christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

New Trends Appearing in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Do you have the right material handling equipment to keep up with industry changes? MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) and WMS (Warehouse Management Systems) are merging. To meet changing operations, such as warehouses taking on manufacturing roles, tighter/leaner order requirements and ever-faster shipping expectations, new trends are emerging, syncing WMS and MES to allow for real-time knowledge of materials flow and finished goods status.

Smaller, More Frequent Work in Progress (WIP) Replenishment

Instead of large production runs and big loads, e-commerce bigwigs are trending toward smaller production runs and more frequent replacement. Since MES governs production, and WMS governs inventory/material movement, these two systems must work in synchronization to ensure accurate inventory levels and safeguard shipping times.

More Value-Added Services

WMS vendors are moving toward increased manufacturing/customization capabilities, completing assembly/customization with key components which are later assembled in manufacturing areas of warehouses. Here, the synchronization of WMS and MES are key, ensuring ‘just in time’ (JIT) replenishment by supplying a dynamic ‘shopping list’ of what needs to move into assembly centers, and when. This JIT replacement cuts WIP inventory space on the warehouse floor as much as 95%, dramatically streamlining operations.

Integrating WCS with WMS

Integrating WMS with Warehouse Control System software, which controls automated materials handling equipment, offers access to real-time data from automation processes. This facilitates material movements into/out-of manufacturing work centers, prevents disruptions/bottlenecks, identifies them, adjusts the movement of material to adapt to the situation, and prevents (and potentially predicts) further issues.

Increased Use of Robotics

The integration of WMS and MES can also help users more precisely manage fleets of autonomous mobile robots, fine-tuning operations and optimizing routes from storage to shipment.

What’s moving your business? Find the material handling equipment you need at DJ Products today.

Drones and Airplanes, Who Owns the Skies?

The increased use of drones, especially for recreational purposes, has raised concerns when it comes to keeping airplanes safe. While your airplane is safe on the ground while being pulled by an aircraft caddy, what about after it takes off in the air? Fortunately, new rules have been enacted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to protect planes from drones. Find out more about the issue of drones and planes sharing the air space.

Regulations

The FAA issued 14 CFR part 107, which effectively prohibits drone owners from operating their devices in air space used by commercial planes. The FAA previously expressed concern in this 2014 article on drones, but the agency has since come up with definitive regulations. They are contained in Part 107, which became effective on August 29, 2016.

Collisions

When it comes to collisions with aircraft, there have not been any known incidents involving drones striking planes. In fact, airplanes are more likely to have trouble with birds that collide with them or get pulled into engines. Birds are in the air far more than drones, and they outnumber these devices by quite a bit.

Solutions

Solutions to lower the risk of drone and airplane collisions involve providing drone operators with more education about how to use their devices safely and FAA certification as Small Unmanned Aircraft System pilots. Technological solutions include apps that let drone operators know which areas to avoid, such as this map posted at drone manufacturer DJI (not related to DJ Products).

If you could use an aircraft caddy, please contact DJ Products. We carry high-quality powered aircraft tugs that can help keep ground crews and small plane owners safe while also saving you time and effort.

Top 2018 Waste & Recycling Trends for the Restaurant Industry

Our electric dumpster moving equipment makes it safer and easier for employees to handle the physical requirements of waste removal. But what are you doing at your restaurant to manage waste and recycling at the source?

Restaurant waste negatively impacts the environment and sharply reduces profitability. Here are three major trends currently affecting waste and recycling in the restaurant industry. How can you apply these ideas in your own business?

1. Avoid Food Waste

This sounds like a simple concept, but it’s essential to identify where the waste is coming from so you can implement solutions. Are chefs being careless when peeling vegetables or slicing meat? Do all employees follow consistent portion sizes? Make sure the staff has the necessary training and equipment to minimize food waste.

2. Waste Management by the Numbers

Restaurant technology has moved beyond POS systems and kitchen equipment. IoS sensors in garbage and recycling containers can capture data such as fluctuations in waste volume that let you make better decisions and catch problems before they grow out of hand.

