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Earth Intelligence

08 Jul 2024 — 5 min read

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Ocado Robotic Wharehouse
Boeing Plea Deal

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Ocado Robotic Wharehouse:

British online supermarket and technology group Ocado announced an expansion of its partnership with Japan's Aeon by planning the construction of a third robotic warehouse. This new customer fulfilment centre (CFC) will be situated in Kuki-Miyashiro, Saitama prefecture, and is slated to become operational in 2027.
This expansion comes as a significant positive move for Ocado, particularly after a setback last month when its Canadian partner, Sobeys, paused the opening of a fourth robotic warehouse, causing Ocado's shares to drop. Ocado's exclusive partnership with Aeon, which started in 2019, has already seen the opening of a CFC in Chiba-city last year to serve the Kanto region. A second CFC, located in Hachioji, is expected to go live in 2026, demonstrating the ongoing commitment between the two companies.
In addition to expanding the network of fulfilment centres, the partnership will also involve upgrading Aeon's existing operations with Ocado's latest technologies. This includes the "On-Grid Robotic Pick" system, which is designed to significantly enhance labour productivity by automating the picking process within the warehouse. This technological upgrade will enable Aeon to improve efficiency and better meet customer demands, highlighting the strategic benefits of the collaboration for both companies.

Boeing Plea Deal:

Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge related to the crashes of its 737 Max planes, as part of a plea deal with the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The two crashes, which occurred in 2018 and 2019, killed more than 300 people. The accidents were caused by a malfunction in the plane's software, known as MCAS, which relied on a single external sensor and was not disclosed to the Federal Aviation Administration, airlines, or pilots. This flaw led to pilots unknowingly battling against MCAS during the fatal flights.
The plea deal, announced just before a midnight deadline, includes up to $487.2 million in additional penalties. Boeing has also agreed to install an independent oversight monitor, spend at least $455 million to improve its compliance and safety programs, and undergo court-supervised probation for the next three years. This agreement allows Boeing to avoid a trial after the DOJ found the company had violated a former settlement from 2021, which had fined Boeing $2.5 billion.
Families of the crash victims plan to object to the deal, criticizing it as a sweetheart deal that fails to hold Boeing sufficiently accountable. Lawyers representing the families argue that the agreement does little to bring about meaningful change within the company. Despite these objections, Boeing's board of directors has agreed to meet with the families as part of the agreement. This development comes amid renewed scrutiny of Boeing following a recent incident involving a 737 Max plane and a subsequent criminal investigation by the DOJ. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is set to step down at the end of the year.

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