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Why Site Walk-Throughs Matter: The Key to Smart Automation Planning
Right now, as I'm writing this, our team is somewhere between a manufacturing facility in Maryland and a distribution center in New York. We're in week two of what we're calling our "East Coast swing": a four-week marathon of site visits across Georgia, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, including visits as far as Texas. My boots are scuffed, my notebook is full, and my phone battery dies twice a day from taking photos and videos. But here's the thing: every

John Stikes
4 days ago5 min read
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From Hesitant to Hands-On: What to Expect When You Start with Approach Automation
Let's be honest, thinking about implementing flexible automation systems can feel overwhelming. Maybe you've been putting off that conversation about industrial automation because you're not sure where to start, worried about costs, or concerned about disrupting your current operations. If that sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone. Here's the thing: almost every client who walks through our doors (virtually or physically) starts with some level of hesitation. They're

John Stikes
Oct 295 min read
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Flexible Automation Systems: Why Adaptability Beats Big-Bang Automation for Growing Businesses
Picture this: You're the operations manager at a mid-sized electronics manufacturer. Business is booming, demand is unpredictable, and you're getting pressure from above to "automate something, anything!" The automation consultant shows up with a fancy presentation about a $2 million system that'll revolutionize your entire warehouse. It looks impressive, but there's one problem: it's designed for exactly what you're doing today, not what you might be doing in two years when

John Stikes
Oct 245 min read
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Analysis Paralysis to Automation Success: How U.S. Companies Can Get Unstuck (and Outpace the Competition)
Remember that wake-up call we talked about? China installing 295,000 industrial robots versus our measly 34,000? Well, here's the thing: it's not just about the numbers. It's about what's happening behind those numbers:Â decision paralysis . I've seen it countless times. A manufacturing director gets excited about warehouse automation after seeing what their competitor down the road accomplished. They start researching collaborative robots, dive deep into automated storage an

John Stikes
Oct 207 min read
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295,000 vs 34,000: How China's Robot Revolution Affects Your Industrial Automation Strategy
"If we lose this, we do not have a future at Ford." Those weren't the words of a panicked executive facing quarterly losses: they came from Ford CEO Jim Farley after visiting China's highly automated "dark factories" in October 2025. Farley's brutal assessment, reported by The Telegraph , Futurism , and InvestingLive , came after witnessing factories operating with minimal human staff and robot deployment rates that left him calling the experience "the most humbling thing" he

John Stikes
Oct 185 min read
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The Quiet Revolution: How Simple Automation Workflows Are Transforming Operations for Small Businesses
Something's happening in factories, warehouses, and small businesses across America. It's not making headlines or trending on social...

John Stikes
Oct 105 min read
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Embracing Variability: How Flexible Automation Solves the Chaos of Daily Logistics
If you've ever managed a warehouse or distribution center, you know the truth that keeps operations managers up at night: no two days are...

John Stikes
Oct 56 min read
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Approach Automation: Building Flexible, Cross-Industry Automation Solutions
Centrally located in Griffin GA we are ready to support your business quickly and efficiently. In today’s rapidly shifting technological...

John Stikes
Sep 292 min read
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Orchestrating End-to-End Supply Chains: Insights from MHI’s 2025 Annual Industry Report
It is an exciting time to see how our industry is growing and changing with technology. Setting the Stage The 2025 MHI Annual Industry...

John Stikes
Sep 102 min read
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The Future of Sortation Equipment: What the STIQ 2025 Report Means for Flexible Automation
One of our partners Rapyuta Robotics builds a great sortation environment The world of sortation equipment is at a pivotal moment. After...

John Stikes
Sep 92 min read
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From De Minimis to Domestic: How Global Trade Shifts Are Accelerating Warehouse Automation in North America
Robots do a great job of managing the process to augment and amplify warehouse labor The abrupt removal of the U.S. de minimis...

John Stikes
Sep 83 min read
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Georgia: The Gateway to Global Logistics Growth
When it comes to global trade and supply chain competitiveness, Georgia has established itself as a true logistics powerhouse. With...

John Stikes
Sep 52 min read
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Labor Day: How Robotics Augments & Amplifies Human Labor
The best way for automation to work is to augment and amplify what people do to create value! As we celebrate Labor Day , we honor the...

John Stikes
Sep 12 min read
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Hotels That Flow: Moving Goods and Cleaning Spaces When Labor Is Tight
The hospitality sector is a fantastic place to adopt technology. There are fantastic ways to bridge technology and the human touch which...

John Stikes
Aug 292 min read
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Assisted Living Logistics: Safer, Cleaner, and On-Time Material Flow
Material Flow is the backbone of any operation. Working with the residents, staff, and technology provider is so important to improving...

John Stikes
Aug 282 min read
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Actions That Drive Evolution in Supply Chain & Material Handling
Actions That Drive Evolution in Supply Chain & Material Handling The 2025 MHI Annual Industry Report makes it clear: supply chain...

John Stikes
Aug 271 min read
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Stop Doing Science Projects: The 90-Day Pilot-to-Program Playbook for Automation
Start fast with a clear objective and it keeps pilots from dragging out too long Why pilots stall (and how to avoid it) Great demos die...

John Stikes
Aug 272 min read
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Bridging the Talent Gap in 2025: Practical Ways to Modernize Without Leaving People Behind
People and machines working together should be the way the industry progresses. If your operations team feels squeezed by rising demand...

John Stikes
Aug 263 min read
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Manufacturing Momentum: Why 2025 Is the Year to Modernize with Practical Automation
We love strategizing for future growth and innovation. If your ops team has been waiting for a clear signal to automate, it just flashed...

John Stikes
Aug 252 min read
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Linen Flow, Reimagined: How Hotels Move More With Fewer Hands
Augmenting staff with automation helps manage the increasing workload on staff while allowing them to focus on high touch value added...

John Stikes
Aug 232 min read
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