The importance of material handling A material management system must be implemented to optimize the movement of goods and materials around manufacturing and warehousing facilities. A well-designed material handling system can improve customer service, reduce costs, and reduce the risk of accidents and damage. Material handling equipment helps you store, move, load and ship your material. The choice of equipment accelerates this process and increases staff comfort.
According to the latest employment statistics from Safework Australia, “body stress (related to lifting or carrying heavy objects) is the leading cause of workplace injuries. The ideal way to avoid this type of injury is to have the appropriate material handling equipment (car, cart, crane, portable restraint bracket, etc.) together with a highly professional and well-trained staff. In addition, good material management can help you have a safe warehouse, since your staff will waste less time and energy lifting items. That way, you can keep them safe and be more productive, while you can save some money.
Material handling equipment is anything you use to help move, protect, store, or control materials in your facility. In all industries that rely on material handling, the largest field of applications is manufacturing. All goods and objects must be safe and well protected to reach their destination in perfect condition, and this can only be achieved by investing in quality material handling equipment. It covers inventory management and the control of the movement, storage and protection of products and materials during manufacturing, storage, distribution and disposal.
Material handling, when well planned, ensures that materials are transported safely between facility areas, facilitates the streamlining of work activities and the organization of space, and reduces accidents in locations that require the transportation of materials or heavy loads. The problems where material management helps include plant and equipment design, routing, packaging, and storage. Material management is an integral part of projects that include the construction or renovation of plants and facilities, the launch of new products, the improvement of workstations, and the rationalization or reduction of forklift traffic. Except for being able to lift and transport more things at once (allowing you to get the job done more quickly), handling materials the right way can help you keep your warehouse more organized, resulting in faster service and greater customer satisfaction.
To see just a small sample of how different industries and applications use material handling systems, check out this MHI resource. Simply put, material handling is an elegant term for the management of goods and materials within your warehouse, facility, or storage area. And if you work in industry, it makes more operational sense to consider material handling logistics earlier rather than later in the process of starting, expanding, or moving your business. This process of moving, controlling and protecting stored items is known as material handling and is fundamental to having a successful business.
Whether it's to maximize the efficiency of your loading dock or prevent workplace accidents, having an appropriate material handling protocol is essential.
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