This month’s cover article on logistics trends addresses a range of innovations, including the use of robotics and data tracking. These upgrades are critical for long-term growth. Here, we’ll address key fundamentals, without which even robotics-based systems could fail to accelerate the flow of goods through the plant.

Managing Maintenance

For starters, consider proactive equipment maintenance. That is, tracking wear levels on various parts, a practice commonly referred to as “predictive maintenance.” If your maintenance team isn’t keeping plant machinery in top condition, particularly high-volume workhorses like tunnel washers, that will hinder your efforts to boost throughput. “Effective ...