Material Handling Management articles from June 2009

Material Handling Management archives from June 2009

A new view on lean: five supply chain strategies that improve business performance.(Automation)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With spending down and credit and operating budgets tightening, manufacturers are faced with the challenge of reducing costs, re-aligning offerings to meet changing consumer preferences and looking for new areas of...

Asset tracking: material handling benefits: pivotal asset management technology helps companies stay in business during difficult economic times.(Facilities)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The material handling and manufacturing sectors have grown increasingly competitive over recent years due to worldwide competition, excess capacity and eroding profit margins. To thrive in the current conditions,...

Building a better blade to capture the wind.(Fast Forward: Cutting-Edge Technologies)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Interest in harnessing the wind as a renewable and sustainable energy source has grown around the world. Wind turbines are increasingly visible in many countries. In the U.S., according to the American Wind Energy...

Someone hit the reset button: consolidations could signal the beginning of major changes in supply chain execution.(Front Line)(Column)
June 1, 2009... The other day, I needed toothpaste but was running late for an appointment. This will be quick, I thought, since those helpful signs in the store will point me to the right aisle. When I got there, I realized there really was a toothpaste...

What exactly is a supply chain, anyway? When it comes to supply chain proficiency, turning over inventory is still the name of the game.(Handle With Care)
June 1, 2009... If you want to be considered best-in-class at strategic supply chain execution, start by focusing on your inventory turns. That's the clear conclusion you'll reach after studying the results of AMR Research's annual ranking of the top supply...

Driving value and sustainability: calculate advantages of reusable transport packaging.(Inner Circle)
June 1, 2009... World-class companies today are searching for ways to drive customer value, efficiency and sustainability throughout manufacturing, handling, storage and distribution. Evaluating the corporate approach to transport packaging is an important...

Form follows lift truck function: today's storage configurations are more dependent than ever on lift truck interaction.(Narrow-Aisle)(Cover story)
June 1, 2009... Converting from conventional to narrow-aisle storage seems a no-brainer. After all, an operation can store 20% to 25% more product in the same space by taking the narrow-aisle plunge. Even more impressive, switching to a very-narrow-aisle (VNA)...

The drawbacks of high-density storage: a VNA strategy can increase storage space and save capital, but it can also create bottlenecks.(very narrow aisle)
June 1, 2009... As we all know, land is a finite resource. Particularly scarce is developable land that increases the supply of real property in the marketplace and keeps the price of real estate from increasing. Because we can't just create more useful...

An Overlooked cost.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2009... A quick note to say how much I enjoy your publication. I find the articles concise and filled with information that is relevant and actionable. I particularly liked your article on voice and the discussion around open-source VXML-based...

Open? Not quite.(Feedback)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2009... Vendors are under tremendous pressure to be perceived as at parity for openness and standards compliance, as well illustrated in your story on voice picking ["5 Key Enablers for Voice-Based Warehouse Execution," p.13, May 2009]. "Partially...

The means for the machine: flexible financial plans allow cash-strapped companies to get the lift trucks they need without a long-term commitment.(Powered Vehicles)(Interview)
June 1, 2009... Most material handling equipment dealers never expected to morph into something resembling a financial advisor. They provide the machine, not the means. But times have changed. It's difficult to find a corporate manager exempt from the...

What you don't know about motive power can hurt you: predictive maintenance technology can help avoid huge financial losses caused by premature battery failure.(Powered Vehicles)
June 1, 2009... For material handling professionals overseeing distribution or manufacturing operations, expectations are tougher than ever. Even the most successful and innovative material handling managers are frustrated by the unrelenting need to do more...

There's power in numbers: AmeriQuest says its new material handling division specializes in cost savings and advocacy.(Powered Vehicles)
June 1, 2009... Scott Grushoff, vice president and general manager of AmeriQuest Material Handling Services, describes the new division as a membership-based organization of manufacturers and distributors operating both small and large lift truck fleets. ...

Making computerized sense of maintenance: keep production in process through effective monitoring and reporting of equipment status.(Technology)
June 1, 2009... With harsh economic times having an impact on organizations throughout the world, cutbacks in operations and conservation of capital are typical management reactions. However, argues software provider Clive, Iowa-based Mapcon, these are the...

How to overcome the challenges of handling delicate products: vacuum technologies can help reduce waste, downtime and energy consumption.(Transport Packaging)
June 1, 2009... For manufacturers of delicate food products, such as chips, crackers, candy and frozen goods, many obstacles can stand in the way of achieving optimal efficiency. Delicate products are often difficult to handle and prone to droppage,...

Finding the right protective package for special products: retention packaging provides more than just protective benefits to a collegiate diploma frame manufacturer.(Transport Packaging)
June 1, 2009... Church Hill Classics (CHC), a manufacturer of collegiate diploma frames for more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities, grew from its launch as a home-based business in 1991 to an occupant of a 47,000square foot building by 2007. The...

Unit load blending begins with components: a successful system takes sophisticated knowledge and the right combination of equipment.(Special Feature: Unit Load Handling)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Center for Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech explains the efficiency of unit load material handling is based on performance of three interactive components: packaging, pallet and material handling equipment....

5 key criteria for selecting filling, palletizing and conveying systems: capital equipment must be evaluated in terms of the bottom line impact on a business--rather than just the purchase price.(Special Feature: Unit Load Handling)
June 1, 2009... An organization's committee responsible for selecting filling, palletizing and conveying systems often includes those with varying points of view. The engineering manager may be interested in integrated functions and making the best use of...

Do your operators need refresher training? Many different situations call for lift truck safety refresher training. Though OSHA requires operators to be evaluated every three years, the details are left up to the employer.(Workforce)
June 1, 2009... It's been more than a decade since OSHA mandated that all lift truck operators throughout the U.S. complete formal safety training. So, it's no surprise that lift truck safety programs have become standard operating procedure in material-moving...