3. Reduce, Reuse then Recycle

It’s not enough to simply recycle waste and call it good. Factors such as China’s stringent new waste and recycling restrictions are resulting in overburdened recycling systems. Reducing waste should be the first priority in processing trash, followed by reuse. Recycling should remain the last resort when the first two options are not feasible.

Is Your Dumpster-Moving Equipment Up to Date?

Trash rooms and dumpsters are frequently the top causes of workplace injuries, which seriously harm productivity and profitability. Dumpster moving equipment from DJ Products reduces the risk of muscle strain, pinched fingers and other injuries.

Visit our website or call 800.686.2651 for more information about our dumpster moving solutions.

What’s Trending in Warehouse Automation?

Supply chain and logistics have been somewhat behind the curve in implementing automated warehouse equipment, but they’re making up for lost time. Here’s a look at the applications where robotics are making the biggest impact.

Order Picking

Picking items requires a great deal of manual dexterity, so at this point robots are primarily used to bring shelves to human workers who pick the items. Advancements are being made to enable robots to pick items autonomously from stationary shelves.

Packing

Robots are often used for tertiary packaging, which involves packing individual units from the manufacturer into larger boxes and crates for shipping and delivery.

Palletizing

Palletizing generally involves a limited number of repetitive movements, making it a relatively easy task for robots. Some robots are being designed specifically for palletizing, with arms that have five degrees of freedom and a sixth arm that can rotate more than 360°.

Marine Ports

TuSimple, a self-driving truck startup, made headlines last May with news of their robotic port in the Chinese city of Caofeidian. With robotic cranes and self-driving container trucks, Caofeidian is on pace to become the world’s first fully autonomous harbor by the end of 2018.

Last Mile Drone Delivery

Amazon has received a lot of publicity for their work on a drone delivery system, but they’re not the only ones making strides in this area. In fact, Domino’s has staged a successful pizza delivery via drone.

Electric Tugs, Movers and Pushers for Any Application

Lifting and moving heavy loads is a risky and time-consuming process when done manually. With battery-powered warehouse equipment from DJ Products, a single worker can move loads weighing thousands of pounds.

Visit our website to learn more about our wide range of warehouse equipment solutions.

A Focus on Pre and Post Trip Review Keeps Semi Trucks on Schedule

In the trucking industry, where time is money, dock and yard congestion can create a major slowdown. Terminal tractors from DJ Products keep operations moving at a brisk pace with less risk of workplace injuries.

If your trucks end up out of commission due to violations, it’s almost impossible to make up the loss. Keep your trucks on the road with accurate and efficient pre- and post-trip inspections.

Classroom Training vs. Hands-On Experience

While the importance of pre- and post-trip inspections is universally accepted, trucking companies vary widely as far as the best methods of training drivers. Here’s a look at how transportation companies around the country handle inspection training.

– Maverick Transportation out of Little Rock, AR favors an experience-based system. New hires with previous driving experience use online tutorials, while student drivers receive formal field training with their onboarding program.

– A hybrid version of training is employed by WTI Transport in Alabama. Once drivers complete a classroom curriculum, they must undergo a test in which they conduct an actual inspection accompanied by a safety inspector.

– At Waller Trucking in Excelsior Spring, MO, all new hires must have a minimum of two years of highway driving experience so they can be expected to have a knowledge of inspections. A vehicle walk-around with a company technician is performed as part of employee orientation.

Follow Up with Feedback

Regardless of training, it’s essential to run full inspections when a truck returns to the yard. Findings can be reviewed with drivers to reinforce positive results and focus on areas of improvement.

Electric Terminal Tractors Benefit Workers and the Environment

Use of our Electric Yard Dog demonstrates your commitment to workplace safety and a cleaner environment. Visit our website for more information.

