Gone are the days when self-driving vehicles were confined to science fiction and bold predictions of the future. Autonomous technologies have blossomed into well-developed, ready-to-deploy solutions.

One of the most competitive arenas for this development is the automotive market, with ride-sharing companies and auto manufacturers alike pouring funding into development and establishing pilot programs for autonomous cars. And just as technology like LiDAR enables self-driving cars to ‘see’ the road, so too can it allow vehicles to ‘see’ inventory aisles, conveyor lines and other warehouse infrastructure.

Manufacturing and distribution centers have a history with driverless vehicles, using traditional automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in select applications for decades. With technology advancing and adoption in the materials handling industry growing, this white paper examines the evolution of robotic technology and the financial and operational forces driving greater adoption.

This white paper examines the evolution of robotic technology and autonomous load transportation solutions, and the value drivers spurring their adoption.

Justifying the Next-Gen Investment

Early materials handling AGVs required extra infrastructure like ground wires, tape, magnets and reflectors to navigate fixed routes. But today’s robotic lift trucks do not require any infrastructure and can adjust routes on the fly. This offers great strides forward in terms of flexibility, ease of use and productivity.

Translating these qualities from theoretical benefits to tangible reality is key, as the business climate requires a reasonably fast return on investment (ROI). The more shifts an operation runs, the sooner they can reap a full return on their robotic lift truck investment – oftentimes two years of less for multi-shift operations.

Reduced Turnover and Training Time

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the turnover rate for warehouse workers is 36 percent. Moreover, filling newly vacant positions can cost anywhere from 25 to 150 percent of the employee’s salary.

Though training periods can vary based on the nature of the job, one thing remains constant—training inexperienced or unskilled employees is costly. Companies like Amazon have used automated systems to reduce the time it takes to train employees, bringing new hires up to speed in as little as two days using technology like touch screens and robots.

Adopting automated transportation solutions like robotic lift trucks can help simplify tasks reserved for employees. For example, in goods-to-operator fulfillment workflows, employees do not need to know the storage location for inventory required for each order; rather, they can focus on picking and packing orders as quickly as possible from the inventory brought to them by a robotic solution.

Implementing robotic lift trucks does not take away high-value added jobs from human workers. In fact, U.S. warehouses had 600,000 unfilled jobs as of May 2017. Using automated solutions like robotic lift trucks, can help managers address the labor shortage and free employees to advance to more engaging, meaningful positions – helping curb turnover.

More Uptime, More Productivity

Supply chain operations are under pressure to get more done in less time with fewer resources. SKU proliferation and the desire for faster delivery times add further complexity and have defined a new “normal.” Services that were once considered perks, like free two-day shipping, are now an expectation for every e-commerce order.

This demand triggers a radical shift in operations, as more than 40 percent of respondents in the Zebra 2020 Warehouse Vision Study cited shorter delivery times as a driving factor for warehouse overhaul. In this environment, businesses have zero tolerance for downtime, and even minor interruptions can have a severe financial impact.

Automation is a reliable solution to minimize the risk of downtime and unexpected delays. A robotic lift truck does not need to take time off; instead, it works relentlessly 24/7 and only stops for battery replacement. And to top it off, robotic lift trucks always follow the rules of the road – which can reduce impacts and interruptions, and improve equipment longevity.

Automation can also bring out the best in employees. Fostering “cobotics,” with humans working alongside robots, leverages the strengths of both to make repetitive tasks and more complex, value-added functions more efficient. This can provide new opportunities for people with physical limitations, like limited mobility, to serve as integral parts of certain processes, such as using automated systems to move inventory to pickers, helping keep throughput flowing.

Lower Long-term Costs and Investment

When automating processes and calculating the associated payback, direct labor savings are obvious wins, with expenses like hourly wages, overtime and holiday pay rising to the top. But automation drives savings in other indirect ways by drastically reducing costs associated with:

• Retraining and re-education
• Insurance
• Workers’ compensation
• Lost time due to illness or injury
• Long-term wage increases

Robotics can also bring out the best in employees. Fostering “cobotics,” with humans working alongside robots, leverages the strengths of both to make repetitive tasks and more complex, value-added functions more efficient. This can provide new opportunities for people with physical limitations, like limited mobility, to serve as integral parts of certain processes, such as using automated systems to move inventory to pickers, helping keep throughput flowing.

Introducing a robotic lift truck into a facility starts with walking the truck through the space to build a map and learn the main routes, storage aisles and other characteristics. The robotic software uses this information to find the most efficient routes and responds in real time to obstructions and shifting traffic volumes, converting to alternative paths as needed.

For example, if one robotic lift truck encounters a delay-causing obstruction, it can inform other units so they can find alternate routes. This is a huge leap from traditional AGVs, which were not only restricted by extra navigation infrastructure, but also lacked on-board intelligence, leading them to simply stop in the event of an obstruction and bring throughput to a halt.

Modern infrastructure free navigation and route planning intelligence enables robotic lift trucks to easily adapt to layout adjustments, as operations accommodate changing inventories and workflows. This also helps meet sustainability goals. Units traveling along the most efficient routes from point A to point B can minimize energy usage. Efficient routes and coordination between robotic lift trucks also balances the flow of traffic, minimizing congestion that causes unexpected delays and downstream issues like missed shipments.

Reduced Mishaps and Maintenance Costs

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), businesses spend about $170 billion per year on costs related to occupational injuries and illnesses– expenditures that come directly out of company profits. Robotic lift trucks help provide a safeguard against operator error which reduces the risk of:

• Operator mishaps
• Damaged equipment
• Out-of-budget repairs
• Premature replacement
• Need for backup vehicles to avoid lost throughput

Additionally, robotic lift trucks comply with ANSI standards, abide by posted speed limits and follow site-specific safety protocols. They can stop and adjust to unexpected obstructions, including ground level impediments or obstacles suspended in midair, like a ladder sticking out of a storage area.

And compared to traditional AGVs, robotic lift trucks offer significant cost savings when it comes to unexpected service and routine maintenance. Since they are simply standard lift trucks with robotic technology added, the same local dealer personnel can provide service without the downtime and expenses that come with specialized technical resources.

Improved Product Flow with Data Flow

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has already changed the way people do business, revealing new opportunities for improved productivity and profitability.

Interfacing robotic lift truck management software with a WMS or ERP system enables valuable communication to connect data points and make real-time adjustments. Combined with telematics systems, robotic lift trucks offer unparalleled visibility into overall processes and individual units, enabling adjustment and ongoing optimization based on usage, congestion, maintenance and other data. For example, operations can adjust fleet size and composition to ensure the best configuration for their needs, while coordination among software systems can enable robotic lift trucks to proactively acknowledge required battery replacements or preventive service.

Conclusion

Autonomous solutions like robotic lift trucks drive proven cost savings by increasing labor efficiency, reducing turnover, extending asset life and increasing throughput. But what solidifies them as a smart investment is their flexibility. This enables practical accommodation for manual intervention, minimizes ongoing costs in the event of minor layout adjustments and the need to supplement future initiatives like Industry 4.0. For more information on how robotic lift trucks make sense contact a solutions expert at your local Yale^® dealer.