Modern Materials Handling articles from March 2009

Modern Materials Handling archives from March 2009

So you have the metrics, now what?(achieving corporate goals )
March 1, 2009... John Hill, Vice President, TranSystems Benchmarking your performance is only the tip of the iceberg. It's what you do with that information that matters. Metrics, performance measures, key performance indicators and benchmarking....

HighJump purchases Insight Distribution Software.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Staff Taking another step forward in its strategy to grow through acquiring complementary product lines, supply chain software provider HighJump Software (www.highjump.com ) purchased Insight Distribution Software from Coaxis. The move...

Facebook for the supply chain.(Inovis Inc. introduces social networking site)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Staff Solving the problem of updating and accessing contact information and company profiles by providing a Web-based network for trading partners, Inovis (www.inovis.com ), a B2B software provider, has introduced a Facebook-style social...

HK Systems sponsors Milwaukee robotics team.
March 1, 2009... Staff Committed to creating interest in the world of engineering, HK Systems (www.hksystems.com ), a provider of automated materials handling and supply chain software solutions, will sponsor the 2009 For Inspiration and Recognition of...

Lift truck maker wins EPA award.(Crown Equipment Corp. honored for achievement in environmental stewardship)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Staff Efforts to reduce waste in its lift truck manufacturing operations have earned Crown Equipment Corp. (www.crown.com ) the Ohio Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in environmental stewardship. Crown, based in New...

Pallet buy considerations.
March 1, 2009... By Tom Andel, Contributing Editor Wood, plastic or paperboard aren't your only decisions. Where pallets are concerned, you have to balance the price of your pallets with the demands of your customers. Few industries are as competitive...

A hard look at labor costs.
March 1, 2009... By Bob Trebilcock, Executive Editor Need to get more from your workforce? Improvements in labor management software are driving real cost savings. The economy is forcing every business to take a hard look at labor productivity. That's...

Top 5 lift truck hazards.
March 1, 2009... By James P. Kaletta, Guest Columnist Focusing your efforts on these common situations will result in a safer workplace. Help your lift truck operators stay sharp with remainders about these common hazards. 1) Pre-use inspection...

Brown talks green.(David Abney president at UPS International Experience speaks about materials handling infrastructure at his company)(Interview)
March 1, 2009... Staff Modern: What about the physical materials handling infrastructure at UPS and its impact on energy efficiency? Abney : We have a building in California operated off of solar energy. That technology has worked well for us in that...

Did you know….
March 1, 2009... Staff MAPI, originally known as the Machinery and Allied Products Institute, was formed as a result of the Depression-era National Industrial Recovery Act. Its purpose was to help stabilize the machinery industry at a time of unprecedented...

New R-Mark includes welded wire rack deck.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Staff The Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI, www.mhia.org/industrygroups/rmi ) has expanded its R-Mark certification process to include welded wire rack deck manufacturers. RMI approved two new comprehensive documents--the ANSI...

What does the economic stimulus package mean for my facility?
March 1, 2009... By Lorie King Rogers, Associate Editor The stimulus package offers two incentives for the materials handling industry. How long will the road to economic recovery be? Some experts in the materials handling and manufacturing industry...

Industry outlook: Mostly cloudy, with a few bright spots.(Industry overview)
March 1, 2009... By Sara Pearson Specter, Editor at Large Amid murky forecasts for 2009, some bright spots are emerging for the materials handling industry. Although the outlook for the materials handling industry in 2009--much like the American...

Product focus on supply chain execution software.(FKI Logistex and Manhattan Associates Inc. introduces supply chain management software)(Epicor Software Corp. introduces customer relationship management software)
March 1, 2009... Staff Remote diagnostics software Staff NetLok, a secure information infrastructure for remote connectivity, features a closed-loop login procedure with a restricted login provision, allowing secure, one-time access to a network...

Picking up productivity.(voice picking technology helped increase production at Henry Schein Inc.)
March 1, 2009... By Allison Manning, Contributing Editor When a paper-based system wasn't getting the job done for Henry Schein, voice picking technology made workers more adaptable and productive. Consider the guarantee. Henry Schein, the largest...

Safety Tips: Conveyors.
March 1, 2009... By James P. Kaletta, Guest Columnist Because conveyors are so essential yet so elemental in the materials handling environment, your employees can be lulled into a false sense of security. The most recent information from the U.S....

Safety Tips: Robotic Palletizers.
March 1, 2009... By Sara Pearson Specter, Editor at Large By implementing robotic automation throughout manufacturing and distribution processes--particularly on the palletizing end of the line--companies seek to offset the costs related to worker injuries...

Safety Tips: Loading Dock Equipment.
March 1, 2009... By Sara Pearson Specter, Editor at Large The potential for injuries at the dock range from ergonomic to catastrophic. Consider the potential for injury if a tractor-trailer prematurely pulled away from the dock opening with a...

Wilton's cookie-cutter plan for success.(Company overview)
March 1, 2009... By Bob Trebilcock, Executive Editor After a merger, Wilton Products consolidated its distribution processes in a redesigned DC that nearly tripled throughput. Do more with less. That mantra was the catalyst behind a major makeover...

Planning: distribution's icing on the cake.(Wilton Packaging Products uses warehouse management software)
March 1, 2009... By Bob Trebilcock, Executive Editor Regular slotting ensures the efficient movement of product and orders through Wilton's DC. Order fulfillment processes operations at Wilton Product's Romeoville, Ill., facility are the result of...

A deeper bench.(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Michael Levans, Group Editorial Director This month in Modern you're seeing a few changes on the masthead that will ultimately result in an even deeper bench and broader market coverage. Let me run down a few details. First, we welcome...

Let's get back to basics.(technology used in materials handling )(Cover story)
March 1, 2009... Bob Trebilcock, Executive Editor It's easy to forget that life--and materials handling--is about the little things. This month's Modern is a reminder that if you want to improve processes, increase productivity and drive down operating...