Three Trends Changing Fulfillment and Logistics

As a leading supplier of semi trailer movers, we stay on top of news and trends that affect the warehouse and supply chain industry. Here are three current trends changing the role of fulfillment and logistics for e-commerce, which is the hottest segment of retailing today.

1. Pop-Up Shops

Small to mid-sized e-commerce retailers have discovered that pop-up shops are a way to distinguish themselves from Amazon and other industry leaders. A pop-up shop is an actual brick-and-mortar storefront that opens for only a few months, offering the advantages of in-person shopping with few of the common drawbacks.

– Customers can see and touch the products.

– Retailers can build their brands by focusing on specific items without the trouble and expense of carrying a lot of inventory.

– Orders can be placed online for quick delivery, sometimes as soon as same-day.

– Vendors aren’t locked into long-term leases so they can easily test different locations.

2. Data-Based Forecasting

Maintaining accurate inventory levels can make or break a business. Too much inventory ties up valuable capital, while too little means risking unhappy customers due to stock outs.

Savvy merchants are using modern technology to compile historical data from all aspects of their business, including orders, sales channels and customers. Once the data is integrated, it creates a clear picture that makes forecasting more precise.

3. Fast and Affordable Shipping

With so much purchasing being done online, customers are demanding timely shipping at low rates. In many cases, losses from inexpensive or free shipping are more than offset by the increase in sales.

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Our semi trailer movers satisfy the demand for yard equipment that increases productivity without sacrificing safety. Contact us to learn more.

Same Day Deliveries Fuel Warehouse Growth, But Is It Sustainable?

As e-commerce continues to change the way consumers shop, savvy customers are demanding immediate possession of their purchases just as they would have with brick-and-mortar stores. Retailers and fulfillment services are now in search of facilities and warehouse equipment to accommodate this need.

Most delivery services and third-party logistics providers can handle next-day delivery, but same-day delivery requires a different infrastructure. One real estate company in New York City believes it’s come up with a novel solution.

The Warehouse of the Future?

Innovo Property Group, in partnership with Square Mile Capital, plans to break ground next year on a two-story warehouse in the Bronx. The 700,000 square-foot facility is expected to be ready for tenants in 2020.

Andrew Chung, founder and CEO of Innovo, explains the factors that make the warehouse a game-changer.

– In order to provide expedited shipment, warehouses need to be as close as possible to customers. Unfortunately, urban areas generally have a scarcity of land and restrictive building regulations. Innovo’s warehouse is located in a “sweet spot” that offers access but avoids typical pitfalls of urban construction.

– The Bronx warehouse is designed with size in mind, from the high ceilings that will allow vertical storage racks up to 32 feet to floor loads that can handle capacity of up to 800 pounds.

– Thanks to 90 loading docks, a two-lane ramp and 130-foot truck courts on each floor, the warehouse will be one of only four facilities in the country with multistory direct loading.

Deliver Superior Customer Service with Warehouse Equipment from DJ Products

In today’s competitive environment, you need warehouse equipment that will stand up to high volume and a fast pace. Visit our website to view our extensive line of electric tugs, movers and pushers.

Beyond the Dumpster: What’s Trending in the Garbage Collection Industry

The garbage collection industry is relatively straightforward, with the basics remaining largely the same from year to year. Innovations such as our eco-friendly dumpster mover become standard as companies recognize the benefits.

Even so, the industry does find itself periodically shifting in response to domestic and global changes. Here are some significant trends that are affecting waste collection today.

China’s Revised Import Policies

Many industry members point to China’s stringent new policies on importing recyclables as the biggest factor impacting garbage collection today. China once accepted up to half of the world’s scrap paper, plastic and metals, and the changes are leaving countries scrambling to find alternate means of disposal.

The Franchising Controversy

Smaller garbage collection companies fear that franchising, or zoned collection, will hurt their ability to compete on the open market. The largest such franchise to date in the U.S. is recycLA in Los Angeles, which works with Waste Management and six other service providers with a market of more than 70,000 customers.

