June 11, 2020

Covid-19, Warehouse Automation and National Security

June 11, 2020/ john mabe

One big takeaway from Covid-19, is that we have learned the lengths people will go to for a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer or pasta, and even gluten-free pasta. Shoppers behaving badly was mildly amusing, albeit a little sad as panic buying emptied store shelves quicker then they could be restocked. Grocery stores and supply chains in general were wildly unprepared for a pandemic and the sudden surge in demand for certain products.

September 05, 2018

Ways to think about the Supply Chain of the Future: Artificial Intelligence

September 05, 2018/ john mabe

The fact that supply chains and logistics companies already have a vast amount of data and processes that could be turned into actionable insights rather quickly, just means that there is potential for AI to take supply chains on a journey from very good to perfect.

Artificial intelligence techniques allow for vast amounts of data to be analyzed, categorized, and then turned into actionable insights with reduced or no human input. As an example,

February 28, 2018

A Blockchain Primer for Logistics and Supply Chain

February 28, 2018/ john mabe

The blockchain is a fascinating technology innovation that has the potential to disrupt many different industries. Here is a brief primer on the technology and potential use cases in supply chain and logistics. A blockchain is an open and distributed, digital ledger that can record transactions between two parties in an efficient and verifiable manner without the need of an intermediary.

January 19, 2017

Amazon’s Moat Widens: The Dominance of Amazon in one Chart

January 19, 2017/ john mabe

Everyone knows that Amazon dominates the U.S. eCommerce retail market, but exactly how well are they doing? According to data from Slice Intelligence, which scanned more than 1 million digital shopping receipts, Amazon accounted for 46 percent of all online spending in the U.S. in the final weeks leading up to Christmas. Overall, Amazon took 39% of all online spending from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

January 14, 2017

Amazon's Growing Robot Workforce is 45,000 Strong

January 14, 2017/ john mabe

According to a recent report in the Seattle Times, in 2016 Amazon significantly expanded the deployment of Kiva Robots in their fulfillment centers. Amazon acquired Kiva Systems in 2012 and the robots automate the picking and packing process. According to the report, Amazon has 45,000 robots deployed across 20 fulfillment centers which represents a 50% increase over the previous year and a 200% increase since 2014. Since 2014 the human workforce has increased by roughly 100%.

September 02, 2016

Automation Revolution on the High Seas

September 02, 2016/ john mabe

From a Rolls-Royce Press Release:

Speaking at the Symposium Oskar Levander, Rolls-Royce, Vice President of Innovation – Marine, said: “This is happening. It’s not if, it’s when. The technologies needed to make remote and autonomous ships a reality exist. The AAWA project is testing sensor arrays in a range of operating and climatic conditions in Finland and has created a simulated autonomous ship control system which allows the behaviour of the complete communication system to be explored. We will see a remote controlled ship in commercial use by the end of the decade.”