Automation could be a game-changer in supply chain management. In this digital age, businesses ought to optimize their workflows to develop and retain their competitive edge, and having supply chain automation helps you in achieving this.
Supply chain automation refers to systematizing most or all of the processes that can impact business purpose by reducing manual effort for increasing productivity, efficiency, and accuracy.
There are major advantages that firms can choose to automate their supply chain processes such as:
DECREASE OPERATIONAL COST:
Supply chain automation helps reduction labour rates, inventory, warehouse space, and overhead prices related to inventory storage, including rent, labour and energy prices.
INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY:
By optimizing current resources, facilitating round the clock work, firms will gain up to 20 % additional productivity in areas that are machine-controlled. Supply chain automation is cost-effective and results in higher profitableness.
INCREASING VOLUME:
For big processing companies, automation will increase the quantity goods that are produced. Automation can reduce the dependency on the staff skills and expertise thereby increasing productivity.
IMPROVING ACCURACY:-
Automation will reduce errors related to manual processes, which can deliver higher value to customers.
IMPROVING WORK PLACE SAFETY:
With a reduction in labour-intensive work, machine-controlled systems have the additional advantage of reducing employee injuries and making workplace more safe.
INTERGATING WITH LARGE SUPPLIERS:
Through supply chain automation large number of suppliers can be brought under one roof, thereby providing quicker and effective communication including fastening supplies, and providing greater visibility on the entire operations. This can help companies to optimize costs and inventory, saving huge amount of resources.
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN AUTOMATION:
Automation of supply chain can be done through latest techniques and technology. Let’s take a sneak peek at some of these.
MACHINE LEARNING:
Machine learning helps to balance the difficulties faced in the supply and demand of inventory stock. It helps to build good algorithms and provides intelligent analysis of massive knowledge sets, machine learning also helps to optimise logistic operations including the delivery of products. The significant amount of knowledge gained through machine-driven technologies, is going to transform warehouse management and supply chain systems. Firms will use a combination of machine learning algorithms with physical robots to maximize their supply chain management systems.
ADDICTIVE MANUFACTURING:-
Additive manufacturing includes all actions in the provided chain that will enhance existing manufacturing plant production, if not replace it entirely. This can be managed manually, but then automating through latest IOT technologies can make the system more efficient.
Additive manufacturing can support easy stock movement from warehouses and distribution centres, to be nearer to end-users. As a result, the number of last-mile deliveries can increase.
DRIVER-LESS VEHICLES
The potential for artificial intelligence to be utilized in supply chain operations is huge. Companies can build self-driving vehicles and automatic guide vehicles inside warehouses to bring higher levels of efficiency and making it error free. It can also facilitate movement of goods easily without having to rely upon larger machines especially where space is a constraint for free movement.
This also helps to sort and dispatch items faster making customer experience better.
Logistics department can manage the problems arising out of driver availability with this new process. Companies can leverage both manual and automated system to get the best value out of both.
THE FUTURE OF SUPPLY CHAIN AUTOMATION
Robotic systems and automation of supply chain has the capability to transform organizational function to greater levels. Companies are slowly adopting to newer methodologies like those listed above to gain better efficiency, reduce cost, and also enhancing customer and stakeholders experience.