MHI Industry News
   
Hawker Powersource, Inc.
   
Top Story
  
To meet your supply chain sustainability goals, it’s important to look outside of your own walls. That’s because, on average, at least 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are produced in your supply chain. That means they are beyond your direct control and your business is only as sustainable as your weakest supplier. The new issue of MHI Solutions covers a variety of topics, including how to tackle Scope 3 emissions, the skillsets necessary to build a sustainability team, clean energy solutions and anticipated sustainability reporting requirements. 
Meet Cimcorp at MODEX 2024
Cimcorp®
Discover how to save costs and time by retrofitting existing facilities with automation. Evade the expensive, lengthy, and resource-intensive process of constructing new buildings while making a meaningful impact on your sustainability efforts and strengthening your current distribution center network for future growth. Cimcorp is your strategic partner for end to end automation. Ensure dedicated time with our team by booking a meeting with us at MODEX 2024!
 
Book a meeting at MODEX 2024!
Advertisement
MHI Updates
  
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or just starting your journey in the warehousing and supply chain industry, the 22nd Annual WERCouncil Texas Warehousing Resource Conference brings together the latest trends and innovations with one-stop access to the Texas region’s top supply chain thought leaders and solution providers.
Talk of robotics in logistics is everywhere, and for good reason—they can deliver significant value. Robotics can take on significant workload, especially those tasks that human workers dislike. In a severe labor shortage, this in and of itself can deliver a benefit. But robots also increase efficiency, reduce error rates, and save workers from wear and tear on their bodies. 
   
Pflow Industries, Inc.
      
FOX IV Technologies, Inc.
   
Technology and Innovation
  
Managing a large, very high-sku inventory operation is unique and challenging. This September 27th webinar will discuss how Barrett Distribution utilized drone-powered inventory monitoring for the nationwide eCommerce Fulfillment for Stadium Goods.
With the current state of the labor market—and the ever-increasing need for efficiency in operations—questions about making warehouse automation successful abound. Choosing, implementing and scaling the right solution depends on your business and your situation.
As warehouses and distribution centers increasingly turn to automation such as Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) the industry has seen robust growth. It is essential that growth is accompanied by an emphasis on safety.
These platforms, called RTLS for short, are indoor location systems that operate on a wireless mesh network. Some obvious use cases for this technology involve tracking the location of high-value objects in massive indoor spaces.  However, RTLS is particularly applicable for protecting an organization’s most valuable asset: its people. 
New asset management solutions that use Real-Time Location Systems are changing the way modern factories work. With precise tracking capabilities, these solutions eliminate the need for manual labor and physical inspections, ultimately reducing costs. They also aid in preventing theft within facilities.
Faster, Safer, Easier Material Handling
TAWI ®
From moving boxes and bags to container unloading, TAWI offers smart solutions for material handling. Whether you manage a distribution center or a mid-stream manufacturing process; material handling challenges exist everywhere. Commonly these include concerns of ergonomics, efficiency, and employee enablement. TAWI’s innovative vacuum lifting technologies remove the need for strength, allowing anyone to handle product, faster, safer, and easier from inbound freight to outbound order picking.
Learn more
Advertisement
Transportation
  
The Panama Canal has never faced a drought as extreme as the existing one. In an effort to conserve water, the Panama Canal Authority limited ship passage this summer, placing a strain on supply chains. A recent study identified many other tactics that companies can use to mitigate this strain including AI that provides early detection of climate threats, as well as working with suppliers to create backup plans were among the suggestions.
Education & Professional Development
As warehouses and distribution centers continue to invest in emerging technologies, it’s imperative to also invest in the proper training for employees. To help with this mission, the Warehousing Education & Research Council (WERC) has created a Distribution Logistics Equipment course to train participants on the different types of facilities, functions and roles within warehouses and distribution centers.
Regular visual inspections are vital to ensure the safety and reliability of your racking system. Detecting and promptly addressing any damage or weaknesses can prevent potential accidents and disruptions in your warehouse operations.
   
InCord
      
Signode Industrial Group LLC
   
Sustainability
  
As the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions climbs toward the top of the corporate agenda and clean energy technologies become more available and cost-effective, more companies are looking to renewable energy technologies as a key to decarbonizing their own facilities and vehicle fleets and working with their supply chain partners to do the same.
For supply chain and material handling, reducing GHG emissions is currently the big focus for sustainability. But before reductions can begin, the right data needs to be collected, prepared and analyzed.
Introducing fit PACK 500 Right-sized Packaging System
Tension Corporation®
With capabilities to adjust package length, width and height, the fitPACK 500 can create a package according to product dimensions, yielding smaller, right-sized packages that lead to lower shipping costs. Click to learn more on why fitPACK 500 is the perfect fit for your order fulfillment operations.
Learn More
Advertisement
Supply Chain Trends
With increasing pressure to meet changing consumer demands, the future of warehouse management systems is being shaped by emerging trends and technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, and robotics.
As autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) become more prevalent in industrial automation, having the right tools available to ensure that these bots can safely and efficiently navigate through a warehouse is of paramount importance. Behind the scenes, however, there are many sensor technologies that support this process, many of which can be described as motion tracking.
The future of mobility is here, and it will soon impact every facet of our life – from consumer vehicles and public transportation, to last-mile delivery services and ridesharing. It’s clear that electric vehicles (EVs) are here to stay and so is what powers them – batteries. 
Manufacturing
Sometimes labels stick — even when they no longer accurately portray their subject. Such is the case of “rust belt.” In a recent MHIcast episode, Gaurav Batra said that after years of working with the industrial manufacturing sector, he has learned that it doesn’t get its proper due and it may be time to retire the “rust belt” label. Batra  is co-author of the book, “The Titanium Economy: How Industrial Technology Can Create a Better, Faster, Stronger America.” 
   
Generix Group
      
NORD Gear Corporation