Material Handling Management articles from January 2005

Material Handling Management archives from January 2005

Material handling equipment and systems demand to reach $20.4 billion by 2008: better economy, more cash to invest will push demand to $20.4 billion by 2008.(In the News)
January 1, 2005... Improving capital investment climate and expanding economic activity are helping to drive the U.S. market for material-handling equipment and systems by 2008 to $20.4 billion, reports a new study, Material Handling Equipment & Systems, from the...

Shake the maturity malaise: why you and your company should never grow up.(Light Lifting)
January 1, 2005... Whether I'm talking to a manufacturing or retail executive or someone in publishing, I cringe every time I hear anyone say, "This is a mature industry." The words that follow are always some version of, "So we can't do anything differently, or...

Collaboration still key to a world-class supply-chain.(News)
January 1, 2005... In the global market of 2005, successful companies will excel at supply-chain management, innovation and outsourcing, states Barry Jaruzelski, vice president and managing partner for management consulting firm Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc. (New...

On the job.
January 1, 2005... "Even when material handling is immaterial, the world will need material handling managers" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Boeing, airbus web service helps suppliers conform to RFID standards.(News)(radio-frequency identification labels)
January 1, 2005... A new Web-based service supported by Boeing, Chicago, and Airbus, Toulouse, France, is making it easier for their supply chains to design and tag parts and shipments with readable radio-frequency identification labels (RFID). The service,...

Undeclared hazardous materials can prove costly.(News)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) final rule HM-229 (effective January 01, 2005), could be very costly to shippers of hazardous materials. The regulation covers the incident reporting...

Warehousing salaries and wages.(News)
January 1, 2005... The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) conducts a biannual warehousing salaries and wages study to gather up-to-date statistics on the salary and employment practices in the industry. The 12-page 2004 Warehousing Salaries and...

Green is still more than the color of money.(Shipping Management)
January 1, 2005... The past couple of months have seemed more like a time warp of packaging news from the 1980s than the 2000s. For whatever reason, I've had a number of reports and news stories pour in that relate things environmental; recycling, doing more with...

Productivity gets power boost: fast charging increases battery charge at every opportunity.(Cutting Edge)
January 1, 2005... Just think of the productivity gained and money saved if large warehouses and facilities could use one battery per lift truck and charge it without having to remove the 2,000- to 3,000-lb. behemoths. Fast charging is a recently developed...

Tomorrow's movers and shakers: successful material handling leaders of the future will excel at people management and implementing new technology.
January 1, 2005... As the economy begins to improve, and activity in the nation's warehouses and distribution centers picks up, managers are struggling to juggle multiple projects and meet customers' ever-changing requirements, Material Handling Management's...

Room for improvement: ever increasing customer demands, changes in package sizes, and outsourcing can wreak havoc on DC performance. Here's what managers can do to meet these challenges and maintain productivity levels.(DC Productivity)(distribution center)
January 1, 2005... When it comes to distribution center productivity, there is always opportunity for improvement. DCs are struggling to keep up with constant changes in customer relationships, packaging sizes, and the effects of outsourcing. The result is...

Save time money with new shipping methods: improving your end-of-the-line shipping functions such as palletizing and unitizing can send money straight to the bank. Keep in mind, it's always about material flow.(Warehousing & Distribution)
January 1, 2005... Probably the most expensive, least efficient way to palletize or unitize a load is to do it manually. Yet it's the way many companies first approach the challenge of shipping product. Consider the fact that you're only renting a laborer's...

How to select the best warehouse management system: planning must precede selection and installation.(Fundamentals)(management information systems)
January 1, 2005... Many manufacturers and distributors know a paperless warehouse management system (WMS) could cut costs by increasing productivity and accuracy, which also improves customer service. But a good WMS (involving bar coding and RF scanning and,...

Optimizing WMS performance.(Fundamentals)(warehouse management system)
January 1, 2005... A warehouse management system (WMS) that is imposed on an ill-conceived layout, with ancient paradigms and an unprepared warehouse team will never reach even a tiny fraction of its full potential, and forget about payback, or fulfillment of all...

Big money down: tips on analyzing and justifying the investment in new automation.(Product Financing)
January 1, 2005... Spending your own money can be fun. Spending your company's money requires lots of careful work. It calls for sticking to some basic business virtues, such as developing and following a solid business plan with the rewards and risks spelled...

Parcel fraud is costing you money: think your company's parcel shipping account numbers are private? Think again. Crooks are having a field day at your expense.(Industry Trends)
January 1, 2005... As through this world I've wandered, I've seen lots of funny men. Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen." Famous words from that Oklahoma entrepreneur, Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (1904-1934). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

The right tote for the job: supplier limits product damage by studying the shipping environment to design better packaging for Carquest Auto Parts.(Best Practices)(Interview)
January 1, 2005... Charles Shaw, vice president of operations at Carquest Auto Parts, was well acquainted with the benefits of nestable, reusable containers: Reduced return shipping and storage costs, better product protection and improved efficiencies throughout...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... February 2-4 Reverse Logistics Conference & Expo. Las Vegas. Sponsored by Reverse Logistics Trends Inc. (www.rltshows.com, 519-792-2048) February 17-18 Improving Maintenance Planning, Scheduling and Control. Institute for Economic...

