The Challenge
Brother is a supplier for Locus Robotics, providing Locus with high-quality, custom robot motors for their autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The unique partnership between Brother and Locus of supplier and customer allows the companies to leverage each other’s strengths and resources to drive growth and success. Saddle Creek, an omnichannel supply chain solutions provider, performs Brother’s day-to-day warehousing operations. Brother and Saddle Creek were looking for ways to improve warehouse efficiency, increase picking productivity, and support seasonal order growth without adding operational complexity. They also needed a solution that could reduce associate travel time and fatigue while providing greater visibility into warehouse performance and accuracy.
The Solution
Locus Robotics deployed AMRs along with a suite of actionable reporting tools and dashboards in Brother’s Bartlett, Tennessee warehouse. The solution helps associates reduce walking and physical strain while improving accuracy through item verification, on-robot product images, and mobile printing for real-time labeling. Brother also highlights Locus Robotics as a scalable solution that supports seasonal order surges and may expand into other warehouse and manufacturing operations.
The Results
After the Locus Robotics implementation, Brother has increased productivity and is now picking at 100 UPH. Because of the Locus Robots’ ease of use, associates can be trained in one day, becoming immediately efficient.
The robots have cut down walk time for associates, reducing employee fatigue and increasing employee morale. Brother plans to expand Locus Robotics into other warehouse facilities, including the Brother Gearmotors assembly sector.
Locus Robotics has given us the ability to scale up as we go into the holiday season and see surges in orders.