Safety is paramount in the supply chain sector. As shipping routes get busier and demands rise, far too many companies overlook critical safety measures in a rush to move products to downstream partners. Thankfully, new technologies can help.
Innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly commonplace across supply chains. Capitalizing on such technologies can both boost efficiency and ensure stable cargo for safer journeys. The first step is learning about what innovations are available in the industry.
AI Loading Solutions
Uneven loads are a common hazard. Rollovers account for 50% of all fatalities in large truck accidents, and excess weight on one side can increase capsizing risks in a severe storm. Improper weight distribution makes such incidents far more likely, but AI loading solutions can prevent this risk.
Machine learning models can analyze upcoming shipments and compare their size and weight to various vessel capacities within a fleet. They can then determine which cargo should go in which ships to balance efficiency with safe loading, preventing excess weight or dangerous mass distribution.
Some businesses have begun using AI-powered automated loading robots and other such innovations. These analyze each package to determine the best way to place it within a shipping container for weight and capacity. By automating the process, organizations significantly reduce the risk of human error, in turn preventing slippage or toppling on a ship’s deck while on choppy waters.
Automated Packing Systems
Similar solutions can address weight distribution on a single pallet scale. Manual approaches to palletization can lead to top-heavy bundles, leaning stacks or loosely wrapped boxes, all of which increase slipping risks, especially on rough seas. Preventing such mistakes minimizes the chances of damage to products.
Robotic palletizing systems cannot get distracted and apply the same precision to each load. As a result, they’re more likely to produce consistently weighted and wrapped pallets, minimizing slippage or toppling risks. Today’s robotic palletizers can also manage capacities of up to 500 kilograms, making them applicable even in high-volume, heavy pallet applications.
IoT Maintenance Sensors
Keeping the ships themselves in reliable condition is another important but easily overlooked part of shipping safety. IoT sensors can help by tracking vehicle health factors in real time to alert technicians of upcoming repair needs before they cause larger issues.
Safety-affecting maintenance concerns can be difficult to spot before they’re too late. For example, imbalanced tires become noticeable because they cause vibrations and bumps, but there is already significant uneven tread wear at that point.
A ship’s onboard fire suppression systems may break without crews noticing, as they only perform their primary function in an emergency.
An IoT sensor can detect off-balanced and unevenly worn tires by detecting subtle level changes, letting teams rebalance them before they rattle and potentially hinder safe driving. Likewise, IoT solutions can identify pipeline issues within a sprinkler system or notice unusual noises and vibrations in a ship’s engine room. Crews can then fix such issues before they cause larger problems at sea.
IoT Cargo Sensors
The IoT is also a useful way to monitor loads in real time. In-container sensors can track factors like movement, vibration or heat to warn operators when the cargo itself showcases warning signs of a larger problem. The crew can then respond to the issue and secure their payload before it causes any damage.
Maintaining optimal conditions for lithium-ion batteries is a particularly advantageous use case for this technology. Lithium batteries are among the most common causes of fires on container ships, which can quickly damage the vessel itself and other nearby cargo. An IoT solution can alert crews of physical shocks or excess temperatures that may make these fires more likely, leading them to take action before an incident occurs.
Software Automation
Some technologies have a less direct impact on cargo safety but are still worth considering. Software automation — including automatic regulatory compliance checks, scheduling and load calculations — may seem unrelated to safety at first but can significantly impact risk management.
Human error in any of these categories can lead to shipping loads that fail to meet acceptable safety standards. By automating them, enterprises can ensure every shipment is up to code, even when working quickly. Automation also ensures workers have more time and less severe workloads, helping them focus, which, in turn, leads to fewer mistakes.
New Technology and Innovation Makes Shipping Safer
While efficiency is crucial in today’s logistics industry, it must never come at the cost of safety. Shipping companies can uphold both if they capitalize on new technologies.
AI, robotics, and the IoT are innovations can improve safety and productivity in many applications across the supply chain. Acting on this potential today will help businesses remain competitive without sacrificing workers’ well-being in the future.
