AMHSA is committed to promoting excellence in the automated material handling industry in terms of solutions, after sales support, reliability and safety. AMHSA promotes the interests of its members, defines and upholds best practice in the industry and aims to be a leading example of excellence.
President of AMHSA
Hilton Campbell, MD of Interroll UK and the President of AMHSA talks to Warehouse & Logistics News.
Congratulations on being elected President of AMHSA. How do you feel about your appointment?
I am excited about what can be achieved. There is a great deal of value we can bring to the industry, particularly when it comes to helping smaller and medium sized businesses access the benefits of automation. I want AMHSA to become the loudest and most authoritative voice in the industry.
What qualities or experiences do you believe you can bring to this role?
I have 27 years’ experience in the automated material handling industry, beginning in South Africa and continuing in the UK since 1998.
I’ve worked with the full range of customers on projects of every scale, which has given me a clear understanding of the challenges businesses face when considering automation, as well as the strong appetite that exists and the scale of the opportunities ahead.
My work with Interroll also gives me access to an international community within the industry, which brings valuable insight and perspective that I can share.
What are your primary goals and aspirations for this role?
My ambition is to grow the membership. We currently have just over 70 members and I want to increase it to more than 100.
I also want to help prepare the industry for the next generation by focusing on training and on transferring skills and experience to young people.
We are well represented on various committees and forums coming to industry standards, and I want to ensure we do even more. I want our members to directly benefit from the expert contributions we make to the forums,
Finally, I want AMHSA to be the first point of contact for any company exploring or considering automation in material handling, whether it is beginning its automation journey or developing higher levels of sophistication systems.
What are the main benefits of becoming a member of AMHSA?
Members gain access to a strong professional network, along with opportunities to enter new markets. They benefit from training, the chance to help shape the voice of the industry, and our close partnership with the European Materials Handling Federation. Above all, membership represents excellent value for money.
Which innovations in the automated materials handling sector do you find most promising or transformative?
There remains significant scope to reduce manual labour across the distribution network in a responsible way. Picking is a key focus because it still relies heavily on people due to the accuracy required, which makes it a major cost centre. There is a tremendous excitement around AMRs in the automated supply chain space – its early adoption has been exciting and lucrative but continues to gain momentum.
Cutting edge automation can also deliver meaningful reductions in energy use, offering financial and environmental gains.
Predictive maintenance has already improved productivity by cutting unplanned downtime and will only become more effective as systems become smarter and more connected.
Advances in scalability, modularity and open-source software are making the industry more agile, which is essential in an unpredictable market.
There is also considerable innovation in packaging as producers look for sustainability improvements by reducing wasted space and avoiding unnecessary transportation of air or water.
In your view, what are the most significant challenges currently facing the industry?
Uncertainty in demand is a major issue. Forecasting has become harder as planning horizons shorten. International markets are shifting faster than ever and businesses are questioning offshoring and shoring as strategies. This uncertainty makes investment more difficult, which is why scalable and modular solutions are becoming essential.
What impact do you anticipate artificial intelligence will have on the future of automated materials handling?
Smart technologies such as digitalisation, connectivity and machine vision will continue to play an important role. That said, I believe the impact of true artificial intelligence on the shop floor will be relatively limited. Its greatest influence will be felt at a higher level, in areas such as enterprise resource planning, demand modelling and forecasting. The term artificial intelligence is currently applied to almost any software led development, but there are signs that an AI bubble may be forming.
Can you talk me through AMHSA’s pillars?
AMHSA is built on three key pillars, each supported by its own steering committee. They are:
Training. AMHSA provides impartial, expert guidance and information on automation technologies and trends.
Networking and promotion. We bring our members together to collaborate for the good of the industry and build strong relationships.
Standards. This sits at the heart of everything we do. We promote best practice and stay at the forefront of technical knowledge across the supply chain.
Do you plan to encourage AMHSA members to adopt and promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility initiatives?
We are member led in this area, but there is a clear trend across the market. Many businesses now require their suppliers to demonstrate strong environmental, sustainability and governance credentials. This makes it a business-critical issue for many of our members. The challenge is to meet these expectations while remaining competitive.
What lasting impact or legacy do you aspire to leave following your tenure as AMHSA President?
A central aim is to ensure that every member, whether large or small, is able to access the full range of benefits we offer. I want to make sure the organisation is strong enough to thrive for at least another forty years. Bringing in the next generation and sharing our passion and expertise is the key to making that possible.
AMHSA
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