Here are 3 videos from their operations centers (skip the advertisements), which show some steps Amazon has taken towards efficiency. For ArtInLean, these guys are a great example of a pragmatic approach to operations excellence, just like we practice it.
Any of you familiar with nuts and bolts of Amazon operations, please comment!
In this first video, you will NOT see too many high racks reaching for the sky with armies of forklifts : most of operations are fast, close, level 0 operated, with small alleys and no costly equipment. Short lead times with suppliers enable little stock depth and chaotic storage.
This makes Amazon’s operations very flexible and much easier to manage.
This testimony from warehouse employee just summarizes some of the basics of operations management : simple process first, simple training, visual management, levelling of workload. Not too much emphasis on employee involvement, error proofing and Jidoka, though…
Although this video is backed by corporate, it seems mainly genuine compared to our warehousing experiences.
The space and transportation Muda is destroyed here in some pilot center : shelves come to you and enable load / unload operations combination. Once again check simplicity of robot functions ( reminds cleaner robot), this is not pure karakuri but sure these robots should be cheap / easy to maintain ( any insights on price welcome btw).
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