Material Handling, which is one of the most important elements of operations of a large manufacturing facility essentially comprises of movement, storage, control and safeguarding of raw materials and finished goods. The related activities encompass the entire process of manufacturing, distribution and disposal of obsolete goods in a huge manufacturing plant.
The Burgeoning Industry
The
Material handling industry has evolved into one of the most flourishing industries in the world. There are a large number of manufacturers throughout the world that produce and handle distribution of equipment and services deemed essential for implementing
Material handling systems. There is a wide variety of such systems that range from simple pallet racks and shelves to the complicated Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems. These constitute sorting and picking remotely guided vehicles.
Objectives
The main objective of using this equipment is to improve productivity levels, enhance output and implement cost control. There are several methods to assess achievement of efficiency through
material handling systems. This include recording of data relevant to warehouse operations, counting the number of times an item is picked right from the time of ordering till the time it leaves the factory premises, ensuring utilization of proper picking technology and minimizing system downtime.
Segregation of Equipment
The equipments could be segregated into four main categories; storage and handling, bulk material handling equipment, engineered systems and industrial cargo movers. The storage and handling equipment include pallet racks and shelving carts. They are referred to as catalog-type of products and maintain international standards. They are sold often as stock material.
A combination of products is built into a system to form engineered systems. Several distribution centers would prefer to optimize the storage and picking through utilization of pick modules and sorting systems in engineered systems.
A SCADA system is used to gather critical information, with reference to the system issues and errors occurring in the warehousing or material handling process.
SCADA is an important part of a warehouse control system.
It is essential that machinery and utensils used for handling edible products and ingredients are kept in strictest sanitary conditions to prevent adulteration. Industrial movers are usually represented by forklift trucks which are motorized vehicles powered by electricity or batteries. The movement of material should be smooth within the building premises ensuring speed and efficiency.
Similarly, moving of bulk material like liquids, cereals and ores are handled through the bulk handling equipment that essentially is of stationary nature. A majority of this type of equipment is usually observed in shipyards, refineries, farmlands and mines.
Achievement of Efficiency through Computerization
There is no doubt that maximum benefits can be achieved the desired efficiency levels through the use of automated systems that ensure maximum profits and nothing else except profits. That is why programmable automation controllers and
factory automation systems are used to minimize time and cost of material handling and movement.
