FROM THE EDITOR Stop the Chaos and Refocus
By Morgan Walker
Marketing Communications Manager , Westfalia Technologies , Inc .
Stop ... take a deep breath ! This year has brought it ’ s share of chaos and disruption not only to our personal lives , but to businesses and the supply chain . The ongoing global pandemic has greatly disrupted warehouse and distribution center operations , resulting in a boom of online distribution while in-person retail channels have slowed significantly , or in some cases , ceased completely . We are also seeing people turn heavily to the pharmaceutical , food and beverage industries as they have been deemed “ essential ” during this time of crisis . On top of normal seasonality spikes , warehouses must now be able to handle moving more products quickly and efficiently through their facilities , while also maintaining social distancing guidelines .
Warehouses that are not able to provide social distancing space risk having people not showing up for work , or worse , actually contracting COVID-19 and then potentially spreading it to others . By not having the proper workforce and equipment in place to conduct business efficiently , global supply chains are being taxed with delays in shipments .
The current global crisis has revealed the value of warehouse automation in helping businesses maximize storage and efficiently get their product out the door to customers . We are also seeing businesses who are just beginning their automation journey facing a variety of challenges implementing solutions quickly and within tight budget constraints , as opposed to those who made the choice to invest earlier on .
I have chosen to theme this issue of The Satellite Review around refocusing on how your business operates despite ongoing turmoil in the supply chain and regardless of where you are in your automation journey . The articles within this issue highlight key elements to focus on as you evaluate the benefits of automation . Now is the time to identify what is working and what areas of operational inefficiency need to be addressed . Although this year has been a challenge for us all , we know that challenge often leads to new opportunities for innovation and growth .
Automated storage technology has progressed significantly in recent years and choosing to partner with an automation company that can create a custom solution to address the ever-changing needs of your business is crucial ! Look for a partner with a dedicated team of developers , engineers and technicians that have the skillset and experience necessary to successfully support your company in moving toward manufacturing and distribution excellence . Now ’ s the time to take action and invest in growing your business to meet the needs of the future !
Editorial Team
Morgan Walker Marketing Communications Manager
Sales / Solutions Team
John Hinchey VP of Sales
Gary Frank VP Automated Systems
Ryan Smith VP of Automation
Borja Salanova Sr . Solutions Consultant
Alex Eisenhart Solutions Architect
Senior Leadership Team
Daniel Labell President
Caio Seabra COO / CFO
Dave Williams VP of Technology Solutions
Wolfram von Schoen VP of Aftermarket Operations
Jeffery Lyijynen VP of Project Operations
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Published and copyrighted 2020 by Westfalia Technologies , Inc . All rights reserved . No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means , electronic or mechanical , including photocopy , recording or any information storage systems , without permission from the publisher .
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