radixconsultingalliance - Tumblr blog

[radixconsultingalliance]

Do you want to know how to turn around your supply chain in 90 days? Join this must-watch session with Supply Chain Now and 3SC.

We'll explore how to utilize AI/ML in your supply chain in 90 days through a combination of the right tools, people and process. Projects that don't deliver on this commitment are too big or complicated. They also likely don't use an updated toolset to help minimize the time to value. The world is getting faster and technology is getting better. Your customers are getting more complex and demanding. Huge efficiencies can be gained and a lot of money saved through proper planning, a practiced approach and a modern, modular technology footprint. There is no barrier to 90 days and that should be the standard.

[radixconsultingalliance]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Its Application to Supply Chain Labor A RADIX CONSULTING POSITION PAPER

OVERVIEW: The intent of this document is to summarize the three (3) SCM enabling technologies being harnessed by AI to better optimize labor resources within a supply chain operation. The convergence of On-Demand Labor Scheduling & Labor Management Systems under the guidance of Artificial Intelligence is a quickly evolving and creative answer to today’s labor challenges.

Companies Highlighted in This Series:

1. AutoScheduler.AI

2. TZA

3. Veryable

On-Demand Scheduling & LMS Use Thus Far

Newly emerging On-Demand Labor Scheduling solutions are designed to help managers identify, plan and schedule part-time associates to achieve operational goals while maximizing productivity and minimizing costs. These systems provide real-time insights into workforce data, such as attendance, absences, and employee schedules. These tools are typically used to engage with a qualified work pool and allow the labor talent to self-schedule based on their availability, the facility expertise called for, the individuals personal needs.

Labor management systems (LMS), on the other hand, focus on the labor planning, monitoring and optimization of employee productivity and labor costs while on-the-job. LMS systems track employee performance and work activity against defined labor plans, measure productivity metrics such as pick rates, and provide feedback to employees and supervisors to improve efficiency.

The combining of these two solutions allows for a more holistic approach to employee management, enabling warehouse managers to better understand and optimize their labor resources. By integrating an on-demand labor pool and an LMS system, warehouse managers can gain a more complete picture of labor availability, employee performance, resource utilization, and labor costs. They can use this data to optimize staffing levels, adjust employee schedules based on demand, and identify opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs. The combination also improves the morale and work environment for the associate who can now match their life scheduled to the available work opportunities of the employer.

As businesses have become more complex, managing workforce and labor resources have become increasingly intertwined. As a result, many companies are realizing the benefits (and competitive advantage) of integrating these component solutions into an overall labor program.

The Benefits of An On-Demand Labor Pool & LMS Joint Solution

Overall, the convergence of On-Demand Labor Scheduling and LMS applications represents a shift towards more comprehensive and integrated approaches to managing the workforce and labor resources to improve the employee satisfaction levels and thus retention while still optimizing the performance of the workforce. When employees have this greater degree of control over their work schedules their job satisfaction is increased. Then pair this with the employee engagement and coaching included in an LMS and overall morale improves as the company embraces a performance-based culture.

By combining the two types of software, companies can achieve better alignment between staffing levels and labor requirements, reduce labor costs and optimize productivity. Additionally, integrating these applications can help companies gain better visibility into their workforce and labor data, making it easier to identify areas for improvement and take action to address them.

A great example of this integration is when utilizing a dynamic workforce scheduling tool that supports a “gig based” employee scheduling environment – such as from Veryables, Inc. - where the employer and employee work together in the on-demand labor scheduling solution. The employer posts available jobs and the employee, comprising the contingent or variable labor needs of the employer, elects specific roles and hours that align with their lifestyle or other personal requirements. This flexible work arrangement replaces the traditional use of temporary, untrained workers with a pool of resources pre-qualified for the roles. In turn, the labor management system – such as provided by TZA, Inc. - not only measures work productivity relative to expectations but now also establishes employee development goals and tracks each associate’s coaching and training needs to make sure they feel engaged and valued. Many companies are also creating employee incentive programs that go beyond money to incorporate prizes and other types of compensation to recognize high performers.

A popular trend in these labor management applications is gamification, or incorporating competitive and reward elements as incentive for desired performance. In an LMS, gamification can be used to motivate employees to perform better, increase productivity and deliver on performance goals. This is typically achieved by introducing elements such as points, badges, leaderboards and challenges into the labor management system. For example, employees can earn points for completing tasks on time, and those points can be used to unlock rewards or access to higher levels of the system.

Gamification can also be used to promote healthy competition among employees, as they compete for the top spot on the leaderboard or to earn the most points. This can create a sense of camaraderie among employees and encourage them to work together to achieve common goals.

By incorporating gamification into an LMS, organizations can improve employee engagement, motivation, and productivity. Ultimately this can lead to better overall performance and help the organization achieve its business goals.

