Notably, warehousing has always been a significant part of supply chain management. They not only support inventory at various stages of manufacture of products, but also have a unique role to play in the assembly of products. Various warehouses have been uniquely modified to perform different types of functions. As a result, the warehousing industry has become subject to evolution especially in the technological sector leading to automation in almost every other step. These technological roles are bound to progress especially with increasing technological advancement in the future. Therefore, it is important to consider what job roles and tasks will exist in the future of warehousing.
Kiva systems are now been used by Amazon industry and have been for quite some time. These robotic systems are now being used to deliver shelves of items to their warehouse workers in the typical picker roles. They have significantly reduced the distance that these warehouse workers walk since they bring the shelves to the workers. These workers are now only selecting the appropriate items off, boxing them, and placing them in the exit conveyer belt.
While numerous people may argue that such systems will only be responsible for taking jobs from human beings, analysts argue that these systems only enhance productivity of human beings and companies would be able to save millions from such technology. Besides, such systems need system mangers to manage their algorithms because even though they can navigate themselves using front cameras and bar code reading, they may need instructions.
Typically, with such systems being adopted in the most warehousing industries in the future, job descriptions will certainly change. More system analysts will be employed to manage these complicated robotic systems. Besides, more managers will need to be employed as the robotic systems will not be able to handle critical thinking situations, as they are robots and do not have brains.
Overall, the reduced handling staff and increase in information-based staff will change in the job descriptions in the future of warehousing. Employees will shift from doing tasks to thinking tasks. As a result, the job design ill reduce from human intervention in handling products to information interaction with the systems which will no handle goods.
