Commodity Characteristics.

TM 38-400/NAVSUP PUB 572/AFMAN 23-210 MCO 4450.14/DLAM 4145.12

capacity in all cases where building plans are not

FLUENCE OUR METHOD

LAYOUT

AND

available, where the plans do not indicate safe floor

ALLOCATION OF SPACE."

loads, or where the accuracy of the stated floor load is

-- "In this portion, we are interested in WHERE we will

doubtful.

store the materials-- NOT HOW."

j. Elevators.

-- '"WHAT DO WE HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT THE

NOTE

COMMODITIES?"

As in the case of floor loads, the

(Try to obtain the following points from the group

subject of elevators should be

and list them on the blackboard as they are given:)

touched only briefly in single-story

operations, but in detail in multistory

buildings.

NATURE (KIND OR TYPE)

-- "ELEVATORS in multistory buildings are often the

AMOUNT

cause of SERIOUS BOTTLENECKS."

SIZE

-- 'What must we consider about elevators?"

WEIGHT

SHAPE

TURNOVER (ACTIVITY)

LOCATION

PERISHABILITY

SIZE

ODOR

CAPACITY

SPEED

-- "They are a SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD."

b. Amounts of each commodity.

(1) Freight elevators are the "arteries" of the

-- "'The AMOUNT of each commodity handled VARIES

multistory warehouse. The number and location of

in EACH STORAGE INSTALLATION and from time to

these elevators are important factors in determining the

time WITHIN AN INSTALLATION."

general plan of floor layout. Care must be taken to keep

-- To keep our planning up to date, WE MUST, AT ALL

sufficient space clear in front of the elevators on each

TIMES KNOW what we will be expected to STORE."

floor. The size and load capacity of these elevators

determine the type of materials handling operation

-- "As STORAGE MANAGERS AND WARE HOUSE

which can be performed. Care must be taken not to

SUPERVISORS, What INFORMATION is AVAILABLE

overload the elevator; THIS IS A SAFETY MUST. This

TO US?

means, of course, that we must figure not only the

What information DO YOU GET?

weight of the materials, but also the weight of the

What information WOULD YOU LIKE TO

mechanical equipment such as trailers or fork trucks, if

such equipment is used. PROPER MAINTENANCE OF

HAVE to help you plan efficiently?"

THE ELEVATORS AND TRAINING OF THE OPERA

TORS IS ALSO A SAFETY "MUST."

(2) Because these elevators are often small

STOCK LEVELS

in size and slow in movement, they create a bottle neck

DUES-IN NOTICES

in the operation which is difficult to eliminate. In most

AVERAGE ACTIVITY OF MOVEMENT

cases, we cannot enlarge or speed up the elevators;

ADVANCE NOTICE OF SHIPMENT

therefore, careful planning and thought can profitably by

given to "timing" of the operation to the existing

conditions.

(1) The supplies handled by the average

military storage installation consist of thousands of items

7-19. Commodity Characteristics.

of different weight, size, shape, perishability, and

crushability. These supplies are packaged in various

a. Facts about commodities.

ways within different types of containers such as boxes,

crates, cartons, bags, bales, or drums. The items vary

DEVELOP FACTS ABOUT COMMODITIES

from a small package of bearings to a complete field

-- "After we have viewed the warehouse from all

hospital, and are shipped to the storage installation from

physical angles, we must then consider the COM

thousands of manufacturers and producers.

MODITIES WE WILL STORE."

-- "We cannot separate these two factors in our

planning and thinking-- TOGETHER THEY IN

7-11