Automation Creates Efficient Manufacturing Operations for John Deere

McCarty noted reduced cycle times and improved accuracy among the top benefits offered by automation. He cited automated storage and retrieval systems for components as an example. “The ability to put away, manage inventory and pick much quicker than a human can helps shrink that supply chain to be able to deliver components faster,” he said. This helps to ensure the right part gets to the right location as well.

One of the most critical aspects of implementing automation is that it allows for better utilization of human labor. Bringing in automation for dirty, dangerous or highly repeatable jobs enables people to instead be put “where they can add the most value to the products and customers,” said McCarty.

When looking to implement automation, he said people and culture are also among the largest challenges to overcome because there is always hesitation when looking to change a process or bring in a new technology.

People want to know how it might impact processes or their role in an organization. “I think staying ahead of that as much as we can and educating those that are going to be working around the technology, educating them on how it functions [and] what it does is absolutely critical, and something we've we found through our journey,” he said.