The talent shortage has long been a top concern in our industry and MHI’s 2020 Annual Industry Report aims to address this holistically. It provides recommendations on how companies can adopt new innovations, establish positive culture, standardize processes and provide continuous training to reskill, recruit and retain their workforce. A key component of this journey, and the focus of this episode, is data.

A recent video produced by MHIview explores “Designing Robotics with the Workforce in Mind,” a delve into how today’s collaborative robotic solutions are being engineered and programmed to support an existing labor pool—not to replace them. That’s because these autonomous mobile robots fit seamlessly into existing space, adapting to their surroundings rather than requiring a permanent installation like traditional automated solutions. Because of their inherent flexibility and adaptability, these robotic systems free workers from simple, repetitive work and allow them to instead perform more valuable tasks.

The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has dealt with many disasters over the last 10 years but facing COVID-19 has presented unique challenges. Unlike a fire, flood or hurricane that creates physical barriers and hinders the transportation of food and supplies, COVID-19 has created challenges related to policies, guidance and a scarcity of essential supplies. To help businesses keep the supply chain moving across the country, ALAN has created the Supply Chain Intelligence Center.