Big Picture: Moving from theory to practice

Several years ago, executive editor Bob Trebilcock proposed a series of feature stories called The Big Picture—pieces that would break out of our traditional equipment-centric and best practices coverage and focus on the broader role materials handling plays in driving larger company initiatives.

The premise rested on the idea that materials handling has “come out of the shadows” and is now directly tied to business operations; and thus, can build a competitive advantage that creates a measurable impact on the bottom line.

By stepping back for this broader view, these stories have given Modern readers a more comprehensive look at how warehouse/DC operations are not only tied to success, but in many cases have become the foundation of the business strategy.

In recent Big Pictures, Trebilcock examined the growing need for skilled technicians who can keep our more complex distribution systems and, in turn, our businesses running; he revealed how automation vendors are focusing on MRO not only to help maintain operations, but differentiate themselves in a more commoditized market: and, he put the concept of Big Data into context and examined how it can be applied to maintain equipment, deliver services and manage processes.

This month in Modern, we offer the latest installment of The Big Picture, one that illustrates how one of the savviest organizations in the world is taking a much-discussed theory and putting it into practice.

Starting on page 24, Trebilcock offers a Big Picture take on the potential implications of the Internet of Things (IoT)—or as Cisco defines it, the Internet of Everything (IoE). Think of all machines, equipment, gadgets, appliances and the things we use in our daily lives all tied to the Internet. “Now, think of the effect this will have on supply chain operations,” says Trebilcock. “That’s where Cisco’s Jack Allen is heading now.”

As the senior director of logistics and manufacturing solutions for the company that connects us to the Internet, Allen is in the process of remaking Cisco’s supply chain processes to embrace the IoE, calling it “Cisco’s connected supply chain and logistics of the future.” 

“What I found most intriguing is that when Allen and his colleagues talk about a much more automated warehouse, they’re not necessarily talking about materials handling automation,” says Trebilcock. “Rather, Cisco is thinking about ways to automate decision-making and mundane processes that are currently done by people.”

Allen contends that it’s about more than just software, it’s the convergence of sensors, data collection, analytics and smart machines that can quickly communicate information from every node of the supply chain. “When you piece all of this together you end up with a supply chain that can automatically take actions up and down the chain to respond to events as they occur,” says Trebilcock.
But the best part of the Cisco story is that this isn’t a pie-in-the-sky conference session pitch. Instead, Allen and crew are putting these concepts to work and making their “warehouse of the future” a reality.

“The industry has been be talking about this level event management for years, and the tools to do it are already on the shelf,” adds Trebilcock. “What’s new is the way Allen is integrating the tools to create new and innovative processes and putting theory into practice. We can all learn something from this.”