Material Handling Management articles from March 2003

Material Handling Management archives from March 2003

The bull on Wall Street: forget share price. It's supply chain costs that count. (Editorial).
March 1, 2003... He wasn't sure he wanted to say it, but he said it anyway: "The stock market is one of the greatest impediments to supply chain management." That's Tom Speh talking -- associate dean at Miami University's Richard T. Farmer School of...

Marine warehouses ready for war. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... Leave it to the U.S. Marine Corps to find a way to setup a distribution facility in an area not supported by a logistics infrastructure. That's the idea behind the deployable STRATIS (Storage Retrieval Automated Tracking Integrated System)...

Clark sold. (News Briefs).(Young An Hat Company Ltd. acquires assets of Clark Material Handling Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Young An Hat Company Ltd. (YAHC), Buchsan, South Korea, has acquired Clark Material Handling Company's assets, and about $10 million in debt. Reported transaction price: $7.5 million. The transaction ends Clark's bankruptcy, which it filed...

Top Logistics Supply Chain Executives named. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... The third annual Top 20 Logistics Supply Chain Executives for 2002-2003 have been selected in a process sponsored by Richmond Events, and The Supply Chain Forum 2003. Late last year, hundreds of executives nominated their peers for this...

What's your big idea? (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... Are you a material handling innovator? Do you know one? MHM wants to recognize individuals responsiblefor advancing the art and science of material handling. We will profile them in our November issue. If you, or someone you know, have been...

MHEDA selects new leader. (News Briefs).(James Bowes Jr. named head of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... James Bowes Jr., president, Peach State Integrated Technologies, Norcross, Georgia, has become the 48th distributor executive to lead the 650 company-member Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA). Bowes takes over the...

Crowning achievement. (News Briefs).(crown lift truck wins the 2002 Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Another Crown lift truck has received a prestigious award. The FC 4000 Series lift truck has earned a 2002 Good Design award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The competition's goals are to create a revived...

Where do you get information?(U.S. business executives are relying more on the Internet to fulfill research needs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... U.S. business executives are relying more on the Internet to fulfill research needs, but do not feel they are receiving the level of intelligence required to make informed business decisions, according to a new survey released by FIND/SVP, a...

Outsourcing: when it works and when it doesn't. (Conference Report).
March 1, 2003... Think warehousing is a dying art, not worthy of analysis in this day of business process reengineering? Then you should talk to people who outsource their warehousing functions. That's what attendees did at the Northeast Ohio WERCouncil's...

Move large amounts of product safely. (The Cutting Edge).
March 1, 2003... The Tygard Claw sorts, stacks and moves various types of packaging from one pallet to another. This four-way, pressure-sensitive, lifting and pallet-splitting device gently and securely grips single or multiple layers of packaging from four...

High-bay safety. (The Cutting Edge).
March 1, 2003... In many distribution centers, a flow system allows multiple pallets to be stored deep in rack bays. When a pallet gets hung up or stalled, the bays are decked over and employees walk onto them to free the pallets. The problem with such an...

Fast changeover. (The Cutting Edge).
March 1, 2003... A system of two-axis, quick-adjustable side rails for low-profile conveyors allows pre-setting of two positions for rapid changeover. For this manufacturer's line of conveyors, the toolfree system includes lane dividers and overhead hold-down...

Calendar.(logistics, supply chain management, material handling management events)(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... March 19-20 Maximizing Warehouse Space. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Nashville. Sponsored by WERC. E-mail to wercoffice@werc.org. March 23-26 Annual Convention. Miami. Sponsored by the International Warehouse Logistics...

It makes sense because it makes cents. (Transport Packaging).
March 1, 2003... I often misquote naturalist writer Aldo Leopold as having said the first step to understanding something is to call it by its proper name. Upon re-reading some of his work I can't find the quote. Regardless of who said it, the thought was...

For security, details make the difference. (Controls & Systems).
March 1, 2003... If there's one crucial point to be made about security, it is that it can't be "security-light." You can't have the illusion of security, as in mounting cameras in your dock that you never turn on or view. Nor can there be just the perception...

High-flying productivity. (American Best Plants).(Boeing Integrated Defense Systems)
March 1, 2003... A brand-new approach to manufacturing airplanes more than doubled production while cutting needed labor by two-thirds. Find out how this boeing C-17 defense aircraft division landed a manufacturing miracle. Kevin Byrne, supply chain...

Managing the mix. (America's Best Plants).(Collins & Aikman Rantoul Products' automotive plants feature blend of supply chain data management, expert packaging and more)
March 1, 2003... This smart blend of supply chain data management, assembly, lift truck fleet management and expert packaging makes for a world-class manufacturing operation at Collins & Aikman Rantoul Products' automotive plants. The Rantoul Products...

