Making warehouse automation stick

Warehouse Automation systems, like other systems, sometimes create more work (or at least perceived more work) for warehouse personnel.

Taking a warehouse and logistics facility from a paper based organization to a systems based organization presents many technical and managerial challenges. Keeping inventory accurate using handheld computers for recording material movements and inventory transactions can be an arduous process for warehouse employees. The 'big' benefits from a warehouse automation initiative are often in other functional areas of the company - not just the warehouse.

Like most other systems' initiatives, include the users in key steps of the implementation process to create ownership and awareness. For example:

• The handhelds are new toys - include all members of the warehouse when selecting and evaluating the new toys. Options include keyboard layout, displays (color or monochrome), keyboard size (watch out for those big fingers!), form ('gun style', 'brick style', 'PDA style', 'tablet style', etc.)
  
• Warehouse location labeling has many options - create a focus group to help design the layout and have warehouse employees practice finding locations using different labeling and numbering schemes

The more employees are included in the design and implementation of the new system, the more they'll understand the issues, challenges, and ultimate benefits.