Automating your Order Fulfillment Center to Enable the Disabled
I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago about ergonomics in the distribution center. 3 Ergonomic Issues Forgotten in Distribution Center Design These suggestions decrease physical strain on the entire workforce, but there are other benefits as well. Adding automation in the DC can empower management to hire the disabled individuals who are often excluded in these jobs.
According the Bureau of Labor the "unemployment rate for disabled Americans in January 2009, 13.2 percent, was 59 percent higher than the unemployment rate for non-disabled Americans in the same month, 8.3 percent" (read the full article in OHS here). In response companies such as Walgreen's and Best Buy have a commitment to hiring the disabled and other companies are launching with their own initiatives.
When a company decides to make a commitment to automation in order to employ the disabled, where should they focus? The best area is to start where the most interaction between the person and the product occurs. The workstation. The goal of automation is to put as much burden on the machine while taking it off the associates.
When designing the workstation first look at people, instead of the machines. Although that sounds a little counter intuitive, if you think about it we humans are already built, so all of the modifications must occur on the machine side. There are movements that the human body can execute more easily than others so emphasizing those motions is key.
So where do we go from here? Obviously the most repetitive action that a person makes is picking. You can minimize physical strain by decreasing the loads lifted. Also, notice how in a traditional warehouse a person picks the object up and then places it. However using person to product automation, an associate can move loads in only downward or horizontal motions.
Next, look closely at the area around the picker. Can the footing be stable and cause less strain? Can possible contact points be rounded? Can a more person friendly material, like wood be used instead of metal? What movements are absolutely essential and what can be eliminated?
Also, do not limit the focus to the physical attributes of the distribution center. There needs to be a consideration of a person's interaction with the systems via the WMS. People respond and intuitively navigate a touch-based GUI better than a text one with a keyboard. Picture a self checkout at grocery store vs. working in an excel spreadsheet. Which is easier to walk up to and understand?
The benefits of having a workforce composed of people with differing skills, experiences and backgrounds is widely acknowledged by industry. So what are your thoughts on recent hiring initiatives? Anything I missed about making the distribution center a more people friendly place to work? Feel free to comment or send me an email at travis.baker@ssi-schaefer.us. Learn more about Schaefer's view on improving ergonomics in the distribution center.
Schaefer Systems International, Inc., the North American subsidiary of the SSI SCHAEFER group of companies, established headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1989.
SCHAEFER’s automation integrates to any existing system earning us an international reputation as the global leader in the material-handling industry for returnable packaging, static racking, and highly complex, automated distribution systems. With over 70 years of experience and a 100% commitment to quality behind every SSI Schafer system, we focus on providing our clients with unconventional picking and storage solutions delivering best value