Integration of Technology

Technology has been a game-changer in just about every industry, so it was only a matter of time before waste collection followed suit. In addition to the use of artificial intelligence and more sophisticated software, the industry will likely begin moving toward more electric or hybrid vehicles with an eye toward autonomous vehicles in the future.

The Zero Waste Debate

“Zero waste” has long been an industry buzzword, but there’s little consensus about what the term means beyond a reduced reliance on landfills.

Waste Collection Made Easier

Our electric dumpster mover is eco-friendly and ergonomically designed to fit your company’s needs now and transition smoothly through the future. Visit our website to learn more from one of our helpful sales engineers.

The Pain Continues with the ELD Data Shift for Compliance

Be glad your powered trailer mover is functioning correctly. Some ELDs still aren’t. ELD pain continues across all sectors, hitting small fleets and independent owner-operators particularly hard, including Jon Hose of Texas, who was issued a false-log violation in Missouri in June of this year following the malfunction of his ONE20 F-ELD.

Out of Production

Using the most inexpensive ELD on the market, Hose’s violation occurred just two weeks before the manufacturer ONE20 stopped support for the device on June 18. ONE20 recently made the news this summer for losing support from its principal investor, owner of PeopleNet, Trimble Companies, after which it stopped production and support of its F-ELD devices.

Out of Luck

Hose noted en-route malfunctions of his ONE20 F-ELD were common. In an Overdrive Radio podcast he stated he’d noticed ongoing issues with the device: Automatic duty-status changes he still can’t explain, despite his master’s in data science. After one such occurrence, he believed he solved the issue and proceeded to his destination, where he unloaded and attempted to return home, but was instead stopped by a Springfield, Missouri officer.

Out of Service

Believing his ELD wasn’t even connected, and noting yet another malfunction Hose couldn’t explain, the officer put Hose out of service with a false-log violation. He has since switched to provider BigRoad, with no issues to-date. Since this master’s in data science couldn’t explain the issue, those hoping for leniency would do better ensuring the right equipment aboard their rigs, allowing access to logs from an admin account (independent) or ensuring a direct line to key support personnel (fleet/partner carrier), or ELD provider.

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When Amazon Moves In, Warehouse Workers’ Pay Lags

It turns out, your warehouse equipment isn’t the only thing doing a lot of work for very little cost. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows a direct link between the introduction of an Amazon distribution center in Lexington County, SC, and a massive decline in annual earnings for warehouse workers.

Annual Earnings Fallen Over 30%

Since Amazon opened its Lexington distribution center in 2010, earnings for warehouse workers have dropped a staggering 30+%, falling from $47,000 to $32,000 annually. And Lexington’s warehouse workers are not alone…

Where Amazon Operates, Wages Decline

Other areas where the online retail giant has opened warehouses have likewise seen wages decline. In Chesterfield, VA, warehouse workers in the region have watched wages diminish 17%. In Tracy, CA, they have fallen 16%.

In areas where Amazon has opened distribution centers, government data shows warehouse workers’ wages fall an average of 3%, with workers in regions where Amazon operates earning around 10% less than warehouse workers employed elsewhere ($41,000 vs. $45,000/annually). Amazon operates over 75 fulfillment and 35 sorting centers across the U.S., employing 125,000+ full-time workers.

What’s Going on Behind-the-Scenes?

‘Stowers’ stock, ‘pickers’ pull items from shelves, and ‘packers’ box items. Constantly in-motion and monitored by devices that track performance, a single picker could collect 1,000-items and walk 15-miles in a shift. So why the dearth of pay?

Researchers point to a number of possible reasons:

– Warehouses erected in areas ‘left behind.’

– Areas have high labor-market concentration.

– Amazon is a major employer, outshining competition.

– A younger workforce. (Census data shows about half are <35.)

– Unskilled workers with minimal qualifications.

– Short job tenure, typically under 1-year.

– Better full-time benefits (health care, retirement savings, company shares).

Lagging behind? Lighten your load with warehouse equipment from DJ Products today.