Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
There is a lot of technologies and devices that are constantly at play within the Warehouse and Distribution Center space at every waking minute. From robotic processes to wearable working devices, warehousing strategies and daily work tasks can definitely be simplified with the participation of smart and innovative technologies. In a place where the demands of the digital world run up against the realities of the physical world of order picking, packing, and getting goods out on time to those consumers who’ve purchased and requested them. Sensors are the perfect answer to helping processes flow more simply and efficiently to keep every point throughout the warehouse more connected and communicated along the way. They help warehouse managers maintain better control over the merchandise inside and out of the facility.
Sensors are utilized for a variety of purposes, including the tracking and tracing of equipment and parcels that are going in and out of the premises. From controlling when and where the lights are turned on in a facility at the start and beginning of the shift to even more time sensitive task that can’t be trusted to handle manually, these environments are in a constant need for monitoring and validation. Motion and validation are large portions of how sensors function, but there are some other categories that can be measured as well. These fields include the monitoring and alerting of humidity levels, temperature readings, and even light detection when it is both necessary and unnecessary. These little validations help to enhance the smartness of warehouses and distribution centers everywhere.
Floating down the line, sensors can both detect, identify, and qualify goods at different points in its path. At its first step, sensors can detect the presence of products and transport units, measure distances, heights and overhang of goods, pallets, and transport items so that all logistics centers run smoothly. Identification pattern can work accordingly with both fixed 1D and 2D barcode scanners and other RFID systems to help identify items passing through. Lastly, that validation of goods is important for pallet dimensioning, volume optimizing, and goods warehousing and transporting. It’s really quite simple, but can be maximized upon to adhere to more complex scenarios.
In a post-COVID world, this can greatly benefit the work environments that are more hands-off habitats, especially from a human employee standpoint. Sensors on machinery to even wearable devices have been around for quite some time to assist with the workplace efficiency levels and it’s likely they’ll stick around for some time to come, going forward. These smart and innovative technologies are commonly found in the warehouse and manufacturing environments to help move operations along the way effectively. How is this technology known to integrate with existing systems and how have these tactics prospered during COVID-19 and beyond? 
All of these questions can be answered in Episode 21 of the TEConnect Podcast, where hosts John and Dean dive deeper into the world of Smart Manufacturing and what it entails. The duo linked up with Honeywell’s Michael Noyes to compare trends and groundbreaking strategies. You can both listen to and watch this episode on various platforms including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and even Spotify. It’s worth the listen, we promise.
