Robots go to Work Sorting Medical Devices

Boston Scientific Corp. has chosen Kiva to automate two key distribution centers in the United States and Europe, according to a news release from Kiva Systems. The medical device manufacturer was seeking a warehouse automation solution that would help ensure maximum reliability while maintaining the rigorous product and inventory control that exists today.

According to the multi-year agreement signed today, Boston Scientific will use the Kiva Mobile Robotic Fulfillment System to automate the storage and order fulfillment of Boston Scientific products at its Netherlands and New England distribution centers

“Other material handling approaches would have required us to integrate different technologies to handle units, cases and pallets, as well as a wide range of product sizes,” says Ken Pucel, executive vice president, operations at Boston Scientific. “Kiva is able to provide us a proven solution with the flexibility and ease-of-use of a single technology for our needs.”

Kiva’s innovative approach to order fulfillment uses hundreds of mobile robotic drive units that bring inventory directly to workers, allowing easy and efficient access to all inventory items at all times. Elimination of operator walking and waiting enables worker productivity that may be significantly higher than with other automated systems. Because all the system components are mobile and modular, a Kiva-equipped distribution center has considerable flexibility when adding new products or expanding throughput—without disrupting ongoing operations.

“While order accuracy is important to both economics and customer satisfaction for all businesses, it is obviously even more critical for medical devices,” says Mick Mountz, CEO, Kiva. “In that context, Boston Scientific’s decision to adopt Kiva at two large distribution centers confirms the experience of many others: that automation using mobile robots is the most accurate and reliable order fulfillment solution available today.”