Chapter 4. MHE AND PRINCIPLES

CHAPTER 4

MHE AND PRINCIPLES

Section I. Basic Principles

4-1. General.

(2) Legal and physical restrictions in

reference to transportation (e.g., hazardous materials).

a. Definition. Materials handling is the movement

of materials to, through, and from productive processes

(3) The possibility of using unitized loads.

in receiving, storage, packing, and shipping areas.

(4) The standardization of equipment and

While materials handling practices vary, the basic

methods.

principles remain constant. Since these basic principles

(5) The combination of materials handling

are sometimes overlooked, certain underlying guidelines

methods.

must be recognized.

(6) Consideration of the safety hazards

b. Least handling is the best handling.

The

involved.

greatest economy in moving materials is secured by not

h. The length and number of moves of materials

handling the material at all. Since this situation rarely

should be kept to a minimum. Movement paths of

exists, an attempt must be made to keep handling to a

material should be studied for the possibility of reducing

minimum.

"backtracking" and length of moves, resulting in better

c. Standardization of methods and equipment aids

utilization of equipment and personnel.

the materials handling activity.

Standardization of

i. Equipment capacities should never be

equipment results in the reduction of costs of operation,

exceeded. The rated capacities of equipment should

in that, maintenance, repair, storage, and issue

never be exceeded. Over-loading causes excessive

procedures can be simplified.

wear of equipment and creates additional accident

d. MHE must' be selected for a multiple number of

potential.

applications. Equipment selected should be chosen with

j. Analysis.

All materials handling operations

the consideration that flexibility is the key note (i.e., that

should be analyzed for improvement possibilities by

it can be used for multiple operations). Therefore,

elimination, combination, or simplification. Combination

emphasis must be given to the flexibility with which

of operations may result in the simplification and

equipment can be converted to handle other jobs.

reduction of the number of times that material has to be

e. Specialized equipment should be kept to a

handled.

minimum.

Materials handling operations requiring

k. Selection of MHE is based on the economies of

special equipment are costly. Normally, first cost, cost

operation. These economies are measured in the cost

of operation, and maintenance costs are greater for

of moving the materials. Greater "pay loads" for each

special equipment than for standard equipment.

handling operation will result in less handling cost per

f. Volume dictates the method of handling

piece.

materials.

The number of pieces to be moved

l. The physical state of materials is a factor in

determines the method of handling. Regardless of the

determining MHE. The three physical states of material-

size, shape, or value of an item to be moved, the first

solid,

liquid, or gas-determine

the method of

question to be answered before the selection of method

containment (pack). Gases are contained in cylinders;

for moving is: How many pieces are to be moved?

liquids such as acids are contained in carboys; and

g. Advanced planning.

Planning on

solids such as sheet and bar stock metals may require

materials handling methods and equipment should be

wood skids. This, in turn, influences selection of MHE.

carried on simultaneously with other planning activities

m. Straight line flow.

The shortest distance

and undertakings with full recognition of present and

between two given points is a straight line. The time

future factors.

The most essential phase of any

required to travel a given distance is reduced by

program is planning. To be effective, planning activities

following a straight line.

in our organizations must be coordinated. As an

example, some of the factors requiring advanced

planning are

(1) Protection required against weather or

breakage.

4-1