CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- While
investment in automation is seen as vital for companies to remain
competitive, supply chain leaders of American companies still
envision a strong need for human capital in the workplace,
according to a Honeywell (NYSE: HON) study.
Most companies that responded to the 2020 Honeywell
Intelligrated Automation Investment Study indicate that automation
in supply chains can lead to opportunities for new jobs within the
workplace. Two in three companies see opportunities for new and
different jobs in customer service, distribution centers and
warehouses.
"E-commerce and e-retail fulfillment growth are pushing
traditional warehouses and distribution centers to their limits,
and automation is critical to any operation that wants to remain
competitive," said Christine Feuell,
Chief Marketing Officer of Honeywell Intelligrated. "These
automation and robotics advancements are shifting the workforce
away from physically demanding, strenuous and monotonous tasks to
more skilled tasks."
The study revealed that 8 in 10 companies see the highest
potential for new jobs in in-house maintenance roles. Forty-two
percent of respondents mentioned frequency of maintenance as one of
the biggest areas of concern in their company's further investment
in automation.
As infrastructures within warehouses and fulfillment centers
become more automated, Feuell said maintenance technicians will
play a crucial role in helping limit downtime. Companies can
leverage data-driven insights from a connected architecture of
software and sensors through solutions like Honeywell
Intelligrated's Connected Assets to perform preventative
maintenance to maximize uptime.
Direct-to consumer e-commerce sales continue to transform the
way manufacturers and retailers operate because they must now
compete for buyers by speeding up processing and shipments in order
to offer same-day, next-day or two-day delivery. Automation allows
companies to remain competitive by limiting their reliance on
manual labor for repetitive tasks, improving productivity and
accuracy. Automation investment will continue to increase in the
future, with 65% of companies planning to increase their
investments within the next two to three years, the study
reveals.
More than half of companies surveyed are investing in automated
material handling systems – including robotics, automated storage
and retrieval systems, conveyors and sortation systems – to keep
their operations competitive. The consumer-packaged goods (63%) and
third-party logistics industries (60%) are utilizing these
technologies the most to help grow their businesses now, the study
reveals.
"Even though machines are getting smarter, humans are still
needed to program, build and repair them," said Feuell. "Human
intelligence is still essential to identify problems and mobilize
computers and people in tandem to get the job done."
Honeywell Intelligrated has products and solutions to help
in-house maintenance teams quickly diagnose and troubleshoot
critical issues within the supply chain to maintain productivity.
Its industry-leading Lifecycle Support Services team offers
technical support with expert service engineers who troubleshoot
issues and prioritizes resolution schedules for optimal system
operation and reliability.
Augmented reality technologies, including Honeywell
Intelligrated's TechSight smart glasses, enable remote audio and
video collaboration with experienced support experts who can
provide step-by-step instructions and augmented reality
overlays.
Voice solutions such as Honeywell's Voice Maintenance and
Inspection can direct technicians through checklists with
information from host data systems using voice commands and
technician responses to help eliminate cumbersome, inefficient
steps traditionally associated with paper-based or manual
procedures.
From concept and integration, Honeywell Intelligrated draws on
its expanding portfolio and deep industry expertise to help
warehousing, distribution and fulfillment companies optimize and
manage their processes. The business offers integrated end-to-end
automation solutions, warehouse execution systems and analytics
solutions to improve throughput and keep workers safe. For more
information, visit intelligrated.com.
The 2020 Honeywell Intelligrated Automation Investment Study was
conducted April 21 to May 7, 2020, in collaboration with
KRC Research, an independent third-party research firm not
affiliated with Honeywell or its business groups. The 434
U.S.-based professionals polled work full-time in senior roles for
companies that directly manage warehouses, DCs or fulfillment
centers; have insight into the operations of those facilities; are
familiar with automation; and make or influence purchase decisions
for their company.
Honeywell Safety and Productivity Solutions (SPS) provides
products, software and connected solutions that improve
productivity, workplace safety and asset performance for our
customers across the globe. We deliver on this promise through
industry-leading mobile devices, software, cloud technology and
automation solutions, the broadest range of personal protective
equipment and gas detection technology, and custom-engineered
sensors, switches and controls.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology
company that delivers industry specific solutions that include
aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings
and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies
help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants,
supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world
smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and
information on Honeywell, please visit
www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
Contacts:
Media
Whitney Ellis
(803) 835-8137
whitney.ellis@honeywell.com
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SOURCE Honeywell