I figure the locker has cost at least three jobs, all around.
“Understandably, not a “robot” issue—but in the manufacturing facility where I work, there is a (replacement) parts locker where the supervisors can log in, extract a part, and log out.”
When my next to last employer ran their own stockroom they were always coming up short. The inventory would say there were 10 parts and there were none in the bin. The reason was they employed expediters who would get a ladder and climb over the wall to get parts to keep the line going when the stockroom was closed. The more outrageous these got in stealing parts the faster they got promoted. Then, the company outsourced to a different company that wasn’t in the same building. That company was open whenever the main company was building. So, the parts had to be moved the legal way. (The outsourced company got paid based on metrics of never being without a part that was needed.) Problem solved.
My next company also outsourced. There were vending machines all over the plant. An employee swiped their badge and the machine dropped the parts into a bin and the employee opened a door and removed them. The machines were all internet connected and somebody from that company kept them refilled and serviced. It virtually illuminated parts shortages.
The pharmacist at Publix told me that they would eventually close all the Publix store pharmacies and replace them with an automated warehouse that mailed the prescriptions. They’d either go to your house directly, or if a controlled substance would go to a Publix where you’d pick it up from a regular employee. If you have a question you’ll be instantly connected to their English speaking pharmacist in Bangalapore. All those awesome $60,000 pharmacy jobs are about to become a part of history.
I am an old, classic photographer. Darkroom, light meters, filters, special processing, multiple lighting, film knowledge, large-format cameras, the works.
It’s all for naught now. Damn IPhone takes incredible pictures without a glitch.
Now, when someone asks me about wedding photos, I tell them to buy a good camera, good computer, good printer and a good flash unit, spend the rest on your savings on your vacation.