Building a Business Case for Automation: Evaluating ROI in Manufacturing Operations
11:00 am – 11:45 am Intermediate
Manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve productivity and responsiveness without expanding facilities or significantly increasing staffing. This session presents a practical framework for evaluating automation investments in parts storage and material handling, with a focus on goods-to-person technologies such as Vertical Lift Modules. Real-world manufacturing scenarios will illustrate how traditional storage methods can impact workflows through excessive travel, inefficient space use, and delays in supporting production, as well as how automated storage can address these challenges. Implementation considerations, including operational disruption, user adoption, and integration with existing processes, will also be discussed. Attendees will leave with a clear approach to assessing potential ROI and a practical worksheet they can use to support internal decision-making in their own operations.
