Sam's Club's new California fulfillment center outfitted with integrated automation and robotics will serve as a "blueprint" for future supply-chain innovation, the company said.
Walmart Inc.'s members-only warehouse division opened the facility last month just outside Los Angeles. More than 400 workers were hired to manage the center's operations.
"Fulfillment center roles can be physically demanding, and the work can be repetitive," said Mike Petterborg, the center's general manager. "The technology we have in this building optimizes these processes and helps improve the workload, allowing associates more time to upskill and train for the cutting-edge opportunities Sam's Club has to offer."
Sam's Club said in a news release that the facility will be part traditional fulfillment center and part innovation lab to test new ideas. It's among changes the Bentonville-based company said will help transform its supply chain network as its e-commerce business grows.
"We are constantly working to ensure our fulfillment network -- from logistics to packing to delivery -- stays nimble and resilient," the company said.