During his session at IntraLogisteX Dallas, Sam Frohman, Frito Lay warehouse automation and packaging engineer at PepsiCo, will discuss how the logistics workplace must evolve to adapt to new automated solutions.
With six years of experience, Frohman has led a range of complex system warehouse design and material flow projects across the USA, focusing on integrating automation technologies with existing operations to improve efficiency.
Many of the projects he has worked on have involved introducing automated delivery, storage and shipping solutions, as well as repackaging automation for Frito Lay multipacks. Frito Lay is one of PepsiCo’s major snack brands.
FREE: Register for IntraLogisteX Dallas on 16-17 September 2026
During a session titled ‘The new workforce: where people and automation meet’, Frohman will discuss:
- Warehouse design for interaction, not just automation
- Why automation should be designed to elevate human contribution, not just reduce headcount
- How the ability to shift between humans and automation allows for most resiliency and adaptability to changing warehouse constraints.
Taking place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on 16-17 September, IntraLogisteX Dallas will bring together logistics and supply chain professionals to explore the latest innovations in warehousing, automation, robotics, materials handling and supply chain technology.
Ahead of the event, Logistics Manager caught up with Frohman to discuss the impact of automation on the workforce, the rise of AI and how warehouse operations will need to evolve as technology advances.
What will you be discussing at IntraLogisteX Dallas?
I will be discussing the impact that automation has on the workforce and how the two need to interact to ensure success in the newly automated environment. As technology evolves, the workplace must evolve with it to adapt to work hand in hand with new automation.
Why is this topic particularly important right now?
Automation is here to stay and the companies that can adapt to this new environment will be the most successful. Warehouses must adapt to change and find ways to work seamlessly alongside machines that enable the speed and precision that are required in today’s ever-changing world.
What is the biggest challenge you see logistics and supply chain professionals facing over the next 12 months?
The biggest challenge that we will experience stems from [understanding] new automation and AI tools and putting them into practice before competitors to ensure the success of organisations. Technology is evolving so quickly and staying ahead of it is tougher than ever.
What technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on warehouse operations over the next five years?
AI is the obvious answer here, but it needs to be more detailed than that. Data, machine learning and forecasting enable us to operate faster than we ever have before. The quicker a company learns and implements these technologies, the more impact that AI will have. This will not only impact the work we do but also the labour and skills that are needed by employees, which has already impacted and will continue to impact the workforce.
How should companies approach automation if they are only just beginning their digital transformation?
It doesn’t matter where you start, but you need to start yesterday and start small before expanding. Knowledge of what tools are out there and how to use them is a first big step before implementation. That knowledge will build with time and exposure, enabling companies to continue to adapt and implement further.
What are you most looking forward to at IntraLogisteX Dallas?
I’m most excited to meet others in the automation industry and learn more about what other companies are doing and offering in terms of automation solutions. There are many great solutions out there and given the speed of technology, new automation is being developed each day.
IntraLogisteX is taking place in Dallas in 2026, bringing the industry’s leading trade show & conference to one of North America’s most important logistics hubs.
