Movement Factors.

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

-"Will some of you give specific examples where any or

operation to the next without lifting. Care must be taken

all of these advantages have been gained in your own

regarding the weight of the material handled by

operations by the proper use of mechanical equipment?"

conveyors. Heavy roller gravity conveyors can be used

in handling heavier material.

(1) To use mechanical equipment just for the

sake of using it, is NOT REASON ENOUGH. There are

certain advantages which are quite evident:

(c) In permanent operations roller

(a) Time. If time is not saved when we

gravity conveyors can be set up with a certain number

are using mechanical equipment, it is not properly used.

of power-driven "live rollers." In such operations as

Time SHOULD BE saved when equipment is added to

assembly of various kits or sets where the material is

an operation, if the equipment is in good condition and

not too heavy and the operation is permanent, power

is properly used.

belt conveyors can be installed and used efficiently.

The big advantage of a conveyor, particularly the power-

(b) Labor. Saving of labor can be

driven type, is that it ACTS AS A PACE SETTER FOR

accomplished if mechanical equipment is properly used;

THE OPERATION. In setting up any conveyor, care

this saving can come in the better utilization of labor.

should also be taken that it be the correct speed and

For example, in an extreme situation, if eight laborers

easiest working height from the floor or ground.

are used to unload a freight car, the addition of one or

two fork trucks to the job permits the unloading of TOW

CARS at the SAME TIME in LESS OVERALL TIME.

(7) Handlift truck.

The handlift truck,

sometimes known as the hydraulic pallet jack, can be

used to move pallet loads short distances as on and off

(2) We should be able to speed up the

elevators or for moving material in packing or inspection

movement of cars and trucks if we use mechanical

rooms. In no case should it be used to replace the

equipment properly. If, by the addition of mechanical

forklift truck, but merely to supplement it.

equipment and the reduction of manual handling in a

job, we reduce the amount of labor involved, we

(8) Two- and four-wheel platform trucks.

automatically REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY.

Although both of these types of hand trucks are used,

Reduction in labor and consequent reduction in injury

they are fast becoming outmoded. Two-wheel hand

can be effected only if mechanical equipment is

trucks can be used in handling large cartons, cases,

maintained and used properly.

bags, or barrels for very short hauls. The four-wheel

platform truck can be used in stock rooms and in

7-32. Movement Factors.

packing rooms for miscellaneous movement of material

a. Factors to be considered in horizontal

where it would not be economical to use mechanical

movement.

equipment.

POINT

OUT

OPERATING

PROBLEMS

HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT

-"Our definition of materials handling points out

b. There are advantages in using mechanical

that there are TWO TYPES of MOVEMENT

equipment.

HORIZONTAL and VERTICAL."

DISCUSS ADVANTAGES OF PROPER USE OF

-"In EACH TYPE of MOVEMENT there are

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN FACTORS which AFFECT our MATERIALS

-'"What are some of the ADVANTAGES that YOU

HANDLING OPERATIONS."

WANT to GAIN by the PROPER USE of this

-"We must UNDERSTAND these CONDITIONS

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT?"

PECULIAR to OUR OWN OPERATIONS BEFORE we

can PLAN an EFFICIENT OPERATION and

SAVE TIME (man-hours)

DETERMINE the TYPE of EQUIPMENT to be used."

SAVE LABOR

-"For example, we have to know whether the

SPEED MOVEMENT OF CARS AND TRUCKS

HAULING DISTANCE is LONG or SHORT."

GET MAXIMUM USE OF OVERHEAD SPACE

"We have to consider the PLATFORM SPACE, the

REDUCE INJURIES

CONDITION of ROADWAYS and FLOORS, and the

REDUCE DAMAGES

WIDTH of DOORS and AISLES." (LIST FACTORS on

blackboard)

7-31