Material Handling Management articles from April 2008

Material Handling Management archives from April 2008

Meeting at the crossroads: man/machine intersection: if a company wants to create a more ergonomically sound workplace, it should start by asking the employees what's needed.(Special Feature)(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scott Lawson, president, Scott Lawson Group Limited, Concord, N.H., has a rough definition of ergonomic problems: It's people making bad decisions about how to do their jobs properly and safely--therefore, they hurt...

Room for improvement: over the past decade, the field of logistics has undergone an unprecedented level of upheaval and transition.(Information Management)
April 1, 2008... Look beyond the surface of the dramatic transformation in logistics, and you'll discover one recent 'trend' that is anything but new and just as likely to be earning praise 10 years from now: supply chain optimization. [ILLUSTRATION...

Knowledge is power: there's a difference between operating a fleet of material handling equipment and managing it. Managing a fleet means having the right information and then acting on it. Here's how one company does it.(Powered Vehicles)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On average, only 20% of the total cost of a lift truck can be attributed to the purchase price, while 80% is operating cost, said John Russian, manager of fleet marketing at Hyster Co., at the company's FleetSmart...

Ergonomics, packaging go hand-n-truck: a product-delivery challenge can be an opportunity to excel for employees.(Transport Packaging)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom Lund is a quiet kind of guy. He looks for solutions to problems at work, even while on vacation. He's the area leader of dock operations at PGT Industries, Sarasota, Fla., a manufacturer of impact-resistant...

Add value to your business by adding value to others: encouraging employees to look outside the four walls of a business can be educational, rewarding and a way to add value inside the business, as well.(Value-Added Award)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each year, the editors of Material Handling Management solicit names of Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) members who demonstrate exceptional skill in adding value to clients' businesses....

Five costly mistakes.(Voices of Industry)
April 1, 2008... While Workers' Compensation Managed Care (WCMCO) is widely viewed as a means of controlling expenses, the results are sometimes different. Here are five common mistakes that are often made when working with WCMCOs. 1. Employers assume the...

So, what's the answer?(Witt's End)
April 1, 2008... An interesting item on the agenda for the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) convention next month caught my eye. It's an education workshop session entitled "Differentiate or Die," presented by Sam Geist. He's not an...

Trendy topics.(Transport Packaging)
April 1, 2008... I recently spent a few days in Charlotte at the MHIA Spring Meetings. I had been asked to participate in a panel discussion focused on trends in automation. At a couple of the event's networking sessions, discussions about other trends in...

The human touch.(World of Difference)
April 1, 2008... Readers tell me they're concerned about finding people to work in their facilities. And for good reason. By 2010, there will be a 10 million worker shortfall, according to John Nofsinger, chief executive officer of the Material Handling...

First U.S. roof lease for solar panel installation.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DENVER -- ProLogis, a global owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, announced that it has entered into an agreement to lease roof space to Southern California Edison (SCE), the largest electric...

Fuel-Cell Conference focuses on lift trucks.(Industry News)(Conference news)
April 1, 2008... GREENVILLE, S.C. -- FuelCellSouth will hold its fifth annual Southeastern Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Conference Apr. 28-30 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Greenville, S.C. The conference theme this year is "Fuel Cell Markets: Here and Now." The...

Methanol fuel cell for lift trucks.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... FREMONT, Calif. -- Oorja Protonics, a developer and manufacturer of fuel cells, launched its new direct methanol fuel-cell technology. According to the company, direct methanol fuel cells eliminate barriers associated with hydrogen fuel-cell...

Siemens, RIT announce partnership.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... ATLANTA & ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. announced a new research and education partnership. Siemens is donating $250,000 in hardware, software and monetary contributions to RIT's...

Clark names Dealers of Excellence.(VENDOR NEWS)
April 1, 2008... LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Clark Material Handling Co. has announced its top North American Dealers for 2007. Ogden Forklifts from Atlanta is the Dealer of the Year. This award is given once a year, as chosen by the staff and employees of Clark...

Lantech offers educational podcasts.(VENDOR NEWS)
April 1, 2008... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Lantech NOW audio and video podcasts, from Lantech Inc., include in-depth interviews, a how-to series and much more relating to transport packaging solutions. The podcasts dig into the topics impacting day-to-day operations...

Genco exec earns industry award.(VENDOR NEWS)(Genco Marketplace)(Brief article)
April 1, 2008... PITTSBURGH -- Bob Auray, president and chief executive officer of Genco Marketplace, has been awarded the 2008 Distinguished Service and Leadership Award by the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA). Auray was IWLA chairman from...