D I S S E C T I N G B U S I N E S S tremendous capacity and accuracy to manage the thousands of different Cardinal Health products in our portfolio ,” Naylor explained . “ Ultimately , it must improve the customers ’ experience . For example , we often have just a few hours to get products to a customer . An MAO must ensure that we are picking the right product in the right quantity and unit of measure , making sure it gets in the right order tote or box . We are acutely focused on removing the potential for error all along the system .”
The team also is modernising WMS data storage to mitigate vulnerabilities related to data storage limits , loss , damage , and time-consumer maintenance . “ We ’ re shifting to cloud-based servers , which provides us with two benefits : It enhances our resiliency and scalability and reduces operational and maintenance costs .”
In addition , the Innovation Lab team has tested new , intuitive , and user-friendly tablets and handheld devices used in picking and scanning . These provide a streamlined user experience with a graphical user interface on the screens – meaning that employees can interact with them via icons , rather than text alone . USMPD has rolled out dozens of these new smart devices , with improved user experience for our team .
Increasing efficiencies and reducing ergonomics risks
As part of USMPD ’ s ongoing strategy to modernise operations , the lab team explores automation technologies that increase efficiencies in the DC operations , and , at the same time , reduce employees ’ risks of ergonomics injuries .
For example , with previous testing and support from the Innovation Lab , the Ohio Valley DC and other USMPD facilities integrated AMRs into their workflows .
Through the warehouse management system , the robots are loaded with picking instructions and totes and travel efficiently through the DCs , meeting employees at various picking stations . Employees still walk their specific picking zones in response to the AMRs ’ instructions , but they don ’ t have to walk an entire warehouse floor .
Additionally , the team is in the early stages of testing holistic solutions offering enhanced software capabilities and a single workflow for picking and product movement that can be supported by goods-to-person robotics – creating a more dynamic , resilient , and responsive operation . Goods-to-person technology , which combines automated storage and retrieval of products , does exactly what it sounds like : brings products directly to employees to pick and pack .
Naylor said the team is currently testing a hybrid goods-to-person robotics solution , in which the product is delivered to a dynamic pick wall in preparation for the associate needing to complete the pick . In this hybrid solution , he notes , the associate still has to walk , but the time spent walking past unneeded products is reduced significantly .
“ Soon we ’ re piloting this solution in a variety of test locations to further drive our optimisation efforts . We ’ ve got an ambitious roadmap ahead of us and are excited to share more about this technology as we test , analyse and ensure a repeatable process for the entire network .”
Improving results for customers
As the lab continues to test physical products and hardware , Naylor is excited about also testing software that can support more streamlined , customisable , and agile operations . “ Every healthcare customer operates a bit differently , so the ways in which we service our customers are highly customised ,” he said . “ The lab allows us to test and validate solutions and get them right for our customers before we deploy them to our distribution network . That means we won ’ t jeopardise a shipment or delivery . Such reliable and consistent service is critical to our healthcare customers and their patients .
“ Technology can help us improve the quality of our customer service in many ways – providing greater order visibility and ensuring we deliver the right product at the right place at the right time , every time . Anything we can do to improve our service level , even incrementally , will make us better in terms of safety , quality , service and cost . And every improvement we make reinforces our position as healthcare ’ s most trusted partner .” �
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