ABOUT MATERIAL HANDLING

What is Material Handling?

Material handling is the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption and disposal. As a process, material handling incorporates a wide range of manual, semi-automated and automated equipment and systems that support logistics and make the supply chain work. Their application helps with:

• Forecasting
• Resource allocation
• Production planning
• Flow and process management
• Inventory management and control
• Customer delivery
• After-sales support and service

A company’s material handling system and processes are put in place to improve customer service, reduce inventory, shorten delivery time, and lower overall handling costs in manufacturing, distribution and transportation

How is Material Handling Equipment Used?

There is a variety of manual, semi-automated and automated material handling equipment and technologies available to aid in the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. These include:

• Automated storage and retrieval systems
• Automatic guided vehicles (AGVs)
• Automatic identification and data collection
• Casters and wheels
• Controls
• Conveyors
• Dock equipment
• Ergonomics
• Hoisting equipment
• Industrial robots
• Integrated material handling systems
• Item order fulfillment systems
• Lift trucks
• Monorails and workstation cranes
• Overhead cranes
• Packaging
• Protective guarding
• Racks
• Software
• Sortation
• Storage

Where is Material Handling Used?

Material handling systems are used in every industry, including:

• Aerospace
• Appliance
• Automotive
• Beverage
• Chemicals
• Construction
• Consumer goods
• E-Commerce
• Food
• Hardware
• Hospital
• Manufacturing
• Materials processing
• Paper
• Pharmaceutical
• Plastics
• Retail
• Warehousing and distribution