goes down when you work with them on such a project.  The goals you have might not be as far off as you think and these two can make them happen.  Also, Jim drops some "teasers" about upcoming reveals from Mesh Automation during upcoming trade shows.  Check them out!  

PODCAST Episode #4

Jamie Callihan and Phil Denton joined me on this episode to talk about their robotics solutions at JLC Robotics.  We discuss how their products are the perfect gateway for operations wanting to begin their robotics journey.  Also, we highlight the methods their tech can help achieve customer ROI timeline goals.  Added on to that though, we discuss the growing desire in the industry to remember the "soft" returns and the value robotics can bring in multiple areas such as employee retention, attracting employees in a competitive warehouse world, and brand perception/long term investment security to customers.