Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems Warehousing Insights | Material Handling Systems - Part 31
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Streamline and Simplify to Improve Distribution Center Operations

July 18, 2017
by

pallet rack aisle with motion blur
You’ve heard this pitch before: If you just implement this software, or that machinery, or hire my consultant, or buy into this other program, you’ll realize amazing gains. You’ll be more productive; more accurate; you’ll work less hours. Things will be great.

You may really need to expand your facility, or install expensive new WMS software or add high levels of automation, but it’s always worth checking on process or facility layout changes before you take the plunge. What are some areas you should consider?

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Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|

Why the Floor is Better than Eye Level for Forklift Safety Warnings

July 11, 2017
by

gobo warning projected onto warehouse floor

Forklifts dominate OSHA’s annual list of safety violations, so it’s no mystery why industrial companies are always searching for ways to improve safety.

Safety-conscious operations are integrating safety lights and sensors to help reduce pedestrian/forklift accidents. These systems usually detect traffic (people and forklifts),  and  then deploy visual and/or audible warnings to the driver, the pedestrian, or both. When it comes to visual warnings, some are ceiling-hung, others at eye level, and others are shot onto the floor. What placement works best, and why?

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Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

Dock Doors: Options for Security and Access Control

May 22, 2017
by

dock door security gate

Years ago, during a busy time at one of our warehouses, an intruder entered our building through an open dock door and proceeded to steal things from some offices. Thankfully, nobody was harmed and nothing was really lost, but the incident underlined the need to control access to our facility while still letting fresh Spring air flow. To prevent intrusions and still allow easy access, there are some options for warehouses and manufacturing facilities with large dock doors.

Since 87% of warehouse inventory losses occur at warehouses and shipping yards, dock doors – and the way they are guarded – play a critical role in overall security.

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Posted in Docks & Shipping|

The Importance of Pallet Rack Row Flue Space – and Ways to Maintain it

April 25, 2017
by

Pallet rack fire and flue space illustration

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has long required that pallet rack flue space remain clear at all times so that any fires can vent upward rather than outward, allowing sprinkler systems to activate faster. This vertical rise also helps slow fire spreading horizontally through a rack system. Flue space compliance is increasingly important to insurers and operators of warehouses and other industrial facilities. What can you do to help reduce issues with flue space obstruction?

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Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|

10 Tips: Pick-to-Light Systems for Order Fulfillment

March 16, 2017
by

pick to light for order fulfillment

Light-directed picking is the heavyweight champion when it comes to productivity gains, order picking speed, increased accuracy, and ease of operator development.

Because it’s 100% hands-free and requires no headpiece, it’s also highly flexible for many challenging fulfillment operations. We’ve compiled ten ways to analyze your operation to determine if these systems would be a fit for you. Obviously, more specific information will be needed, but this should get you started.

We spoke with Lightning Pick’s Dave Broadfoot about the best ways to ensure you are making a good pick-to-light decision.

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

Cheap Forklift Warning Lights Could be Incredibly Expensive

March 7, 2017
by

forklift safety light mounted on carriage

You see them all over the place in warehouses these days – the ubiquitous blue forklift light gliding over the floor ahead of or behind a lift truck as it winds its way between rack rows, down aisles, across docks, and out of trailers. A wide variety of choices are available, including many inexpensive imports with a bewildering number of dense specifications. How can you tell the difference?

Let’s break down the ways you can avoid the “bargain” light that could cost you plenty.

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Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

Factors for Robotic Bag Palletizing Systems

March 2, 2017
by

robot placing bags on pallet

Above: SAS Automation standardized bag-gripper

Palletizing is a standard material handling application for industrial robots, and bag palletizing is one of the most typical applications. Why? Because bag palletizing is simpler and easier than case palletizing. If your operation requires bag stacking/pallet loading – and you want to improve speed, reduce mistakes, and create a more ergonomic system, here are the things you need to know.

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Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|

How to Properly Operate a Forklift in Winter Conditions

February 10, 2017
by

A guest post by Tom Reddon of the National Forklift Exchange.
forklift driving past a snowbank

Driving a forklift in the snow or ice seems intimidating. However, with modern innovation and improvements, outdoor operations have been revamped and revitalized, even in the most trying of circumstances.

Whether it’s flurries or a full-scale blizzard, adhering to these practices will prevent the issues that pile up with each snowflake. The outdoors poses numerous challenges, but there are some practices forklift operators can use to drive safer in these conditions.

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Posted in Material Handling|

Ways to Improve Forklift Driver Visibility and Awareness Factors

February 7, 2017
by

Driver awareness—or lack of it—is responsible for many forklift accidents

Busy, frazzled, distracted, or plain inattentive drivers whose sightlines are impaired may have accidents. They’ll collide with pallet rack posts, building columns, walls, machinery and a variety of other things. Worse, they sometimes hit people. What can you do to increase driver awareness and the ability to see what’s around them?

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Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|

Tips for Tool Crib Security

February 2, 2017
by

tool crib security cage

In manufacturing, maintenance, and machine shop operations, tools, dies, and bits are among the most likely targets for pilferage. Tools fit the criteria for theft we discuss in our white paper, Reducing Warehouse & Dock Area Pilferage (PDF, 1.3MB, opens in a new tab): “items that are a combination of concealable, removable, available, valuable, or enjoyable are prime candidates for theft.” Items with a high perceived “value per ounce” are at risk. A $200 block that weighs 100 pounds is far less of a target than a $200 cutting tool.

Tools are in demand, easy to sell and expensive. Plus, many of the most expensive ones fit in a coat pocket, lunch box or tool box.

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Posted in Security|

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