Scott Stone | Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 32
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Ways to Safely and Efficiently Transport Pallets Without a Forklift

September 5, 2014

forklift carrying a heavy loaded pallet in a warehouse

Forklifts are ubiquitous in warehousing and other industrial operations, but aren’t necessary in many other applications, such as small assembly shops, retailers, auto dealerships, and others that require materials movement but do not need a forklift, with its maintenance costs, safety issues, driver requirements and its footprint in a smaller facility. What methods can you use instead?

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Long Item Storage: Comparing Traditional and Crank-Out Cantilever Racks

August 29, 2014

Crank Out Cantilever Rack

If you’ve got conduit, tubing, rebar, pipe or bar stock, you need cantilever rack – period. Get it off the floor, off of standard shelving and pallet rack, and put it somewhere you don’t have to fight with it each time you need some. If you’re really smart, you’ll put it where overhead lift equipment can get to it – because once you get it stored right, you’ll wonder what the heck you were thinking earlier.

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Tool & Die Storage Done Right

August 29, 2014

We all know what happens to tooling and die when it’s stored haphazardly. Bumped and scratched, a chip here, a nick there, and suddenly your machining just isn’t what it used to be. The quality has slipped, maybe more products are being returned, there’s an increase in customer complaints. It’s too valuable and too expensive to risk. What are your options?

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

Additions to Improve Your Pallet Storage

August 22, 2014

Pallet Rack with Safety Netting

People store all kinds of things on pallet rack – from truck engines to fine jewelry. How do you protect valuable goods from being accessed by unauthorized personnel? What about inventory toppling off the back of the rack into an aisle where workers are?

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

How to Measure and Improve Industrial Storage Space Efficiency

August 18, 2014

Warehouse racks in a layout

All too often, companies struggle because the size of their warehouse is considered in the planning stage, but not the efficient use of that space.

A facility is purchased or leased with the desired set of characteristics, and then work begins. There are significant opportunities in many operations to size up the business mix, order trends, product slotting and facility layout in a way that helps improve everything from storage density to pick rates to error rates to labor costs. But first we must know the total storage potential of the facility, and work backwards from there.

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Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|

Guard Rail: When, Where and What

August 15, 2014

Forklift stopped by guardrail

Choosing guard rail can be confusing unless you understand clearly what kinds of conditions you are protecting against and what assets you are protecting. Whether it be fall protection for workers or asset protection from industrial vehicle usage, there is a guard rail that fits that need.

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Warehouse Safety Sensor Systems: Which Fits Your Needs?

August 8, 2014

Potential Collision

Safety is a major issue in most industrial environments – especially those where industrial traffic like forklifts, AGV’s and other vehicles mingle with workers on foot. There are just too many ways people can get hurt; too many chances for things to suddenly go wrong. That’s why including some automated safety sensor systems in a facility can make a life and death difference on a day-to-day basis.

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Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

The Relationship between Safety and Facility Layout

August 4, 2014

 

warehouse-space

Facility layout is a complex and sometimes frustrating process. You’re often limited by budget, space, time, or scheduling beyond your control. What factors should you consider when you allocate space, either in a new facility or a redesigned one? Facilities are sometimes designed without consideration for the space EHS compliance may consume. When that happens, your usable footprint shrinks, leading to a production facility that isn’t truly space-optimized.

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

Video: 24-Volt Roller Conveyors “Simplify Everything”

July 24, 2014

When you look at your next live roller conveyor system, it’s smart to look at new advances. Hytrol’s e24 conveyor is one of the most important new product introductions in many years. It’s difficult to understate how this conveyor can enhance operations, but here is a quick summary of the advantages.

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Posted in Conveyor Optimization|

Curtains and Dividers Help Retain Climate, Protect Products

July 18, 2014

When I was a kid, on rainy days my friends and I used  kitchen chairs, old blankets and lots of clothespins and built our own special space for imaginary adventures. Our rag-tag shelter was temporary, but gave us the sensation of being in our own little world. Frequently, in manufacturing and warehousing facilities, work zones and independent departments need separation from the larger whole for either safety or autonomy purposes, and there are products out there that answer those needs. Products like curtain walls, acoustic walls, thermal barriers and welding screens. Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|

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