We like to work in industry intra-logistics. Sometimes, explain to other people what kind of projects and products we work on a day-to-day. Unfortunately, it is not long until we start hearing the same speeches ever. In fact, there are exactly speeches, but accusations. So, for this reason, we would like to discuss them in a small series.

Probably the number one complaint is that our facilities semi-automated and fully automated replace human labor, making it obsolete. Then we would to some extent responsible when people lose their jobs. But is this really the case?

This worldview of intra-logistics is obviously very simplified and does not live up to the real world circumstances. Every company decides for itself the degree of automation in the processes of your warehouse. These decisions are based on considerations of business management, which are made when the company is struggling.

In such a situation, it would be a great mistake to expect the situation to improve on their own. This only would play into the hands of the competition and jeopardize the existence of the company. Once the calculations say that automation would save money, something had to be done.

What is behind all automation?

Critics may interpret this as another example of greedy behavior at the expense of others. These people only see the world as black and white , good and bad, rich and poor, but that is not how the world works .

It is greedy to offer customers cheaper products ? It is greedy withstand competition , when customers are going to them? It is greedy ensure the survival of a company (which has a workforce too) ?

The truth is that if a company makes the decision to automate under market pressure , are actually saving jobs . However , not jobs within the warehouse , as these are already lost anyway, but those with other functions within the company .

The explanation for this is very simple . If a company is suffering from high costs , it needs to offer its products and services at a higher price to cover costs . If customers are reluctant to pay the prices , they go to other places and the company loses money , until it is dissolved and bankruptcy . This not only puts the warehouse jobs at risk , but everyone in the company .

When a company can recognize the signs of the market and reduces costs – for example, through an automated distribution center – she can escape this fate . So , in essence , a small number of jobs of a warehouse needs to be sacrificed for the employment of others be safer . Is that fair?

Clearly not . But it would be even less fair , dragging the rest of the company’s insolvency, only to preserve jobs in the warehouse for a while . Therefore, it is more rational to automate time. Now , if this will be done in a fair manner is a responsibility of the managers responsible .

Planning people in long term

Companies are advised to plan for the needs of people in long term. This helps to soften a bit extreme changes that may arise from the automation of the warehouse . However , in most cases , these functions in a distribution center are performed by skilled workers . This is just a result of the type of work that needs to be done there.

But this certainly does not mean that these people are not qualified for other functions within the company . A man named Joe Girard , for example , who left school and did not have a professional education , has been underestimated for a long time, which did not prevent him from selling more than 13,000 cars in 15 years and become the best seller cars of all time . Maybe you have someone like him on your team without knowing .

I would say that many of these people employed in warehouses can improve their skills , if they are motivated and notified early . Thus , if the time to cut jobs in warehouses arrive, you can move people who know the business and have already proved their motivation and commitment to the goals for new functions .

The goal of automation is never get rid of employees committed and reliable . But automation is needed to save the future of the company and prevent it from being displaced by competition. If automation makes sense for the economy , postponing it would take the organization in the wrong direction .

Make intra – logistics providers responsible for the loss of jobs in distribution centers loses the heart of the matter completely . We , as people who work in this industry , we look forward to a deeper understanding of economic relationships casual in our society , so we do not have to deal with such charges more.

Source : http://www.ssi-schaefer.com.br

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