Selecting the right material handling equipment is undeniably essential for any business dependent on the movement, storage, and protection of materials within the circles of the supply chain. With different types of equipment, it is important to choose the correct type that ensures maximum efficiency in your operations. This material handling equipment selection guide will help you understand the important tips to consider before choosing equipment.
Understand your Operational Requirements
The initial requirement is to understand the correct and applicable type of equipment. As such, the specific type of operations carried out must be evaluated to determine their exact needs. What kind of materials are being handled—are they light, heavy, bulky, or fragile? Do size and volume of goods matter? For example, businesses operating in bulk materials would perhaps require conveyors or automatic systems, but companies working with lower load volumes would be better off using just weights or hand trolleys.
It helps to know how the materials will be moving. For example, how often will the goods need to be moved; will they be moved from one high-level location to another using vertical means; and so on? This will lead you to such equipment options like forklifts or cranes for vertical movement and conveyors or carts for horizontal movement footers.
Conesco Storage Systems offers a selection of standard and customized material handling equipment that enhances productivity and safety in warehouses and industrial establishments.
Spatial Consideration
The typography of the building has a significant influence on the physical factors to be considered in the selection of the right equipment. In case there are limited aisles or congestion, smaller ducted material handling equipment such as narrow aisle trucks or electric pallet trucks might be necessary. In contrast, larger areas will use more advanced systems and technologies, such as overhead working cranes and Automated Guided Vehicles or AGVs.
Safety and Compliance
Material handling equipment should be selected with safety considerations as the overriding factor. Evaluate whether the equipment is compliant with acceptable safety norms and whether the workers are import trained to use it. Equipment such as cranes and forklifts require adequate training and the appropriate licensing to prevent incidents.
Apart from safety, there is also the issue of safety. Verify that there are no violations of the existing regulations as outlined by the concerned authorities. Various types of equipment may also be non-operable from time to time and can warrant compulsory examinations and servicing to ensure proper functioning.
Costs and Lifetime Value
Even though cost is one reason, in this case, there exists the temptation to narrow the focus on short-term cost instead of long-term value. For example, high-quality and great-design material handling equipment will cost more upfront, but this will be a savings over time because of the lower cost of maintenance and less downtime. If you do not want to compromise on quality, you may look for leasing options.
Conclusion
The selection of material handling equipment is a vital decision concerning the efficiency and safety of operations. It is critical to ensure that the functional equipment is selected with due consideration of operational requirements, spatial constraints, safety concerns, and the economics of using the equipment in the long run.
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