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The important thing about automation is to consider it strategically. In other words, why are you doing it, and what are the options? Today the cost of robotics is coming down, and there is always obsolescent handling equipment available at bargain prices. Some warehousing organizations jump into a mechanized program just because it seems that the price is right.
Yet just a few years have passed since a warehouse service provider invested tens of millions of dollars in conveying equipment before going bankrupt. There is a thin market for used conveyors, and in this case most of the gear was sold as scrap metal. In another case, a company acquired a competitor who had some mechanized equipment. In effect, this equipment is "free", but that does not mean it is wise to use it. When you are considering automation, the most important strategic question is: Why?
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