Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1498036
48 PalletCentral • March-April 2023 palletcentral.com e data from automation usually reveals its true contribution to production. Inventory Control. An inventory report, especially combined with ERP, can show exactly what production needs were met, what more is needed, and the supply of materials needed to meet the demand. Accessible Servicing. Automation generally comes with excellent support. Machines sometimes need updates, but it can be done remotely by the equipment provider. Cloud-based systems automatically receive updates through offsite connections. Attract New Talent. For the younger generations to enter manufacturing careers, technology is critical. Automation can change the overall image of your manufacturing floor and make it easier to recruit qualified candidates. Levels the Playing Field. Automation is for all sized companies. e cost of labor and gaps in workforce impacts the whole industry. is provides a way for smaller companies to remain competitive, if used appropriately to solve their production problems. Caryn Smith serves as the editor and art director of PalletCentral. She is CEO of Driven By Design LLC, a communications agency specializing in association publications for over 20 years. palletcentral.com Is Your Company a Candidate? Consider the bigger picture in the process. e soft costs count. If the ongoing hiring process at your company takes a large percentage of a person's time, factor that into the equation when looking at cost comparisons. One barrier, according to Wenninger, is the thought: "at's how we've always done it. If everybody was stuck here, we wouldn't have the innovations we enjoy today. Innovation is driven by people that had a dream and wanted to make things better. Generational changes in a company sometimes spur change. Regardless, to have the ability to forecast your business with real production data is, I believe, the pallet industry of the future." For pallet companies looking for solutions to current supply chain problems, automation is likely the next step. Investments in technology could pay dividends in the future.