Guidelines For Effective Utilisation Of Material Handling Equipments

Guidelines For Effective Utilisation Of Material Handling Equipments

The following guidelines are invaluable in the design and cost reduction of the materials handling system:

1. As material handling adds no value but increases the production cycle time, eliminate handling wherever possible. Ideally, there should not be any handling at all!
2. Sequence the operations in a logical manner so that handling is unidirectional and smooth.
3. Use gravity wherever possible as it results in the conservation of power and fuel.
4. Standardize the handling types of equipment to the extent possible as it means interchangeable usage, better utilization of handling types of equipment, and lesser spares holding.
5. Install a regular preventive maintenance program for material handling types of equipment so that downtime is minimal.
6. In the selection of handling equipment, criteria of versatility and adaptability must be the governing factor. This will ensure that investments in special purpose handling equipment are kept at a minimum.
7. The weight of the unit load must be maximum so that each ‘handling trip’ is productive.
8. Work-study aspects, such an elimination of unnecessary movements and a combination of processes should be considered while installing a material handling system.
9. Non-productive operations in handling, such as slinging, loading, etc., should be kept at a minimum through appropriate design of handling equipment. Magnetic cranes for scrap movement and loading in furnaces combination of excavators and tippers for ores loading and unloading in mines are examples in this respect.
10. The location of the stores should be as close as possible to the plant which uses the materials. This avoids handling and minimizing investment in the material handling system.
11. Application of OR techniques such as queuing can be very effective in the optimal utilization of materials handling the equipment.
12. A very important aspect in the design of a material handling system is the safety aspect. The system designed should be simple and safe to operate.
13. Avoid any wasteful movements-method study that can be conducted for this purpose.
14. Ensure proper coordination through judicious selection of equipment and training of workmen.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLANT LAYOUT AND MATERIAL HANDLING
There is a close relationship between plant layout and material handling. A good layout ensures minimum material handling and eliminates rehandling in the following ways:

1. The material movement does not add any value to the product so, the material handling should be kept at a minimum though not avoid it. This is possible only through the systematic plant layout. Thus a good layout minimizes handling.
2. The productive time of workers will go without production if they are required to travel long distances to get the material tools, etc. Thus a good layout ensures minimum travel for workman thus enhancing the production time and eliminating the hunting time and traveling time.
3. Space is an important criterion. Plant layout integrates all the movements of men, material through a well-designed layout with a material handling system.
4. Good plant layout helps in building efficient material handling systems. It helps to keep material handling shorter, faster and economical. A good layout reduces the material backtracking, unnecessary workmen movement ensuring effectiveness in manufacturing. Thus a good layout always ensures minimum material handling.