Harnessing the Power of AI with AutoScheduler.AI to Intelligently Orchestrate Labor

Where On-Demand Labor Scheduling and LMS solutions focus on the planning, monitoring, and potential maximization of labor resources, companies like AutoScheduler.AI add an additional layer using artificial intelligence to tackle the daunting task of warehouse optimization and ensuring that all personnel are in the right place at the right time. By planning the complexities of distribution tasks and constraints, this optimization not only ensures efficient distribution - with the right inventory leaving the right door at the right time - but also orchestrates the best use of labor resources, minimizes costs, and maximizes productivity. This ties into the execution system, most frequently the warehouse management system, to ensure that all customer deliverables are being met and balanced with the finite labor & equipment capacity levels working at the facility.

How this works in practice is that all data is extracted from the existing system of record, such as a Warehouse Management System, and passed into the orchestration platform for optimization. After the complex constraint optimization is run to determine the appropriate sequence of activities, location utilization, and personnel assignments, a plan is pushed back into the warehouse management system to automate the planning of work, personnel assignments, and positioning inside of the building. This optimization is then constantly updated to account for varying or unexpected factors (like a late shipment or personnel call-off) to ensure that the site is always optimized.

When paired with an On-Demand Labor Scheduling solution and an LMS, this can provide a more comprehensive and robust labor management approach to dynamically plan and direct work to the floor. This convergence aids managers in maintaining a complete picture of labor availability, performance, resource utilization, and costs, and using this data to further optimize staffing levels and schedules. These 3 solutions enable distribution facilities to maximize all phases of productivity: ensuring they have the personnel, getting those personnel to work to

the highest level of their capabilities, and optimizing the work they’re doing to drive productivity. This highlights how innovative technologies can streamline labor management processes, reduce costs, and increase productivity, ultimately enhancing the performance culture and employee satisfaction.

Conclusion

As firms wrestle with finding, attracting, and keeping labor within their supply chain operations, there are new approaches being discovered. Several of the best supply chain consulting firms have practices dedicated to guiding their clients on this journey to a high-performance culture. They are helping clients achieve performance improvements previously unattainable, all while making it easier to hire staff and train employees. Even in highly automated facilities that are leveraging advanced material handling or robotics equipment, firms still need to build a strong employee performance foundation before investing even more in robotics. Human capital continues to be a company’s most important asset!

Overall, the convergence of on-demand labor scheduling and labor management systems in the warehouse can provide managers with powerful real time tools including advanced business intelligence (AI) and analytics to improve operational efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enhance overall performance.

Radix encourages the downloading of information from this Resource Center page in order to more fully understand how these enabling technologies work.

[radixconsultingalliance]

Whatever the business — from fast-moving consumer goods to pharmaceuticals or automotive — the success of any enterprise is the result of its vertical market expertise. Ever-changing supply chain complexities can be a significant distraction from core market focus. They can make or break a business, which is why they require the dedicated focus of a managed logistics provider (MLP). A provider with the breadth of capabilities, depth of experience, and backed by powerful technology can do more than simply track supply chain operations. An expert MLP will fully understand customers' needs and provide innovative solutions. https://bit.ly/3Dw7F3l 

[radixconsultingalliance]

Peggy Tschudin, Senior Transportation Consultant at Radix Consulting Alliance, who talks about her consulting work, international logistics, and current trends in reshoring. Radix Consulting Alliance | Supply Chain - Logistics - Operations - Transportation - Finance

[radixconsultingalliance]

Want the upper hand over carriers in negotiating contracts and spot quotes? See what a division of Kyocera did to achieve just that!

[radixconsultingalliance]

Two supply chain and warehousing experts from Radix Consulting Alliance join us: Founding Principal John Pearce and Radix Demand & Supply Planning Consultant Gregg St. John. Radix is an independent consulting firm offering a variety of consulting, staffing, and support services to support supply chain

[radixconsultingalliance]

Unfortunately, it is very easy to waste money deploying autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). We ask the experts how you can best prepare and roll out warehouse automation.

Two supply chain and warehousing experts from Radix Consulting Alliance join us: Founding Principal John Pearce and Radix Demand & Supply Planning Consultant Gregg St. John. Radix is an independent consulting firm offering a variety of consulting, staffing, and support services to support supply chain operations.

John and Gregg guide us through how they consult their clients considering an investment in AMRs, which typically includes:

Synchronizing demand and supply plans

Assessing needs by asking the right questions

And taking 3 key steps to adopt a holistic approach

[radixconsultingalliance]

Get What You Expect – Validate Your Deliverables

There is an old saying, ‘You get what you inspect, not what you expect’, which rings true with any project or initiative.

