Dealing with materials is a more complex process than it may appear at first. Although the workflow itself may be somewhat clear, finding the best way to manage it is often less. Several facilities follow a completely manual approach, while others continue to automation, but the best option may not lie exclusively with either side.
Also read: Take advantage of artificial intelligence and automation in logistical services for a competitive advantage
Supply chain operations on the threshold of a technological revolution. Robots and other industry technologies are 4.0 by making this sector more efficient, but there are concerns about job loss, safety and innovations that have not been largely tested. However, the new transformation grows through material processing processes, which may indicate a wider change of supply chains tomorrow.
The issue of handicraft treatment
Automation is not new in the industrial sectors, but dealing with materials is mostly manual workflow despite rapid innovation. until 80 % of global warehouses Dependence on manual capture methods, and this does not include similar operations in manufacturing facilities. Despite the spread of this approach, it contains many defects.
First, processing the manual material is slow. Humans can carry a lot, and even use a fork lever or a pallet socket takes time because workers should stop loading and empty them. The transfer of these loads throughout a large warehouse or an ineffective factory.
Second, the frequent movement of this work and heavy risk injuries. Its transport and storage industry The highest infection rate in any sectorAnd comfortable accidents are the biggest cause of these issues. Even when workers do not carry heavy things, capturing things or bending frequently can lead to the development of problems in the muscular structure.
As with other industrial roles, dealing with materials faces work restrictions. The demand rises, but the gathering of talents in the sector did not grow alongside. Thus, many companies find themselves without expanding a large working force enough.
Traditional robots: incomplete solution
Automation looks like the perfect answer in the beginning. After all, the functioning of automated material treatment will reduce the effect of employment deficiency and remove the risk of structural muscle injuries. However, traditional robots have some prominent negative aspects.
Machinery may offer a comparison between safety and efficiency. Systems such as carriers and bars They are solutions to deal with less dangerous materials Because they do not move quickly and do not represent any risk of dropping, but it may be slower than automated vehicles or automatic cranes. The robot may be able to carry a heavy load faster than a person or a forkline that works manually, but this speed raises collision concerns.
Traditional automation is also not flexible. While robots are usually faster than humans, they are less adaptive. This lack of flexibility can lead to longer breakdown and disorder when unexpected changes arise or the facility wants to control its operations.
Costs and complexity can constitute more issues. Logistical organizations are planning to customize them 30 % of the capital spending Towards automation in the coming years, raising large financial shares. Any delay in investing or stopping technical issues or similar disturbances may create significant costs in the mid -trend.
The promise of the hybrid workforce
Since more companies have realized the disadvantages of both methods of dealing with materials, a new solution has appeared. Cobots – or Cobots – automates some tasks while designing them specifically to work alongside humans in a hybrid work, instead of the automatic workflow.
Human cooperation combines robots between employee elasticity with robotics efficiency. Early experiments show that the implementation of Cobots in material processing Reduces time choice by 3.6 %It is possible that more possible improvements with technology improvement and institutions learn the best way to balance the tasks between workers and robots.
Since Cobots aims to work with humans instead of replacing them, they usually come with more safety features as well. These may include less pancakes, the most powerful navigation systems to prevent collision or warning signals while they are moving to enhance circumstantial awareness. As a result, warehouses can take advantage of the automatic speed without sacrificing workers’ safety.
The hybrid workforce may also reduce some costs related to costs. Cobots still bear high presentations, but facilities will not need to change the entire workflow to implement them. Adoption and adaptation are slower, which allows a fixed operation from spreading costs and ensuring a strong investment return.
There are still barriers to overcome them. Cobots only represent 11.6 % of robot orders In the first quarter of 2025, relative modernity means that companies may be less familiar with the best way to balance the tasks between them and employees. However, with the market maturity and the implementation of the real world, the optimal path will become increasingly clear.
The future of dealing with materials lies in the cobote
The handling material is very vulnerable and slow to meet modern demands. The entire automatic alternatives are very unworthy and difficult to benefit from. Looking at these considerations, the hybrid approach is the best way to move forward.
Cobots allows material processing to use both employees and human machines to their fullest potential. No one side is better than the other. Instead, they have both unique strengths and weakness, so combining them is an ideal solution.
