How can healthcare logistics keep up with the rapid pace of innovation in the healthcare industry?
This is a question that teams like the Technology and Innovation Industrial Engineering (I.E.) team at UPS Healthcare strive to answer. With a constant focus on implementing new technologies in their operations, they seized an opportunity to introduce autonomous Locus robots as pick assistants for their warehouse workers.
The robots are about the size of a human and use a programmed warehouse map and sensors to move to different assigned locations. This helps enhance order accuracy while making worker movement more efficient. Scan, pick, confirm and the robot is on to the next task.
Josh Katz, I.E. Manager, shares his enthusiasm for leveraging exciting technologies to streamline operations and simplify complexities.
He explains, 'This is an exciting time for UPS Healthcare. Technology is allowing us to make our operators’ lives easier, freeing them up to focus on what matters: the customer. At the same time, our customers are asking us to solve increasingly difficult problems while relying less on our traditional resources, and our chosen technologies are helping navigate these complexities.'
Preparing Robots for the Healthcare Stage
Implementing Locus robots for healthcare operations posed a significant challenge—adapting to cold environments. Successfully integrated into a warehouse setting, the Locus robots would need to navigate in and out of coolers while maintaining an uninterrupted workflow.
Rachel Durbin, I.E. Supervisor, recalls, 'This was a novel undertaking for Locus. It took time, but we managed to develop an automated door system equipped with sensors that maintained the required temperature conditions.'
The team also tackled other unique challenges, including the introduction of new carrier totes to handle products of varying sizes and establishment of specialised drop-off points for HAZMAT products.
With a floor map in place, the next hurdle was onboarding the operations team in time for launch on 1 November 2022.
Human and Machine Collaboration
'The team was initially skeptical, as is the case with any new process, but the technology proved to be user-friendly,' says Stephanie Morgan, Operations Supervisor. 'The robots offer a gamification feature that the team enjoys, fostering healthy competition. Additionally, the robots provide users with language customisation options, facilitating broader talent acquisition.'
The process unfolds as follows:
- Incoming orders are inputted into the robots, in a location referred to as “Induction.”
- The robots zip over to the designated and mapped areas on the floor for collection.
- As UPS Healthcare workers walk the floor, they simply scan items onto the awaiting robot and confirm the transaction.
- The robot swiftly moves to the next stage with the healthcare product, eventually handing it back to the operations team for outbound processing.
- The robot returns to the Induction area to receive its next order.
- A productivity dashboard, prominently displayed in the operations area, provides real-time insights into productivity and status. These key indicators enable the team to identify gaps and make necessary adjustments.
As months passed, the team witnessed remarkable results. Productivity doubled, and push- and pull-related injuries plummeted to nearly zero.
Looking Ahead
These achievements were accompanied by valuable lessons learned, which will guide future technology implementations.
Rachel explains, 'We recognise the importance of involving the operations team as early as possible. Their unique perspective and intricate knowledge allow them to provide invaluable feedback. Our relationship ensures that we maintain 100% quality while achieving our implementation goals.'
As healthcare logistics becomes more technologically enabled, success will still depend on the synergy between people and technology.
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