Automation isn’t always about replacing humans with machines. In fact, recent advances in industrial technology are allowing them to work side by side.

In this episode of the podcast, Julie Shah describes the work her team is doing on “scheduling the choreography of robots” in factories and distribution centers. She heads up the Interactive Robotics Group at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab.

In the past, Shah says, robots and people often have had to be segregated in industrial environments, for reasons of safety and efficiency. Now they can function in much closer quarters, thanks to new safety features and algorithms that manage changes in the production line with maximum efficiency. It’s all about “understanding where people provide the most value,” she says. Hosted by Bob Bowman, Managing Editor of SupplyChainBrain.

Look for the next episode of the podcast, which can be downloaded or streamed, every Friday on the SupplyChainBrain website.

Show notes:

An MIT report on “Robot 101: Learning to Work With Humans”.

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