When at ProMat, there are countless ways to expand your knowledge and network. With more than 1,000 exhibits and tens of thousands of attendees, finding solutions and learning about cutting-edge equipment and technology are a given. A new theater debuted this year, as well: Emerging Technologies & Sustainability Theater. This theater includes sessions on autonomous vehicles, robotics, AI and IoT solutions.  Also, be sure to check out some of the expert-led seminars taking place on the show floor. There are more than 100 from which to choose! Sessions are offered free to all registered show attendees. This evening, the Young Professionals Networking Event is taking place—no pre-registration required.

If you pre-registered for ProMat 2019, you should have received your registration confirmation email when you registered. Bring it to a registration kiosk when you arrive at McCormick Place South. If you did not pre-register, proceed to the Registration Counter. Registration is in McCormick Place South on Level 1 and in the Grand Concourse Lobby on Level 3 during the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Wednesday, and 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Thursday. Lost badges may be replaced at the Registration Service Desk.

Be sure to be on the lookout for the print version of the ProMat 2019 Expo Guide when first hitting the halls. It is also available in digital format.

TUESDAY: 8:45–9:45 AM | Room S100
Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO, Girls Who Code
It’s no secret that the manufacturing and supply chain industry has a serious gender imbalance. We live in an era in which girls are told they can do anything, so why aren’t there more women in supply chain leadership roles? In 2012, Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code with the mission of correcting the disparity in the tech industry. Since then, Girls Who Code has reached nearly 40,000 young girls and aims to enroll one million women by 2020. Join us for this ground-breaking keynote as Reshma provides practical strategies for closing the gender gap and why it is a key to the future success of our industry.

This first gathering of minds at ProMat 2019 was opened by Brett Wood, President of MHI and President & CEO at Toyota Material Handling North America, who set the stage for Harvard Business School’s  Karim R. Lakhani  with his introduction:  “They always say surround yourself with smart people. I am going to be standing next to one in a few minutes!” 

Lakhani started his presentation with a call for audience participation. It seemed fitting, as it is many of the attendees who will also have to actively participate in the implementation of the presentation’s topic for it to work: blockchain. 

Lakhani’s asked the audience if they thought blockchain would impact their companies or businesses in the next five year, 10 years or never. Not surprisingly, the five-year mark had the most people raising their hands. “There’s been a ton of hype around blockchain,” explained Lakhami, “even economists are covering it!” 

As high-tech and new as blockchain and bitcoin are – introduced in October 2008 – “technology keeps coming over and over again, and we can learn from the past,” he said. The concept that blockchain uses is referred to as a ledger. Anything that is happening is part of the ledger, he explained, which can then be opened and distributed across the world.  This is one of the greatest pros of blockchain and also one of the biggest fears: “Are all my secrets going to be given away?” 

This was one of the topics addressed by panelist David Cecchi, Senior Director of Enterprise Data at Cargill Corp.  He said the solution is along the lines of posting specific information to the ledger, but not everything. For example, not seeing the specifics of the transaction – such as costs and terms -- but just seeing there was a transaction. 

Panelist Leanne Kemp, Queensland Chief Entrepreneur & C3PO First, CEO, Founder, Everledger , agreed with the idea of having some data that isn’t shared, and some that is. “Use the chain as a halo-type effect,” she said.  Note, however, that the ledger would only consist of what is entered, which prompted a cautionary note: “It doesn’t know the truth,” said Cecchi.  What’s shared may be different from the truth. 

The transparency and traceability of it, however, is already leading to massive changes in some industries, such as food and diamonds. Cecchi said that Cargill now has “turkey traceability.” It allows the end consumer to track a turkey. “There is a code on the turkey. If you type it in, it shows the full provenance on the bird and the farm.” And, Kemp shared some first-hand experiences she’s had in the diamond industry, which has long been paper-trailed and full of verbal contracts and handshakes for much of its business dealings until fairly recently.  Now, using the blockchain concept, they are able to trace diamonds. “We have over 2 million diamonds where we created a digital twin,” said Kemp, explaining that diamonds are like snowflakes. 

The third panelist, Michael J. Reed, Director—Blockchain Program, Intel Corp., emphasized how blockchain is a group effort. “There are a number of ways to get involved outside the four walls of your company. It is a team sport.” 

Which brings us back to participation. “Blockchain is a distributed network protocol for business transactions,” explained Lakhani. So for it to work, businesses have to participate in researching it, testing it out internally and giving it the opportunity to be a brand new ledger for business activities. It is a project that has the potential to be a game-changer, especialy in material handling.

In the South Hall, there are more than 100 on-floor seminars taking place over the course of the show. Hear first-hand tips from experts in the industry who are involved in various aspects of the supply chain industry.

On Monday, one of the sessions focused on ergonomics in the workplace: Workstations: Basic Steps that Can Improve Productivity and Reduce Operator Injuries. 

The seminar was led by Jeffrey Hoyle, Director of Ergonomic Services at North Carolina State University – The Ergonomics Center, and Robert Doucette, Application Engineer at BOSTONtec. They talked about how ergonomics can reduce handling, increase speed and improve accuracy. And, when it comes to the workers, “If we are optimizing their wellbeing, then we are optimizing the overall performance,” said Hoyle.  Also, it is a matter of fitting the task to the job and getting the right equipment the first time. 

It is important when it comes to productivity too. “Productivity can be improved by up to 20% with the right ergonomics, said Hoyle, “’and I’ve even seen more.” He said that it also helps with accuracy, comfort and employee morale, and inspectors and insurers expect it. Strains and sprains can be alleviated, as well as other work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). 

To make sure you have the correct ergonomics in place, you have to realize that one size does not fit all.  As Doucette said, “It may sound basic or obvious, but we have to decide what the station is there for. No operation is the same.”

Some of the steps they take into account when planning an ergonomic work station include:
1. Determine the workflow.
2. Draft a list of items/inventory
3. Assign priorities. The higher the priority, the closer the item should be to the operator. “Try not to over-engineer these things,” said Doucette. “Talk to the person doing the task. They are doing it day in and day out, and they might know something you don’t.”
4. Plan the layout and establish zones based on frequency of use. “You have to make it as simple as possible, otherwise people won’t use it,” said Doucette, especially when it comes to electric versus manual adjustment. And when it comes to lighting, “minimize glare with parabolic filters, window blinks and monitor placement,” said Hoyle. Plus, the display should be perpendicular to the window for monitor.
5. Review material handling. Eliminate stooping and bending, review use of carts and routing and look at different size and shape of totes, said Doucette. Hoyle said to look at larger wheel sizes, locking brakes, handle height and elevating platforms, too. 

Most important when looking at ergonomics? Remember that “It is not a one and done type of thing,” said Doucette. “Document the design, training and flow of the station” and plan on continual reevaluation and improvement.