Automation--where the smart money is. (Part 2 of a Series).(investing in automated materials handling)
March 1, 2003... These days, many automated material handling projects would never get approved without some creative solutions. That could mean creative financing or just plain creative justification. You've done your homework. You've decided material...

Security gets real. (Part 2 of a Series).
March 1, 2003... Security means more than mounting a few cameras (that are not turned on) and issuing key cards. The best practices for warehouses and distribution centers are moving beyond "cosmetic" security. Business analysts estimate that companies lose...

Don't tamper with the seat belt reg. (Compliance).(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... Trainers, both in-house and independent, are telling OSHA: "Don't mess with the lift truck seat belt regulation. We have enough trouble as it is." (Richard E. Fairfax, OSHA's head of the enforcement programs, has proposed modifying the seat...

Hoist control. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... A new cylinder control option is available for the NER/ER Series electric chain hoists. The ergonomically designed, one-handed control lets the operator position the load with one hand as the other hand adjusts the cylinder. A compact plastic...

Portable printing. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... The new Printpad CE portable printing device replaces the Printpad 500,2000 and 4000 models. Printpads are used in the retail and production industries to store and retrieve label formats to print to a bar code printer without the need for a...

Warehouse management software. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... Windows 2000 WMS software offers Tier 1-level functionality. It handles wave building, labor planning, task management, advanced kitting, automatic replenishment, cluster/batch picking, cycle counting, and more. Provia Software Write 246

Inventory software. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... FastPic4 software maybe configured to maximize changing shelving, drawer and rack systems, and expand to pick-to-light and automated storage and retrieval equipment. The software can increase picking speed and order accuracy. FastPic Systems...

Wire partitions. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... WireWall mesh partitions are an easy and economical way to create secure areas. The partitions are interchangeable, and maybe removed and reused for changing or expanding an installation. W.A. Schmidt Write 250

AGVS controls. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... LazerWay controls provide precise guidance and on-board logic. The rotating laser scans reflectors and calculates the exact position of the vehicle 20 times per second. Transbotics Write 251

Sideloader. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... The Quaddro is a reach truck and a four-directional side-loader in one. The U-shaped frame lets the operator face toward the center of the load. It features two large drive wheels and four load wheels. There is easy access to all main...

Tubing/hose guide. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... A new chart compares the physical properties and material characteristics of PVC and polyurethane tubing and hose. The chart shows products, construction, certifications, size range, coil lengths, colors, temperature range, custom services and...

Warehousing software. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... IristaWarehouse Express provides functionality and implementation support needed to manage basic warehouse operations. As order volume increases and warehouse operations become more complex, additional functions can be activated without...

Crane controller. (Bulletins & Catalogs).
March 1, 2003... The Pendant Station controller for overhead cranes eliminates cables and cords. It provides accurate control through its message security, longer battery life and quick response time. Cattron-Theimeg Inc. Write 255

Material protection: you can protect a product with the correct internal packaging material and closure. Knowing where the product is, however, gives you an added measure of security. (Market Trends).
March 1, 2003... Despite all the talk about homeland security and the apparent vulnerability of goods within the supply chain, there does not appear to be an across-the-board rush to increase security on packages. There are indications of heightened awareness...

Thermal printer. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The M-5900Rve printer is for heavy-duty industrial direct thermal applications. It uses 32-bit RISC processor technology for better throughput and imaging response time. Sato America Inc.; satamaerica.com, 888-871-8741. Write 219

Drive-in racks. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... Drive-in racks feature flared load rails for wide entry and exit clearance, low-profile arms for increased vertical clearances, and welded front arms to eliminate load rail protrusions into aisles. The system configures easily for loads from...

On a roll. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... This low-profile, platform-type AGV handles newspaper, printing and pub-lishing applications. It can perform roll handling and can automatically load rolls to the presses. Rolls can be 50 in. or 55 in., or partial. The unit has quad travel for...

Truck is easy to service. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The E30-40HSD is a three-wheel electric stand/drive counterbalanced lift truck available in 3,000-, 3,500- and 4,000-lb capacities. Design updates allow operators access to the electrical apparatus, lift pump, drive motors and power steering...

Better speed and efficiency. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... Modular Storage System can store a case and retrieve another in 12 seconds, allowing for the movement of up to 300 cases per hour. The new crane is three times faster and the new design weighs 30 percent less than previous models. Distance...

Easy-to-use motion control. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... Wrap spring clutch/brakes handle load starting and stopping applications. The Standard CB Series is self-contained and offers speeds to 1,800 rpm. They start and stop loads with [+ or -] 1/2 degree per revolution. Five sizes have rated static...

Counting scales improve accuracy at M&M Aerospace. (Case Study).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... At M&M Aerospace Hard Ware Inc., quality counts. Literally. M&M Aerospace of Miami is a distributor of nuts, bolts, washers, rivets and other fasteners to aerospace manufacturers like Boeing/McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed and Airbus, among...