What Is Material Handling?
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Material handling, comprised of two words material and handling, is a process of transporting raw materials from their original location to the production units, moving them through the production line, and subsequently transferring the finished product from factories and distributing them to users or sales outlets.
An efficient material and handling process is a part of the company’s supply chain management, impacting the supply of material at different stages of production, manufacturing, and logistics. Further, it improves customer satisfaction by eliminating inventory bottlenecks, optimizing transportation time, and making products easily available.?
What Are the Different Types of Material Handling Systems?
After discussing the definition let us now look at what differentiates one type of handling method from the other.?
To begin with, the three most common methods to shift goods and materials used in warehouses include manual, mechanical, and automated.
1. Manual Handling
?As the name suggests, manual handling depends primarily on the human workforce. In comparison to automation, manual shifting is affordable, which is why many small businesses rely on the manual method.
Manual is the most common method used for lightweight materials in small quantities. Manual handling typically involves human labor and equipment, like trucks, forklifts, pallet jacks, etc.?
2. Mechanical Handling
Mechanical handling uses machines, like conveyor belts, cranes, and hoists for material shifting. The mechanical method is often used for shiting heavy material in bulk, significantly improving the efficiency of the entire process.??
However, setting up the infrastructure facilitating mechanical material movement involves significant investment in heavy machines like conveyor belts and is often time-consuming.?
3. Automated Handling
An Automated Storage & Retrieval System uses the most advanced technologies, such as robotics and guided vehicles. Using automation, businesses can move goods of different sizes and volumes faster. The automated handling method is highly customizable and can be tailored to the specific needs of the business.?
Companies can opt for any of these types or apply a combination depending on their project requirements, quantity, type of material, warehouse size, and time.
What Is Material Handling Equipment?
Simply put, material handling equipment refers to any machine used in a commercial space to move, store, protect, and manage raw materials or finished goods for simplicity and smooth operation of the supply chain. Equipment helps automate the process and makes it faster, which otherwise would have required a lot of manual labor.
What Are the Types of Material Handling Equipment?
?Trucks, forklifts, and racks are some common types of material handling equipment. Because of the wide variety of tools and machines used for moving material in factories, they are categorized into four types for simplicity of understanding: storage and handling equipment, industrial trucks, bulk movement equipment, and engineered systems.?
Here is a table to explain the different categories of equipment used in warehouses :
Storage and Handling Equipment
Storage and handling equipment temporarily stores your inventory and materials when they are not in use. You can use this equipment in your warehouse for organization, space optimization, and to prevent product damages or losses.?
Common storage tools are:
Industrial Trucks and Machines
Material shifting equipment such as industrial trucks facilitates transportation from one location to another. These can be manually operated trucks or motorized vehicles like forklifts. Industrial trucks usually carry material in bulk, ensuring speedy and safe transportation of material and inventories.?
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Common examples of industrial types of material handling equipment are:
Bulk Shifting Tools
Bulk material shifting equipment – the types of material handling equipment – is the best bet for moving material in large volumes. These are equipment designed to carry large volume and weight. You can use these machines within the warehouse space or outdoors, depending on your requirements.?
The bulk shiting equipment includes:??
Engineered System
Engineered systems use automated equipment and machines for moving material within or outside the factory. These machines include warehouse robots, Automatic storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), palletizers, and others. Engineered systems significantly reduce manual involvement and improve the speed and accuracy of the process.
What Are the Key Principles of Material Handling??
When setting a process, it is important to standardize it for the best outcome. These key principles are set by the industry exponents to make the process smooth. You must evaluate your requirements in advance and lay out a plan before starting. Making efforts to plan and standardize the process will contribute to long-term savings.??
The key principles of material shifting include the following. These form the basis of building a process to improve speed, accuracy, and efficiency.?
1. Strategy Planning for Material Movement
It requires determining the best way to move material to ensure the process is safe and efficient. The process focuses on analyzing requirements, evaluating the existing facilities, and designing the layout. Businesses can develop tailored processes to meet specific needs and challenges.?
Material planning as a part of an extended warehouse management system helps maximize labor and space utilization.?
2. Formulating Standard Procedure
Standardization ensures that the same process and equipment are followed for similar tasks. Setting standards enhances coordination among departments, minimizes errors, and improves overall productivity.???
To achieve the goal of standardization one must focus on identifying and grouping similar tasks and testing the viability of the process.?
3. Planning Work Process
A higher involvement of human labor in material shifting increases the chances of workplace injuries. Planning the work for the best combination of manual and automation processes aims to reduce the involvement of manual labor and optimize process automation.?
4. Introducing Ergonomics
Ergonomic designs of the workplace make it safe for workers and reduce work-related injuries. As a part of material shifting, ergonomics promotes the utilization of machines and equipment to reduce workplace strain and fatigue.
5. Optimizing Space Utilization
If you are running a business you need to build or rent a warehouse to store your goods and material. These warehouse spaces charge a premium. Space optimization as a part of warehouse management, optimizes space utilization policy including maximizing the available space for storage.???
6. Process Automation?
Automation improves productivity, reduces labor costs, and makes the process more efficient. Process automation using robotics, conveyors, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) significantly increases the output of an existing system and lifts overall productivity.?