Question

In Amazon’s Flagship Fulfillment Center, the Machines Run the Show

At BFI4 outside Seattle, the retailer uses algorithms and robots to ship more than a million packages a day—vastly changing the jobs of humans in the process.
One recent morning, inside a cavernous Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment center outside Seattle, Evan
Shobe positioned himself before a bank of nine computer screens. Known internally as the quarterback desk, or QB, the command center lets Shobe monitor the intricate workings of a building the size of
about 15 footballs fields. Thousands of blue dots show robots ferrying products around the facility; yellow figures that look a little like restroom signs represent the humans who load and unload the
robots. A maze of green lines shows conveyors speeding orders to stations down the line and, ultimately, to waiting delivery trucks. The system is running smoothly on this early August morning, as it mostly does seven days a week at more than 900 Amazon logistics facilities across the U.S.
BFI4, located in exurban Kent, Wash., is Amazon’s flagship fulfillment center and regularly hosts senior company leaders—Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy dropped by recently—who want a better understanding of what happens after a shopper clicks "Buy Now." It was the first facility of its kind capable of processing more than 1 million items a day, three times what was possible at the company’s state-of-the-art warehouses a decade ago. Improving technology means Amazon can stay several steps ahead of brick-and-mortar rivals Walmart Inc. and Target Corp., which are now adopting many of the practices Amazon has worked on for years.
More than the physical robots, the stars of Amazon’s facilities are the algorithms—sets of computer instructions designed to solve specific problems. Software determines how many items a facility can
handle, where each product is supposed to go, how many people are required for the night shift during the holiday rush, and which truck is best positioned to get a stick of deodorant to a customer on time.
"We rely on the software to help us make the right decisions," says Shobe, BFI4’s general manager.
Automation has made it possible for each fulfillment-center supervisor to manage dozens of employees, a factorylike operation becoming standard in the industry. In 2012 a logistics warehouse manager supervised about 10 workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2020, after Amazon had become the industry’s biggest employer, there were almost twice as many frontline workers for every supervisor.

With rapid development in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology, automation is at a
tipping point. Today, robots can perform a slew of functions without considerable human
intervention. In a report you are required to critique the benefits of warehouse automation and
warehouse robotics technology in relation to the extract above.

Discuss bellow benefits of warehouse automation and Application of benefits of warehouse automation to
Amazon

1. Increasing speed

2. Decreasing costs

3. Maximising space

Answer 1

Warehouse automation offers benefits such as increasing speed, decreasing costs, and maximizing space. Amazon has effectively utilized warehouse automation to enhance its operations and maintain a competitive edge.

Step-by-step explanation:

Benefits of warehouse automation:

1. Increasing speed: Warehouse automation allows for faster processing and fulfillment of orders. With the use of robots and algorithms, products can be quickly located, picked, and shipped, resulting in shorter delivery times for customers.
2. Decreasing costs: Automation reduces the need for extensive manual labor, leading to lower labor costs. Additionally, efficient warehouse layouts and optimized processes can help minimize wastage and streamline operations, ultimately reducing overall costs.
3. Maximizing space: Automated systems can utilize warehouse space more efficiently, making it possible to store and manage a larger inventory. By maximizing space, companies can stock a wider range of products and increase their capacity to fulfill customer orders.

Application of benefits of warehouse automation to Amazon:

Amazon has successfully leveraged warehouse automation to achieve significant advantages in its operations. By implementing advanced robotics technology and intelligent algorithms, Amazon has increased its order processing speed, reduced costs through optimized labor management, and maximized the utilization of its warehouse space. This has allowed Amazon to stay competitive in the e-commerce industry by delivering fast and efficient service to its customers.