Various Types of and Advantages in Using Mechanical Equipment.

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

-Types of equipment available and the advantages to be

ADDITIONAL-Checking,

assembly,

inspecting,

gained by their use.

rewarehousing, selecting.

-Existing physical conditions which determine and limit

types of operation.

(1) Before we can identify specific materials

-BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MATERIALS HANDLING."

handling operations, it is necessary to know WHERE

(1) There are four things that can be done to

and WHAT materials handling takes place in our depots.

increase the efficiency of any job: take time for better

This can be done by determining what handling takes

planning, use better methods, get better utilization of

place in each of the three main operations: RECEIVING,

manpower and equipment, and provide better

STORING, and SHIPPING.

supervision. These four points are more easily said

(2) In the three basic operations of receiving,

than done. They are essentially the basis for a good

storing, and shipping, about 85 percent of all of the work

operation, but each in its own right presents a problem

in a warehouse is done. Unloading cars and trucks,

to those responsible for the operation.

moving from receiving platforms to storage points,

(2) The necessity for taking time to plan was

stacking at the storage point, pulling down those stacks,

mentioned previously but cannot be stressed too

moving back to the shipping point, and then loading the

strongly. As a matter of fact, much of the "planning"

cars and trucks these activities include most of the

should be "ADVANCE PLANNING." For example, to

interior transportation mentioned previously. In addition,

plan a receiving operation, we must know what

there is some materials handling that takes place in

commodities are coming in, how they will be received,

miscellaneous operations such as assembly, inspection,

by car or truck; how many are to be received; and where

packing, processing, and rewarehousing.

and how they will be stored. Such information should be

(3) After we have isolated the problems

available as far ahead of time as possible.

involved in each of these operations, we should then

Unfortunately, the supervisor concerned often does not

study them-one at a time. In this way, we can reduce,

have ALL OF THE INFORMATION to do a good

slowly but surely, the cost of our materials handling

PLANNING JOB.

operations, and thereby help to reduce the cost of the

(3) THE USE OF BETTER METHODS must

entire operation.

always be uppermost in the minds of supervisors. They

must not be content to do things because "they-have-

c. General way to raise efficiency.

always-been-done-that-way." There are very few jobs in

DEVELOP WAYS OF RAISING EFFICIENCY

which improvement cannot be made. The efficient

(REFER to blackboard)

improvement depends upon the supervisor's ability to

-"The TIME AND LABOR involved in these operations

analyze jobs properly, step by step.

amount to about 85 percent of all WORK done in our

(4) The assurance of better utilization of labor

storage and materials handling operations."

and equipment depends upon the results of a good

-"Therefore, if we can REDUCE the COST of

analysis. The supervisor, in the role of the watchdog,

HANDLING, we can greatly REDUCE the COST of the

must ever be on the lookout for waste.

WHOLE OPERATION."

(5) Better supervision is perhaps the hardest

-"In What GENERAL WAYS can we REDUCE the

to get.

There is an acute shortage of GOOD

COST and INCREASE the EFFICIENCY of operations?"

SUPERVISORS. We must develop our supervisors.

TRY TO OBTAIN the following points from the group,

They should know:

type of equipment available,

and discuss generally what each means and how it can

physical limitations of equipment, and basic materials

be applied.

handling principles.

7-31. Various Types of and Advantages in Using

BETTER PLANNING

Mechanical Equipment.

BETTER UTILIZATION OF MANPOWER AND

a. Types of equipment.

EQUIPMENT

BETTER METHODS

BETTER SUPERVISION

-TO ANALYZE THOROUGHLY and THINK THROUGH

our operations to ATTAIN our OBJECTIVE, we MUST

HAVE a WORKING KNOWLEDGE of the following:

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