Manufacturers across the U.S. are experiencing a damaging shortage of skilled labor — negatively impacting their ability to produce goods and their bottom lines. As companies search for automated solutions, Seegrid’s vision-powered AGVs are leading the market by solving the biggest challenges in manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and fulfillment.
At Whirlpool’s Clyde, Ohio facility, they were able to combat their skilled labor shortage by investing in Seegrid’s vision-powered AGVs. With 50+ AGVs continuously running across Whirlpool’s three-shift operation, they were able to redeploy more than 150 people to other value-added positions.
As a result of solving their skilled labor shortage, Whirlpool was able to put a stronger focus on another concern — employee safety. Jim Keppler, Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain for Whirlpool’s North American region said, “One of the major focuses for us is to take forklift traffic out of the areas where we have employees working. There is an inherent risk when you have a lot of power industrial vehicles in the area where people are working and this has allowed us to do that.”
With some production lines at this Whirlpool facility producing product every 10 seconds, and with a throughput of 20,000 units per day, investing in an automation solution that was both reliable and efficient was crucial to meeting throughput goals. Leveraging Seegrid’s vision-guided, infrastructure free AGVs, Whirlpool employees can change routes themselves while production is running and needs are shifting. Seegrid vehicles work reliably in dynamic environments, and can be quickly re-trained in the field to meet changes to production.
As the only market leader to have 2M+ autonomous miles driven in complex dynamic environments with a perfect safety record, Seegrid AGVs can transform your facility and manufacturing expectations.