Scott Stone | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems
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Stress and The Warehouse Worker: What are the Issues?

February 27, 2024

morning cofee and bagel

This month, we delve into the stresses faced by warehouse workers, and how that may play into the sector’s competitiveness for labor as the available pool continues to contract. Also: detailed data on manufacturing output, ROI for industrial capital spending, and a bit more.

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Posted in Industry Insights|

How to Convey Heavy, Fragile Cartons

February 22, 2024

Wine cases on a conveyor line

Beverage handling systems have always been challenging. Cartons of expensive wine and liquor are heavy – and dense. And prone to damage. Sometimes these loads can be perishable and need to move fast through a system from picking to packing. The need to serve both retail and ecommerce customers from the same facility also complicates these design challenges.

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

Warehouse Ergonomics and Productivity: an Inseparable Relationship

February 6, 2024

picking conveyor line in a warehouse with heavy beverage loads at waist height
Improving the ergonomics of any warehouse operation may be the single easiest way to improve productivity – and that’s aside from the obvious safety and labor force protection aspects. Consider all the ways people move and work every day, every week, every year. Those repetitive motions take a toll both on the people doing the work and overall productivity. Ergonomics and productivity are not only related: they’re essential to each other.

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Manufacturing Expansion: Who, What, Where and How?

January 30, 2024

morning cofee and bagel

As we enter 2024, it’s no secret that manufacturing is growing at a nearly unprecedented rate. This cycle has been on the rise for years, and is now accelerating. Beneath the surface, some regions and sectors are growing faster than others. What are the trends we can anticipate in 2024 and beyond?

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Posted in Industry Insights|

Warehouse Automation: The Cost of Doing Nothing

January 18, 2024

automated facility with AS/RS, conveyors and transport system

People who operate industrial facilities have a difficult task. While the world changes around them, they’re dealing with a static operation that can be difficult to change or revitalize. Sunk costs, funding and organizational inertia can paralyze you at the worst moments. But the reality is that from our supply chains to labor to our customer demand profile, things are always in flux.

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Cisco-Eagle Announces Strategic Acquisition of Trinity Controls

January 16, 2024

Systems Technology Group assembling panels for conveyor control system

Dallas, Texas – January 15, 2024 – Cisco-Eagle, a leading material handling systems integration company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Trinity Controls, an innovative controls engineering company located in Birmingham, Alabama.

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Posted in ESOP & Company News|

How to Specify Dock Area Pallet Racks

January 9, 2024

Busy warehouse shipping dock with pallets stored in racks and on the floor

Above: pallet racks are installed both to the side and in front of dock doors in tight space. Palletized loads are floor-staged nearby, further squeezing space.

Warehouse shipping docks are one of the busiest areas in any warehouse. You have the buzz of constant activity as shipments are received or processed out the door, with a mixture of people on foot, forklifts, carts, floor scales, pallets and storage areas. There may be extendable conveyors or other equipment in the same relatively compact footprint. During busy times, it gets more congested and less workable.

It’s also a popular area for palletized storage on, near and around the area. Here’s what to keep in mind:

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Insights: Manufacturing Construction Boom, Product Loss Prevention

December 21, 2023

Cisco-Eagle insights
As the holiday season roars in, ecommerce and retail fulfillment operations are both pushed to their limits. What should you be looking for over the next year?

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Posted in Industry Insights|

5 Ways to Help Prevent Forklift-Pedestrian Accidents

December 12, 2023

Forklift driving fast in a production facility.

Every company that operates forklifts struggles with pedestrian safety problems. The issues are well-documented; forklifts are often the most problematic safety machinery in any operation that utilizes them. 

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Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

ROI for Warehouse and Manufacturing Automation: A Panel Discussion

December 5, 2023

WERC North Texas 2023 Automation Panel Discussion

Above: James Murphy moderates a panel discussion on automation return-on-investment with Mitch Smith of Hytrol, Nils Hart of Muratec and Bryan Gauger of Cisco-Eagle

Cisco-Eagle’s Bryan Gauger joined Mitch Smith of Hytrol and Nils Hart of Muratec for a Warehousing Education and Research Council panel on automation projects return-on-investment. The discussion revolved around ROI factors ranging from labor to safety. Because labor and money are both tight, justifying capital expenditures is more important than ever. Here are the panel’s thoughts on critical ROI issues:

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

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