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Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

reuters.com

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Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#11

Post by blakesterz »

rusticpenn wrote: post #7
blakesterz wrote: post #3

"That would amount to more than 1,300 cuts across 55 U.S. fulfillment centers for standard-sized inventory." ... "removing at least 24 roles at each one, these people said. These facilities typically employ more than 2,000 people." I'm surprised that number is so low. There's only a couple dozen people out of 2000+ that actually put orders in boxes?

I guess 24 roles could also mean 24 roles like lead packer, junior packer etc ...

I know almost nothing about how these places work, but I would've thought there would be way more people putting stuff in boxes to ship.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#12

Post by csours »

Is there a field of study associated with job creation?

The answer is not actually obvious. There's a lot of research into efficiency, which is almost synonymous with job destruction.

Edit: Thanks for the answers below. I was thinking of academic areas of research. For example, Macroeconomics, Labor Relations, Governance, Management Theory etc.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#13

Post by richrichardsson »

rusticpenn wrote: post #7
blakesterz wrote: post #3

"That would amount to more than 1,300 cuts across 55 U.S. fulfillment centers for standard-sized inventory." ... "removing at least 24 roles at each one, these people said. These facilities typically employ more than 2,000 people." I'm surprised that number is so low. There's only a couple dozen people out of 2000+ that actually put orders in boxes?

I guess 24 roles could also mean 24 roles like lead packer, junior packer etc ...

It's no stretch to assume by "role" they might mean a job title, and that each role could possibly be being filled by 3 people (3 * 8 hour shifts for a 24 hours continuous operation), so now you're looking at 72 jobs. I've no idea if Amazon does run 24 hour operations though.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#14

Post by CamelCaseName »

About time!

I visited either YYZ4 or YYZ3 a few months ago and I was incredibly disappointed. For a technology company, their warehouses were anything but sophisticated.

Their storage robots were surprisingly lackluster, their outbound/cubiscan conveyor belt was incredibly slow and often stopped.

Of course, I am just an outsider looking in, and I have no visibility into the underlying software that optimizes these process, but when you look at companies with fulfillment tech like JD, you really wonder how Amazon's retail arm is able to survive at all.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#15

Post by zdw »

Video of the CarltonWrap mentioned in the article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1yw05mWnXw

It's actually pretty neat - creates boxes to size on demand.

Doesn't seem like this would be possible with humans at a store, and could really cut down on box inventory.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#16

Post by jcora »

fastball wrote: post #2

Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.

Do you think they're good working conditions?

Also, a pretty large contigent of the left argues for automation.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#18

Post by avgDev »

cheeze wrote: post #9
fastball wrote: post #2

Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.

IMO the best "counterargument" here is that those were jobs which paid folks who then paid into their local economy. That goes away with robots and becomes more revenue. Lots of folks are in favor of a "automation tax." I'm not sure how I feel. Note I'm not arguing these points, but merely pointing them out.

The problem is that as we move forward and keep automating this will become a major issue in our society. I'm not sure if I support automation tax but it makes me uneasy.

I work at a manufacturing company. We are slowly chipping away at data entry, manual processes. It only improves efficiency now, but eventually we will need less people.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#19

Post by liotier »

irrational wrote: post #5

This sounds like good news. I've read lots of negative stories about the working conditions in Amazon warehouses. It would be great if all the jobs could be automated.

> It would be great if all the jobs could be automated

... If all the capital could be distributed.

Re: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

#20

Post by psychometry »

fastball wrote: post #2

Something tells me people will find a way to complain about this. And that those people will be the same people that think Amazon's warehouse policies are oppressive.

Automation isn't the problem. These jobs being lost are terrible and no one should do them.

The problem, as always, is capitalism. Amazon wouldn't be where it is today without its massive workforce, including its army of factory workers. None of the people losing their jobs will benefit from this increase in productivity, though. Those gains will go only to the people at the top. Meanwhile, there will be more competition for the low-level jobs that still exist, creating downward pressure on wages.

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