Good business executives always maintain a balance between optimism and strife. Even in the worst of times there are opportunities and in the best of times there are risks. For example, while many are complaining about the current lack of demand, more forward-thinking leaders point to the fact that more than 200,000 people are born every day. These will be the future customers. On the other hand, they do not ignore the challenges that exist at the moment. One solution they're considering is more automation, not less. This may seem counter-intuitive to many, who associate automation with costs that will only pay off in boom times. What is the logic of this? Many material handling experts at equip2go.com.au argue that the industry is already automated and this is part of the problem. For example, robotics was prevalent until the recession hit and robotics suppliers reported a major drop in demand in 2010. Interestingly, in the third quarter of the year, requests for new proposals increased dramatically. Part of the reason for this dramatic increase in interest in automated material handling equipment is that businesses are realizing that if they automate key components of their systems, they will be able to run their businesses more cost-effectively. A major shift in thinking has been aimed at that core components.Small manufacturing plant and warehouse operators may wonder how the suggestion of automation might apply to them. Robotics and other high-tech solutions are astronomically expensive for a small business operator. However, the principle remains the same.
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Most material handling decisions involve the storage of both raw materials and finished products prior to final shipment. The most common solution comes down to pallets and pallet racks. These systems catalog items to facilitate easy storage and have the potential to expand warehousing capabilities. Pallets are so common because they are easy to work with, handle a variety of loads and are made for stacking when combined with rack systems. Rack systems make for ideal use of storage space. Long rows and high columns allow every square inch of the warehouse to be used from floor to ceiling. Most importantly, these racks allow for safe and secure stacking of pallets. All stacked and stored goods are easily accessible with any number of pallet handling equipment for quick retrieval. The list of handling equipment designed to carry, lift and load pallets could fill a book by itself. The most commonly used equipment in the industry are pallet jacks, forklift trucks, dollies, carts and hand trucks. To move inventory vertically, forklift trucks and powered jacks are often used. Once the inventory is on the floor, any number of manual and powered devices is well suited to moving stock within the warehouse or facility. Best of all, most of these options require only one person to move the entire load by hand or with a truck or powered jack. In addition to rack and rigging systems, companies have many options when it comes to effective inventory management, storage and utilization. |
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July 2023
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