Whether you are purchasing a piece of equipment, deploying software solutions, implementing process changes, or a complex system, the desired outcome relies greatly on the governing documentation and the ability to enforce and confirm the deliverables. Governing documentation can range from a flow chart, purchase order, or detailed contract(s). Since these documents are the basis from which the solution will be produced you should ensure the descriptions and deliverables have commensurate details which allow you to clearly define the expectations (level of quality, timing, performance, costs, etc). It’s important to align your level of effort with the complexity of the solutions and the corresponding costs. Having an overly burdensome description for a simple solution is just as bad as having too simple a contract for a high value / complex system.

The primary and key objective for all this effort is to make sure you have defined the measurements – and most importantly – how the results will be measured. How measurements are performed and the methods should be scrutinized to make sure they are appropriate and possible. Measurement and validation will determine whether you get what you expect.

At Radix we use our years of experience to help define, build, manage, and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Of those activities, the define phase determines the basis from which all things will be determined. We are happy to help you on any of these challenges with your next initiative!

[radixconsultingalliance]

Radix Consulting Alliance Recommends: Steve Hopper - Supply Chain Requirements vs Solutions

[radixconsultingalliance]

Radix Consulting Alliance provides professional consulting services to a broad range of companies having supply chain operations, from forecasting / planning / sourcing through logistics / warehousing / distribution. Our goal is to provide the highest level of quality, value, and service in all our engagements. Our analysis and recommendations offer cost–effective, practical, and timely solutions for our clients.

[radixconsultingalliance]

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are struggling to strike a balance between increasing capacity while facing ongoing labor shortages. Companies are increasingly turning to automation solutions to address these challenges.

What does this mean for the future of the human workforce?

Discover how to build an automation strategy that leverages humans and machines, reduces operating costs, creates rewarding job opportunities, and delivers impactful results to boost your bottom line.

[radixconsultingalliance]

Five Reasons Shipping Software Needs to Embrace Multi-Carrier Parcel Management

For many businesses, the pandemic has ushered in a new, chaotic order when it comes to securing the reliable transportation of goods. Two major changes have resulted from this disruption. First, shippers are often breaking shipments into hundreds of smaller packages and sending them directly to consumers, who have come to expect near-instant delivery. Second, the carrier market has tightened due to higher demand and an ongoing shortage of staff, either through attrition or illness. In other words, shipping operations have become enormously more complex and difficult to manage. To meet these challenges, businesses need to go beyond traditional fixes in the form of application programming interfaces (APIs) and into the realm of comprehensive carrier management systems. https://lnkd.in/epjBjT4a Recommended By Radix Consulting Alliance | Supply Chain - Logistics - Operations - Transportation - Finance #supplychain #logistics

[radixconsultingalliance]

Radix Recommends Full Layer Palletizing with Articulated Arm Robot Bui...

[radixconsultingalliance]

Is the Robotic Revolution Close?

As manufacturers settle into a new normal, it’s quite possible that robotics will play a far more powerful role. How soon could depend heavily on the application. According to a recent report by global tech market advisory firm ABI Research, COVID-19 has spotlighted a number of use cases for mobile robotics to successfully disinfect, monitor, surveille and move materials. In fact, ABI anticipates these use cases will propel the overall mobile robotics market to US$23 billion by 2021. “Crises shift perceptions on what is possible regarding investment and transformative action on the part of both private and government actors. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, robots will be mainstreamed across a range of applications and markets,” says Rian Whitton, senior analyst at ABI Research. #robots #research https://lnkd.in/eP2ZzTfD

[radixconsultingalliance]

Radix Recommend Blue Ridge Global LifeLine Instrumental to Success of Our Customers

LifeLine supply chain planning and pricing consulting services build a more resilient supply chain. LifeLine is Blue Ridge's expert supply chain consulting team dedicated to 24/7 proactive monitoring of our customers' analytics and recommendations for continuous improvement. They look at KPIs and ask the tough questions to empower demand planning teams to quickly fix costly inventory problems and accelerate time-to-value with the Blue Ridge platform -- often within 90 days. Hear from several Blue Ridge customers why LifeLine has been instrumental to the success of their distribution businesses.

Radix Consulting Alliance Supply Chain Recommends:  Todd Kovi, Radix Consulting Alliance Co-Founder  John Pearce, Radix Consulting Alliance Co-Founder  Website: https://www.radixconsultingalliance.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/radix-consulting-alliance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RadixAlliance  https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/radixconsultingalliance

[radixconsultingalliance]

Radix Consulting Alliance Supply Chain Recommends:   Todd Kovi, Radix Consulting Alliance Co-Founder   John Pearce, Radix Consulting Alliance Co-Founder   Website: https://www.radixconsultingalliance.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/radix-consulting-alliance Twitter: https://twitter.com/RadixAlliance   https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/radixconsultingalliance

#radixconsultingalliance #korbersupplychain #wms #voice #warehouse #supplychain #distributioncenter #logistics