Principles of Materials Handling.

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

cover up real understanding. Because of this, the word

or fork trucks as well as how and in what order such

often has been associated-incorrectly-with things

equipment can be used. Care must be taken to prevent

divorced from practical, down-to-earth facts that are so

damage and injury in handling materials in vertical

important to the average warehouseman. As pointed

movement. There are certain SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

out in the definition of principle "a principle is the

AND REGULATIONS as to stability, height, and weight

DEVELOPMENT of a theory which has been used many

of a stack that must be considered. Such elementary

times successfully and has become accepted as a

regulations are prohibiting men from riding or being

STANDARD RULE or PRACTICE." (2) Principles are

elevated on the forks are primary. The use of a

not theories. They are sound GROUND RULES which,

"backrest" and a overhead guard on a fork truck to

if applied, will work.

protect the operator from being injured by a falling load

are important. Training laborers in the proper way of

There are many principles applied to materials handling;

lifting to avoid strains is another safety need.

however, there are FIVE SIGNIFICANT PRINCIPLES.

Their meaning should be discussed at length and

7-33. Principles of Materials Handling.

subsequently applied to the various operations with

which the members are familiar.

a. Definition of principles of materials handling.

DEFINE "PRINCIPLE." DEVELOP IN DETAIL MAIN

These principles are: principle of straight-line flow;

PRINCIPLES OF MATERIALS HANDLING

principle of continuous flow; principle of concentration of

-"The third-and perhaps the most important-

operation; principle of efficient handling, applied to both

KNOWLEDGE a good warehouseman or storekeeper

manual and mechanical handling; principle of work,

must have, is knowledge of the PRINCIPLES OF

which includes what may be considered by some as

MATERIALS HANDLING."

another principle-that of a balanced operation.

-"Before discussing these, let's determine first what is

b. Principle of straight-line flow.

meant by 'PRINCIPLE'."

-"By PRINCIPLE of STRAIGHT-LINE FLOW we mean

-"One definition which covers it pretty well is: a

the MOVEMENT OF MATERIAL BETWEEN ANY TWO

PRINCIPLE is the DEVELOPMENT of a THEORY which

POINTS SHOULD TRAVEL BY WAY OF THE

has been USED MANY TIMES SUCCESSFULLY and

SHORTEST DISTANCE."

has become accepted as a STANDARD RULE or

-"This is based on the old principle-'a straight line is the

PRACTICE."

shortest distance between two points'."

"These PRINCIPLES are NOT THEORIES-

-"We cannot always travel in a STRAIGHT LINE, but we

THEY WORK!"

should always travel the SHORTEST DISTANCE."

"The most significant PRINCIPLES which should be

-"In our SHIPPING AND RECEIVING OPERATIONS,

applied are as follows:"

what is the FIRST THING TO BE CONSIDERED if this

(LIST PRINCIPLES on blackboard)

principle is to be applied?"

STRAIGHT-LINE FLOW

CAR SPOTTING

CONTINUOUS FLOW

CONCENTRATION OF OPERATION

-"In those cases where warehouses are constructed with

EFFICIENT HANDLING

multiple truck docks or with truck docks extending the

PRINCIPLE OF WORK

length of the warehouse, then TRUCK SPOTTING must

be considered also."

DISCUSS in detail each of these principles and use

-"What is the METHOD we use here in SPOTTING

them as a guide to analyze some operation which is

CARS?" DISCUSS the car spotting system and have the

being done in your organization.

group evaluate its efficiency.

(1) The third requisite of a good storage person is that

(1) THIS PRINCIPLE MEANS THAT THE

they know the basic principles of materials handling.

MOVEMENT OF MATERIALS BETWEEN ANY TWO

They must not only know what they are, but also

POINTS SHOULD TRAVEL BY WAY OF THE

understand how to APPLY them in THE OPERATION.

SHORTEST DISTANCE.

In application to our

They should be able to ascertain quickly when principles

problems, it cannot always be thought of as

do not apply and correct the condition immediately. Too

often the word "principle" is used as a "blanket" term to

7-33