The Automation Journey | A Podcast from Rocrich AGV Solutions

What It Really Takes to Deliver Complex Automation Projects - A Project Manager's View

Your automated system is installed. The vendor says it's ready. So why isn't it performing? Scope creep, vendor accountability gaps, and underperforming systems in the first 90 days - these are three of the most common and costly challenges in complex automation deployments. And they're almost always avoidable. This excerpt from Episode 5 of The Automation Journey covers the section of the conversation where Yara Alsuwailem, Head of Engineering and Implementation at EQ Depot, goes deep on what causes these problems and exactly what integrators and customers need to do to prevent them. For the full conversation - including project readiness, safety standards, post go-live support agreements, and Yara's final advice on communication - listen to the complete episode. Key Takeaways * Why scope creep disguised as minor tweaks is one of the hardest delays to spot - and how customer sign-off before execution prevents it * How multi-system projects create multiple points of failure - and how workshop meetings and data logs keep accountability clear * Where failures most commonly occur between systems installed by different vendors - and how to resolve them without finger pointing * Why the first 90 days post go-live are the hardest - and what "nobody wants to touch the big expensive machine" actually costs an operation * Why training during commissioning - not after - is the single most effective way to prepare a customer's team for go-live What's Next? Subscribe, review, and share with others who are planning or delivering a complex automation project and want to know what it really takes to make it work. Visit Rocrich AGV Solutions: https://rocrich.com/ Connect with Colin Hutchings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinbhutchings/ Connect with Yara Alsuwailem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yara-alsuwailem/ Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Rocrich AGV Solutions LLC ("Rocrich") makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Rocrich does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Moreover, Rocrich makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   ROCRICH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.   Notice By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Rocrich, or used by Rocrich with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Rocrich, which may be requested by contacting marketing@rocrich.com

ANSI B56.5, R15.08, ISO 3691-4 - A Plain-English Guide to Automation Standards

Most automation buyers know they need to comply with standards. Very few know which ones apply, where the boundaries sit, or what happens when two standards conflict. This excerpt from Episode 4 of The Automation Journey covers the standards landscape governing mobile automation in North America - what ANSI B56.5, R15.08, and ISO 3691-4 each require, how to choose the right framework for your facility, and why compliance and a well-designed automated operation are not the same thing. For the full conversation - including risk assessment, functional safety, and what buyers should be asking their vendors - listen to the complete episode. Key Takeaways >> How to navigate ANSI B56.5, ANSI R15.08, and ISO 3691-4 - what each covers and when each applies >> Why national and international standards take different approaches to risk, and what that means for your deployment strategy >> Why compliance with a standard is not the same as a well-designed automated operation >> What the gap between standards compliance and genuine operational readiness actually looks like on the floor What's Next? For the full conversation - including risk assessment, functional safety, and what buyers should be asking their vendors - listen to the complete episode on your preferred platform. Subscribe so you don't miss future episodes of The Automation Journey. Visit Rocrich AGV Solutions: https://rocrich.com/ [https://rocrich.com/]  Connect with Colin Hutchings on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinbhutchings/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinbhutchings/]  Connect with Pat Davison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patdavison/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patdavison/]  -- Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Rocrich AGV Solutions LLC ("Rocrich") makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Rocrich does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Moreover, Rocrich makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   ROCRICH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.   Notice By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Rocrich, or used by Rocrich with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Rocrich, which may be requested by contacting marketing@rocrich.com

The Automation Standards Breakdown You'll Wish You'd Seen Sooner

Your automated vehicle meets every standard on paper. But is your facility actually ready to operate differently? In this episode, Colin sits down with Pat Davison, Director of Standards at MHI - the largest material handling and supply chain association in North America - to cut through one of the most misunderstood areas of any automation project: the standards landscape. Pat has been involved in shaping ANSI B56.5, R15.08, and the broader framework governing how automated vehicles are designed, deployed, and operated. From risk assessment and functional safety to what compliance actually means in practice - this is the conversation most automation buyers wish they'd had before their first vendor meeting. Key Takeaways >> How to navigate ANSI B56.5, R15.08, and ISO 3691-4, what each covers, where the boundaries sit, and how to choose the right framework for your facility >> Why compliance with a standard is not the same as a well-designed automated operation and what the gap looks like in practice >> How to approach risk assessment with confidence, the nouns vs. verbs framework, the NIOSH hierarchy, and why most teams underestimate what's involved >> What functional safety actually means in a mobile automation context and the common mistakes operations teams make when specifying safety systems >> Why nobody wants to be first but everybody wants to be second and what that means for organisations planning their first deployment >> What questions buyers should be asking their vendors about standards and compliance that most never think to ask What next? Subscribe and follow so you don't miss what's coming next on The Automation Journey. -- Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Rocrich AGV Solutions LLC ("Rocrich") makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Rocrich does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Moreover, Rocrich makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   ROCRICH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.   Notice By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Rocrich, or used by Rocrich with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Rocrich, which may be requested by contacting marketing@rocrich.com

Why Most Automation Pilots Fail - And the Planning Mindset That Changes Everything

Most automation projects start in the wrong place. The technology gets chosen before the process gets redesigned. The pilot gets scoped too small to succeed. And by the time the robots arrive, the foundation wasn't ready for them. In this excerpt from Episode 3 of The Automation Journey, Troy Donnelly covers the fundamentals that determine whether automation delivers - from mobile automation complexity in mixed environments, to the hidden cost of an underpowered pilot, to the technology trends worth watching and the ones that are still mostly demo. Listen to the full episode now to hear Troy's vendor selection framework, his goods-to-person process redesign example, and everything in between. And please follow and subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next on The Automation Journey. Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Rocrich AGV Solutions LLC ("Rocrich") makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Rocrich does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Moreover, Rocrich makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   ROCRICH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.   Notice By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Rocrich, or used by Rocrich with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Rocrich, which may be requested by contacting marketing@rocrich.com

Don't Pave the Cow Path: Choosing What to Automate for Maximum ROI

Most automation failures don't start with bad technology. They start with automating the wrong process. Troy Donnelly has spent nearly three decades designing, implementing and operating automated systems - from an automated 3PL to leading Toyota's global autonomous vehicle strategy. In this episode, he shares how to identify which processes are actually worth automating, why redesigning operations before the robots arrive is non-negotiable, and how to avoid the "magic box" mentality that kills so many automation projects. Listen to the full episode now to hear Troy's framework for choosing what to automate, his vendor selection red flags, and the phrase that sums up the most expensive mistake in the warehouse - "don't pave the cow path." Subscribe and follow so you don't miss what's coming next on The Automation Journey. Disclaimer By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that Rocrich AGV Solutions LLC ("Rocrich") makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional advice. Unless specifically stated otherwise, Rocrich does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. Moreover, Rocrich makes no warranty that this Podcast, or the server that makes it available, is free of viruses, worms, or other elements or codes that manifest contaminating or destructive properties.   ROCRICH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL'S USE OF, REFERENCE TO, RELIANCE ON, OR INABILITY TO USE, THIS PODCAST OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PODCAST.   Notice By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this Podcast, are the property of Rocrich, or used by Rocrich with permission, and are protected under U.S. and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this Podcast may save and use information contained in the Podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this Podcast may be made without the prior written permission of the Rocrich, which may be requested by contacting marketing@rocrich.com