Whether using workcell-based or line-based manufacturing, manufacturers are deploying autonomous tugger trains of carts to transport kits or totes from warehouses or tote supermarkets to lines or workcells.

While autonomous tuggers alleviate the need for a manufacturer to staff tugger drivers and also upskill tugger drivers to handle more complex tasks, there is still labor required to transfer totes from tugger carts to lines or workcells.

This involves either the line or workcell associate to stop working at their station and transfer the kits or totes to replenish materials so that they can continue to work, or hire lower skilled labor to service multiple line positions or workcells. Neither situation is ideal.