There is a fulfillment center 17 miles from me but apparently they don't do tours. Closest one offering a tour is a couple hours away.
Just curious... Anyone do one?
Endeavor to persevere.
August 03, 2019, 08:58 PM
StorminNormin
Nope, never even thought about it. I imagine it is pretty interesting. I have been in some major company distribution centers and it is pretty impressive how it all works.
NRA Benefactor Life Member
August 03, 2019, 09:25 PM
Black92LX
Been inside our local one on numerous occasions. Pretty wild operations. I was unaware they did tours.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
August 04, 2019, 06:05 AM
jigray3
I've met a few pickers who fulfill orders and I'm told they generally walk more than 12-15 miles a day, sometimes 20.
"We have a system that increasingly taxes work, and increasingly subsidizes non-work" - Milton Friedman
August 04, 2019, 08:26 AM
Skins2881
I've toured the local ones while doing electrical repairs inside of them. Pretty impressive, but I wouldn't make a day trip out of it or anything. I think it would be cool if they went into logistics, sensors, tech, and software they use.
If you've ever been in a FexEx processing center it looks very much the same, but newer and shinier. The only thing that surprised me is that they don't stock any stuff at the hub.
They are hiring at the one down the street from me. No A/C moving packages all day, no thanks.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis
August 04, 2019, 08:41 AM
Fredward
I managed a contract crew for their perimeter security for a while. It was impressive inside. It appeared to be more secure than several prisons I had worked in.
August 04, 2019, 08:54 AM
Jimbo54
They are building one in the Spokane area that is 2,600,000 sq feet. It is HUGE! That's the equivalent of 45 football fields. It would take weeks to see the whole thing.
Jim
________________________
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll have to be a horrible warning" -Catherine Aird
August 04, 2019, 09:00 AM
Beancooker
I’ve been to many warehouses. From 99 cent only, Cheney Brothers, Sheetz, Safeway, UPS, Tommy Bahama, Amazon, etc.
While everyone has pretty great technology, Amazon has the capital to go above and beyond. It is a quite amazing operation and the (formerly known as) Kiva Systems is pretty cool.
The only place that is more automated and sophisticated is the UPS Worldport Hub at the Louisville Airport. It has over 150 miles of conveyor, and everything is automated. They process millions of packages per day. It’s quite awesome to see and experience. If you’re in the SCS world, it is what Supply Chain dreams are made of.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
August 04, 2019, 10:10 AM
Skins2881
quote:
Originally posted by Fredward: I managed a contract crew for their perimeter security for a while. It was impressive inside. It appeared to be more secure than several prisons I had worked in.
Fulfillment centers are not secure locations, some you can walk right in, some have a security desk that opens a door and you sign in. Are you sure it wasn't a AWS (Amazon Web Services) location. Those are secured facilities.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis
August 04, 2019, 10:52 AM
Black92LX
quote:
Originally posted by Skins2881:
quote:
Originally posted by Fredward: I managed a contract crew for their perimeter security for a while. It was impressive inside. It appeared to be more secure than several prisons I had worked in.
Fulfillment centers are not secure locations, some you can walk right in, some have a security desk that opens a door and you sign in. Are you sure it wasn't a AWS (Amazon Web Services) location. Those are secured facilities.
He and I are likely discussing the same facility and it is a fulfillment center and it far from a simple security desk with a sign in sheet I can promise you that. There is no simply just entering and walking around the facility that is for sure.
———————————————— The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad. If we got each other, and that's all we have. I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand. You should know I'll be there for you!
August 04, 2019, 01:32 PM
ZSMICHAEL
I did see a televised program on the UPS center in Louisville. Explained logistics, technology etc. Interesting.
August 04, 2019, 01:41 PM
Fredward
Yeah, Black, I think we are. I have been to both of the Lexington locations. The entry gate is an 8 foot tall revolving grill. All entering have to empty their pockets, and many items are prohibited. Metal detection coming and going. It was pretty awesome. I have also been to a number of data farms and call centers, their security is at a much lower level.
I seem to see them pretty fairly often lately on social media, public relations push?
Endeavor to persevere.
August 04, 2019, 03:10 PM
Skins2881
quote:
Originally posted by Fredward: Yeah, Black, I think we are. I have been to both of the Lexington locations. The entry gate is an 8 foot tall revolving grill. All entering have to empty their pockets, and many items are prohibited. Metal detection coming and going. It was pretty awesome. I have also been to a number of data farms and call centers, their security is at a much lower level.
Complete opposite here, strange. AWS super secure, all but one of the fulfillment centers around here most are just walk in. Only one has a buzzer door for guests (Alexandria/Springfield one, I think). Never have I been asked to empty my pockets.
In general I am always surprised how I can just walk into places that normally would be off limits to customers and no one questions me at all just because I am wearing a shit with company name on it and carrying tools.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis
August 04, 2019, 03:48 PM
C-Dubs
I did a stint at a huge warehouse picking orders. It was 52 acres of inside storage, along with a few hundred thousand square feet of outside storage. They had many of the same items in use...little autonomous trains inside that followed a cable in the floor, just punch in the destination and let it go. Also had a robotic picker. Punch in what part you needed and the quantity, and it took about a minute to return it to you. We used picking carts, and towed a little trailer. We'd typically drive between 15 to 20 miles per day inside.
After a year and a half of doing that, I really have no desire to tour a fulfillment center, even though we've got one here in town.
If you haven't seen a huge, efficient warehouse in action, you should enjoy it. Just wouldn't want to work at one again.
“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
August 04, 2019, 06:10 PM
Scuba Steve Sig
August 04, 2019, 07:42 PM
Beancooker
quote:
Originally posted by C-Dubs: I did a stint at a huge warehouse picking orders. It was 52 acres of inside storage, along with a few hundred thousand square feet of outside storage. They had many of the same items in use...little autonomous trains inside that followed a cable in the floor, just punch in the destination and let it go. Also had a robotic picker. Punch in what part you needed and the quantity, and it took about a minute to return it to you. We used picking carts, and towed a little trailer. We'd typically drive between 15 to 20 miles per day inside.
After a year and a half of doing that, I really have no desire to tour a fulfillment center, even though we've got one here in town.
If you haven't seen a huge, efficient warehouse in action, you should enjoy it. Just wouldn't want to work at one again.
Yep, I managed one for 15 years. No desire to tour another one. That said, I’d go back to the Worldhub again. That was super cool.
quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey: I'd fly to Turks and Caicos with live ammo falling out of my pockets before getting within spitting distance of NJ with a firearm.
