Modern Materials Handling articles from July 2008

Modern Materials Handling archives from July 2008

Tips for a decent ROI.(management of return on investment)
July 1, 2008... By Susan Rider, President, Rider & Associates Here's some advice for getting the most out of your next technology investment. Whether you're looking for a new warehouse management system (WMS), a voice picking system or RFID...

This issue's a keeper.(Editorial)
July 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief Readers sometimes ask how we choose each issue's topics. I tell them that mostly, it's by doing what I'm doing right now: Talking to readers. We'll begin planning our 2009 editorial calendar very soon. For...

Weighing and cubing basics.
July 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor Measurements from weighing and cubing equipment can help determine the best way to store and handle inventory. Knowing the weight and volume of products, packages and unit loads can be helpful in...

Customer needs meet solutions.
July 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large Throwing labor at the problem isn't the only way to cope with new customer requirements. Software, data collection and automated materials handling solutions can also streamline the process. Whether...

Turret trucks.
July 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor-In-Chief Once you match the right turret truck to your facility, it will help you make best use of your cube. 1. At the beginning of any new facility project that will involve high bay rack and turret trucks, give...

Fork-free furniture.(American Signature Inc.)
July 1, 2008... By Eric Swedenborg American Signature Furniture is one of the largest family-owned private furniture companies in the world. What happens in our distribution centers is just as important as what happens in our factory when it comes to...

CeMat inspires fresh thinking.
July 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor in Chief The trade show that appears every three years in Hannover, Germany, offered new ideas for high-density storage, sortation, lift trucks and more. SHOW ORGANIZERS estimate 60,000 visitors attended CeMat...

Stretch hoods stabilize pallet loads.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator Strapping and stretch wrapping are time-tested methods of stabilizing unit loads, and now a third method of load stabilization is attracting notice. Stretch hooding has been used in Europe for several years, and a few...

Apple's supply chain is tops.(Apple Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp. ranked)(Brief article)(Company rankings)
July 1, 2008... By Sean Murphy, Supply Chain Management Review Apple Computer traded places with Nokia for the No. 1 spot on this year's Supply Chain Top 25, a ranking list recently released by AMR Research (www.amrresearch.com ). AMR praised Apple...

Manhattan demos hi-tech command center.(Manhattan Associates Inc. introduced supply chain management software)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator Supply chain software provider Manhattan Assoc. (www.manh.com ) created some buzz at its annual customer conference this spring with a futuristic demonstration of a hi-tech supply chain command center. The...

People to know.(Joel Grant appointed at Myers Industries Inc.)(Timothy Campbell appointed at HighJump Software Inc.)(Matthew Gerstner appointed at Buckhorn Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Staff Buckhorn added Matthew Gerstner as director of operations--FORTE hired Ian Hobkirk as director of supply chain consulting--Fortna appointed Troy VanWormer director of supply chain consulting--HighJump Software appointed Timothy...

Ice Pop Costs Melt.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Tom Andel, Editor-In-Chief Stretch wrapping systems save space while film use is cut 35%, generating a six-month ROI. Kisko Products, one of North America's leading producers and distributors of freeze pops and premium juice...

Voice keeps Dunkin' Donuts rolling.
July 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor An efficient layout combined with voice-directed picking technology keeps operations running smoothly at the company's New Jersey DC. The Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic DC in Westampton, N.J., is...

Corporations focus on reducing waste.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Staff A recent "Green Supply Chain" study asked 250 corporate executives to identify the most important environmental issues facing their organizations. The most popular answer was waste disposal and recycling, beating out conservation...

Getting aid to China.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Staff While China houses much of the world's manufacturing capacity, global supply lines were little affected by the massive earthquake that devastated parts of China this spring. That's because the province of Sichuan, where the...

NA08 seminars are available online.
July 1, 2008... By Staff The NA 2008 materials handling and logistics trade show held in Cleveland in April featured 70 educational seminars, and now most of these 45-minute sessions are available for viewing online. Visitors to www.nashow.com can...

Where's the 5-cent RFID tag?(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... By Staff Remember when everyone predicted RFID in the supply chain would become a reality when the price of a smart label came down to a nickel? Why doesn't anyone talk about the 5-cent RFID tag today? "The 5-cent tag was relevant...

Voice: A slam dunk.
July 1, 2008... By Corinne Kator, Associate Editor When voice-directed picking raised productivity dramatically at the Dunkin' Donuts Mid-Atlantic DC, facility managers couldn't wait to share the success with the company's other DCs. Have you ever...

Product showcase.(CPI Packaging introduces packaging machinery)(Seegrid introduces industrial mobile robot)(Videojet Technologies Inc. introduces inkjet printers)
July 1, 2008... By Staff Easier manual palletizing Staff Cutouts in the Roll-In level loader manual palletizer's low-profile platform enable easier loading and unloading of full pallets. Forks of a hand pallet truck roll into the platform level...

Focus on lift trucks.(Toyota Material Handling U.S.A., Crown Equipment Corp. and Jungheinrich AG introduces fork lifts)
July 1, 2008... By Staff AC-powered series Staff The 8-Series AC pallet truck line includes a walkie pallet truck, tow tractor, center control rider pallet truck and end control walkie/rider pallet truck. These trucks all include an AC drive...

Top 20 Supply Chain Management software suppliers.(JDA Software Group Inc.)(Manhattan Associates Inc.)(Oracle Corp.)(Company rankings)
July 1, 2008... By Bob Trebilcock, Editor at Large The economy may be slowing, but the supply chain software business posted solid numbers in 2007. The market for supply chain management software applications and services, or SCM, topped $6.4 billion...