Whatever type of merchandise or products warehouse stores, it’s crucial that every aspect of the warehouse be well thought through and subject to the most rigorous planning possible. Everything from how many packages from a pallet can fit in a bin to how many bins will then reside on which shelves needs to be premeditated. The last thing a warehouse manager wants is human workers wandering around the warehouse floor on a forklift, looking for pallets or packages that can’t be found.
This is especially true when it comes to medical manufacturing processes and storing medical equipment in a specialized warehouse. Have you ever given a second thought to how your prescription medications and medical equipment is stored before it hits the shelves at your local pharmacy? Well, you should. Warehouses that store medications need to take special precautions, which is why many are taking things to a new level by adding robots and elements of artificial intelligence to the staff of human workers who currently run the floor. Read on to learn about some ways that warehouse robots are making waves in the pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing industries, as well as some ways that you can save on medications that come from those warehouses.
Robots, Sensors, and Automation
Before your medication reaches the pharmacy, and from there to your bathroom cabinet, it may have to travel a great distance and be handled quite a lot. At a traditional distribution center, human workers would be managing the conveyors and forklifts, moving packages from one place to the next. These humans would, naturally, encounter obstacles of the sort that can’t be predicted—maybe they fall ill or forget to grab a package of Cialis that they meant to add to a box they’re sending out. Human error is part of what makes humans great and can be wonderful for creativity, but it’s not so great when it comes to the logistics industry.
These days, many warehouses are letting the use of robots simplify the logistics of a supply chain. Robots can use artificial intelligence and data collected by sensors to automate their processes. In simple terms, that means that robots can tell the difference between a bin full of Cialis and a bin full of Viagra without making any mistakes, whereas warehouse workers might be distracted and make a mistake. The algorithms are just that good. When it comes to medical supplies, warehouse operators can’t afford for there to be any human errors, which is why innovators in the logistics industry have come up with these robot-led solutions.
Conveyor Systems
How smart can a conveyor belt be? Well, not that smart, but you still need to ensure that you’re getting a conveyor that your robots know how to work with. While robots will never get tired of repetitive tasks like taking medicine on and off a conveyor belt, they can only manage those tasks well if they have the systems that they recognize. Robots, unlike humans, can’t infer things that they haven’t already been taught (unless they’re much more advanced, which is a different story). When it comes to warehouse automation, make sure that your use of robots is working in tandem with your use of conveyors.
Generic Medications and Coupons
All medication is handled in this way, by robots and automation processes that are running the retrieval systems in various warehouses around the United States. This is great news for all of us, who might be worried that generic medication is not as effective as brand-name medicines. While we, of course, want to get the best price for the dosage we require, it might not be worth the lower cost if the medicine doesn’t work as well.
If you’re headed to the pharmacy to pick up Cialis or Viagra, and you don’t have Cialis coupons on you, you should feel comfortable enjoying the lower prices and getting a 90-day-supply of the generic version of Cialis. It’s basically the same and can treat your erection woes just as well as brand-name Cialis would. Before using any medication for erection challenges, you should definitely consult a doctor for medical advice, though. This is especially true if it’s your first time taking Cialis or Viagra.
Around the U.S., and, indeed, the world, robots are working alongside human employees to keep the travel time from fulfillment centers to local pharmacies down and to ensure that the medications are taken good care of on their journey. It’s an exciting time to see the development of automation technology and the ways in which it’s impacting the medical warehousing industry.
