Tompkins Robotics
How Walgreens is Leveraging Robotics to
Foster an Inclusive Workforce
In the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, the pharma-fill industry is integral in ensuring that medications and healthcare products are efficiently distributed from manufacturers to pharmacies and ultimately to individuals like you. This industry is the center of a complex distribution network that enables patients to thrive. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are at the center of these operations, delivering unparalleled precision and efficiency to order fulfillment in pharma-fill locations.
Walgreens, an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader, honors an ongoing commitment to providing exceptional health and wellness products and services. With a history of innovation and customer-focused solutions, they continue to set the standard in the pharmaceutical and retail industry.
Enhancing community beyond operations, Walgreens fosters a workplace culture where diversity, equity and inclusion are at the center of everything they do. These initiatives were originally cultivated by Randy Lewis, former SVP of Supply Chain Logistics for Walgreens. Randy set out on a mission to use power for good; with a workforce of 10,000 people, he recognized the immense potential for affecting change. Over the next 21 years, Randy led the effort to create jobs for thousands of individuals with disabilities.
Walgreens Boots Alliance continues to deliver on its commitment to being the first choice for pharmacy, retail and health services. They recognize the correlation between employee wellness and the business' overall health and work hard to acknowledge the individual needs, challenges, hopes and dreams of each team member.
Their impact on the workforce does not go unnoticed. In the last eight years, Walgreens has scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index and was named Disability: IN’s Employer of the year for 2023.
Walgreens collaborates with various accessibility organizations, such as DiscoverAbility and Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to create employment opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities. During the set-up of their Orlando micro-fulfillment center, they consulted with experts to identify specific roles and tasks suitable for employees of varying abilities. They discovered that the Tompkins Robotics’ tSort system offered a user-friendly solution for visually impaired employees, enabling six visually impaired team members to contribute to a more efficient workplace in Orlando.
A New Endeavor- Two Employees’ Reintroduction into the Workforce
Rodney and Michael crossed paths at Lighthouse, each embodying a spirit of resilience and a determination to contribute. Rodney, an engineer by trade, worked as a welder and fabricator for 30 years before gradually losing his vision in both eyes. He was grappling with how to move forward. After completing mobility training at Lighthouse, he heard about the Walgreens opportunity for visually impaired employees- one he knew could help others as well. He spread this positive outlook with others through the program, including Michael.
Michael, an entrepreneur, owned and operated a successful janitorial business before a vehicle accident left him visually impaired. After struggling to adapt to his new reality, he sought support and was encouraged by other members of the visually impaired community. Meeting Rodney marked a turning point as they were able to bond over their shared experiences, and with his guidance, Michael was able to explore the new opportunities at Walgreens.
Michael and Rodney are proof that life’s obstacles don’t have to limit an individual’s potential. As Rodney stated, “Just because we lost one sense, does not mean we cannot use the other four.” People of all abilities yearn to contribute in a meaningful way, and their journeys exemplify the value of inclusive workplaces provided by the Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Where Automation and Accommodations Meet
In 2021, Tompkins Robotics and Walgreens began working together to improve inventory management and automate the sortation process across their micro-fulfillment centers. The collaboration between Tompkins Robotics and Walgreens has flourished over the last three years, resulting in the deployment of over 1,900 autonomous mobile robots across eight nationwide sites, including 179 at the warehouse in Orlando.
The Walgreens Orlando central-fill facility opened in January 2023 with Tompkins Robotics tSort system in place to process orders accurately and efficiently. As equipment usage evolved over the first year of operation, visually impaired inductors recognized additional opportunities for advanced improvements and requested a notification to confirm when bags were successfully scanned when placing them on the robots.
Tompkins Robotics was able to quickly implement an audible indicator to improve the process for the operators.
A Future Where Inclusivity Enhances Productivity
As Walgreens continues to champion accessibility and inclusivity within healthcare supply chain logistics, the industry is being improved by individuals like Rodney and Michael through their contributions and feedback. Their stories serve as inspiration for organizations worldwide to find the intersection of innovation and accessibility to create a thriving sustainable workforce.
One thing Rodney and Michael both agree on is that Walgreens is an enriching place to work. Michael expresses his appreciation for the opportunity by stating, “It's a very comfortable and beautiful place to work at. No matter what condition you are in, they'll find a job for you. I don't feel like I’m visually impaired here. I feel like I'm one of the team members.” Rodney shares his sentiment, “I’m very happy that Walgreens gives this opportunity to people like us with disabilities. I feel so enlightened to know that people appreciate me even though my eyes don’t work.”
To learn more about how you can hire and empower people with differing abilities read more about the Walgreens Boots Alliance initiatives and their partner organization DiscoverAbility.