DAT'S where it's at.(Manufacturing Management)(Design, Assemble, and Test)
January 1, 2005... "It has always been in our best interests to introduce the rest of the world to freedom and free enterprise. Our situation now is just another chance to prove again to them that we still know how to take advantage of all that freedom....

How to avoid fatal mistakes when selecting and using conveyors, Part 2.(Safety & Security)
January 1, 2005... It is important to apply conveyor safety standards correctly. Surprisingly, OSHA does not have conveyor safety and training regulations. However, as reported in Part 1 of this article in the December issue of Material Handling Management, page...

Safety first with aerial work platforms.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Safety is critical when reaching work heights of 38 ft (11.6m) carrying load capacities to 1300 lbs. (590 kg). The SJIII Conventionals have 57-X 84-in. platforms. With a narrow design and hinged railing systems, some models will fit through...

Different approach to dockboards.(Product Showcase)
January 1, 2005... LoadHog is a modular dock bridge designed to span the gap between the warehouse and trailer. The unit mounts to the warehouse floor using four heavy-duty anchor bolts, requiring no concrete work. The bumper block assembly attaches to the face...

Fast vertical conveyors.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... These high-speed, stainless steel continuous vertical conveyors handle 40 loads a minute. The conveyors accept a load horizontally, convey it vertically and discharge it horizontally, in a non-stop operation with loading and unloading in a Z...

Integrate business processes.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NetCommerce integrates Web site and Web store functionality with financials, warehouse management, sales and customer support systems. The software integrates with the company's front-office and back-office solution to make it as easy to...

Ergonomics in work station design.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... With its unsurpassed level of ergonomic comfort and flexible functionality, the new align adjustable-height workbench adjusts to accommodate the worker with the appropriate work surface height. This will reduce fatigue, stress and potential...

Sweepers clean up competition.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The KM 100/100 ride-on sweepers clean large facilities both indoors and out. Operator-friendly with conveniently located controls. Battery units have an electric-driven broom and side brush, while gas and propane machines have hydraulic-driven...

Increased resolution on vision sensors.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The In-Sight 5400C is designed to perform a range of color-inspection tasks in a number of major industries. For example, it can be used in the automotive industry to identify motor camshafts by color; in the food and beverage industries to...

Anti-fatigue mats look good.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The 2005 Wearwell Catalog is filled with new anti-fatigue mats. Featured products include ErgoDeck, a new "super-sized" modular tile, ErgOasis, an anti-fatigue mat with a wood-grain surface, and several products with CFR, a new mineral oil...

Fast container configurations.(Product Showcase)(Ropak reusable container systems )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Ropak reusable container systems has a variety of pre-designed and pre-engineered sidewall configurations and height options. The many permutations help customers quickly select the features to best suit their handling applications and...

Generate correct information.(Product Showcase)( Configura Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Configura is a customized business system that contains a company's products as graphical icons with built-in knowledge and rule-based behaviors. It generates correct information for calculations and product configurations. The software...

Warehouse door moves easily.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Jr. WelterWeight door is well suited for warehouses and other facilities using lift trucks, pallet jacks or manual loading. Spring-loaded steel plungers guide the door. Mounted weather seal rides up with the door. The track mounts tight and...

Brushless servomotor.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The BSM Series of servomotors includes standard and low-inertia models to provide ideal inertial matching for machines. Both models can be provided with a variety of feedback devices and options. Resolvers are the prime feedback device. These...

Code-approved stairways.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... This line of stairways is designed for indoor or outdoor applications including mezzanines, loading dock areas, work platforms, conveyor crossover, storage trailers, in-plant offices and more. The stairways are made of heavy-gauge steel, come...

Stretch wrapper has operator safety features.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Vectra low-profile turntable stretch wrapper has a load weight capacity of 4,000 lb and a turntable rotation speed of 9 rpm. The turntable has an automatic chain tensioner and is driven by a helical gear reducer. The side-facing film...

Long-load lift truck ensure stability.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The C8000 long-load-handling lift truck is a 3-wheel, 8,000-lb-capacity, 4-directional vehicle with an LP-gas engine designed to operate indoors as a general-purpose reach truck and outside in storage yards and loading areas. Its low-profile...

Motive power battery consumes less water.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Deka HydraSaver battery extends watering intervals to 10 weeks, depending on application. Different lead alloy combinations and separator material result in less water consumption. The line is available in 5 through 33 plate cell sizes, 80...

Adjustable shipping racks.(Product Showcase)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... These custom racks provide product protection during shipping, storage or assembly. Racks can be rigid, collapsible, multi-level or adjustable to handle different size parts or model types. Parts dividers, made from foam, rubber, plastic and...

RFID: the hidden process hiccups.(Technology Trends)
January 1, 2005... The bad news is that RFID printer/applicator suppliers are assuring us that their equipment will reject bad RFID tags and apply only good ones to a package. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Wait... that's bad news? Yup, you betcha. Why? Well,...