Amazon Robotics

[jesmu84]

Can't say I've ever been inside a warehouse, so maybe this is a pretty typical scene, but those little orange robots were pretty cool

https://www.youtube.com/v/wC4vITSVXoA

[ChicosBailBonds]

Did you read the article yesterday about what it is like to work at Amazon?

Interesting to say the least.


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?_r=0

[jesmu84]

Did you read the article yesterday about what it is like to work at Amazon?

Interesting to say the least.


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?_r=0

Insightful article. Living in Indianapolis, we have access to Amazon Prime Now - 1 hour delivery on some products. HUGE warehouses just outside the city, so inevitably I know of a few people who have tried their hand at working there and hated every second of it. And that was before the same day, 2 hour and now 1 hour delivery times. As a consumer? It's pretty incredible. I remembered I needed some laundry detergent while I was at work, hopped on amazon and purchased, at lower cost than the grocery store down the street, and it was at my apartment when I got home.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I know two execs pretty well in the Seattle offices, one is a former DIRECTV guy from years ago.  Many of these companies it is a different world and if one doesn't like conflict management or has a thin skin, it isn't the right place.

I've seen plenty of crying in my day over the years, but sounds like these guys bring it to an obscene level.

[keefe]

Amazon is not a pleasant place to work.

[mu_hilltopper]

Admittedly, I didn't slog through all 999 pages of these articles ..

But a counterpoint to the NYTimes article..

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/amazonians-response-inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-nick-ciubotariu

[ChicosBailBonds]

Admittedly, I didn't slog through all 999 pages of these articles ..

But a counterpoint to the NYTimes article..

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/amazonians-response-inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-nick-ciubotariu

Thanks...good to see other feedback

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

At a former company, my duties included engineering support for the company warehouse so I had occasional trips to Asheville, NC. 
Interesting how orders, "pick lists" and bar coding and the conveyer systems work.

[jesmu84]

It almost sounds like what I've heard about wall street workers - the intense environment and short stays (not sure if the compensation is the same, but I doubt it).

It's interesting in comparison to medicine (my career field). There's been a big push in the last few years to find the work-life balance, especially toward students. You're expected to do your job well, but also enjoy life outside of work and HAVE a life outside of work. Sounds like the opposite of what Amazon is building.

[mu03eng]

It almost sounds like what I've heard about wall street workers - the intense environment and short stays (not sure if the compensation is the same, but I doubt it).

It's interesting in comparison to medicine (my career field). There's been a big push in the last few years to find the work-life balance, especially toward students. You're expected to do your job well, but also enjoy life outside of work and HAVE a life outside of work. Sounds like the opposite of what Amazon is building.

If the article is true, they are seemingly expanding on the GE model of business.  In the 80s and 90s it was rarer to find a cube/office that didn't have a cot in it than one that did at GE.

I also wonder how that culture vies with Zappo's culture and which one ends up "winning"

http://www.fastcompany.com/1657030/happiness-culture-zappos-isnt-company-its-mission

[mreezybreezy]

Can't say I've ever been inside a warehouse, so maybe this is a pretty typical scene, but those little orange robots were pretty cool

https://www.youtube.com/v/wC4vITSVXoA

This particular system, Kiva, was very popular for a while (we have it at one of our warehouses), but Amazon bought Kiva for $1B for the sole purpose of no one else being able to use the technology. There are other systems like Kiva now but this is more or less regarded as one of the most robust warehouse pick systems.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

If the article is true, they are seemingly expanding on the GE model of business.  In the 80s and 90s it was rarer to find a cube/office that didn't have a cot in it than one that did at GE.

I also wonder how that culture vies with Zappo's culture and which one ends up "winning"

http://www.fastcompany.com/1657030/happiness-culture-zappos-isnt-company-its-mission

I found the article to be pretty crappy; basically hearsay. Might be some truth to it being a demanding workplace, but didn't resonate at all with a family member of mine working in the Seattle office. Bezos' response was dead-on to this hit job.

As for GE, a welcome new policy is offering unlimited vacation time. This is long overdue in jobs where you are measured based on performance. If you can get the job done for the company while taking 3 months off per year, kudos to you.

I'm skepticle that work/life balance can be instituted with a set of rules without damaging a performance culture. Balance for me may not look like balance to anyone else. but give the team the leeway to define their balance for themselves between hours at home and office.

[GOO]

I found the article to be pretty crappy; basically hearsay. Might be some truth to it being a demanding workplace, but didn't resonate at all with a family member of mine working in the Seattle office. Bezos' response was dead-on to this hit job.

As for GE, a welcome new policy is offering unlimited vacation time. This is long overdue in jobs where you are measured based on performance. If you can get the job done for the company while taking 3 months off per year, kudos to you.

I'm skepticle that work/life balance can be instituted with a set of rules without damaging a performance culture. Balance for me may not look like balance to anyone else. but give the team the leeway to define their balance for themselves between hours at home and office.

Agreed. Give me any big organization and some time, and there will be plenty of disgruntled employees and stories.  Especially when only one side is being covered/offered.  Why is this any different than 90% of companies?  It isn't.  Look at Apple or Google and the demands on employees time and dedication, etc.  I don't trust the story, seems like there is no story unless Amazon is portrayed really poorly. 

The NYT's automobile reporter tried to make Tesla look bad, on purpose, and was called on it when Tesla could pull up the data and records of phone calls with the reporter.  The reporter wanted a story, and he wanted a bad one for Tesla and tried to make it happen.  In that case, facts got in the way.  Here, there is no way to get the full picture, but I wonder if Amazon is different than any other major US company or at least the typical US company.  My corporate IT buddies are working constantly, even in higher positions, and I would say are not treated well.  Always on, 24/7, no down time. I could write a negative story with examples of some Milwaukee companies.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agreed. Give me any big organization and some time, and there will be plenty of disgruntled employees and stories.  Especially when only one side is being covered/offered.  Why is this any different than 90% of companies?  It isn't.  Look at Apple or Google and the demands on employees time and dedication, etc.  I don't trust the story, seems like there is no story unless Amazon is portrayed really poorly. 

The NYT's automobile reporter tried to make Tesla look bad, on purpose, and was called on it when Tesla could pull up the data and records of phone calls with the reporter.  The reporter wanted a story, and he wanted a bad one for Tesla and tried to make it happen.  In that case, facts got in the way.  Here, there is no way to get the full picture, but I wonder if Amazon is different than any other major US company or at least the typical US company.  My corporate IT buddies are working constantly, even in higher positions, and I would say are not treated well.  Always on, 24/7, no down time. I could write a negative story with examples of some Milwaukee companies.

I can only go on anecdotal, and in the space I'm in now (which shares space with Amazon), they are not considered a great company to work for.  To each their own.  Apple, people are still killing to work there.  I have a few former Netflixers and Hulu folks in our group, they have interesting stories.  Again, to each their own.