Gildan embraces technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), welcoming robots into its Eden, North Carolina, distribution center to help with some of the physical labor required.

The company implemented approximately 19 putaway and picking robots to assist with the transportation of full product cases. The tech addition minimizes the need for workers to move product throughout the warehouse manually, which enhances worker safety, Gildan says.

What the Robots Mean for Gildan

“I’m excited for our distribution teams to engage with this new automation technology,” Bill Griffin, director of distribution operations, says. “In addition to improving operator and facility safety, this technology is expected to improve efficiency and quality of the workflow, firmly supporting the Gildan Sustainable Growth strategy’s three pillars of capacity-driven growth, innovation, and ESG.”

The robots, which Gildan says are “quiet and efficient,” can lift payloads of up to 600 lbs. Working alongside human operators, the cobots (collaborative robots) move cases between carts and designated locations for processing.

“Robot-assisted transportation is an important step towards digitizing, innovating, and optimizing certain components of our distribution processes, enabling us to expand our capabilities and better service our customers,” says Tripp Parks, director of process improvement and project team member of the robotics initiative.

In addition to what Parks mentions, the robots also bring opportunities for employee career development. Gildan offers its employees training to ensure they have the skills required to “engage with the new technology,” not only offering growth opportunities for employees but for Gildan as a whole.

Gildan isn’t the only one getting a little help from their AI friends. In May 2024, S&S Activewear also decided to lean on robots for warehouse automation.