CHAPTER SIX

MATERIALS HANDLING
 Definition of material handling

 Materials handling is the short-distance movement

that takes place in or around a building such as a
plant or distribution center.
 Materials handling involves the packing, moving
and storing of substances in any form.
 It can also be defined as the movement of goods inside
the distribution center.
Objectives of materials
handling
1. To increase cube utilization

2. To improve operating efficiency by reducing

handling. Through increasing the load per move
will result in fewer moves.

3. To improve the service level by increasing the

speed of response to customer needs.
Benefits of Proper Materials Handling

 Reduction in wastage of machine time

 Reduction in manufacture cycle time
 Avoiding disruption in production schedule
 Bring safety to workers and provide for safer
working conditions
 Bring customer satisfaction
 Enhances productivity and avoid high costs
 Principles of Materials Handling

 Shortest possible distance

 Do not retrace your path
 Terminal time should be kept as short as possible
 Partial loads and manual handling should be
avoided.
 Utilize gravity as moving force as far as possible.
Traditional and modern view of materials
handling

 The traditional view of materials handling see

material handling as non value adding and only
contributing to the cost of the product.
 As such, material handling should be avoided and
minimized as much as possible.
 The modern view recognize that a product is worth
more if it is at the right place and at the right time.
Factors affecting materials Handling System

1. Production system. Intermittent and continuous

 Intermittent systems are used where a variety of jobs are
being done at the same time on a variety of machines and in a
variety of places.
 Since a great deal of flexibility is necessary it is likely that
variable path equipment will be used such as lift trucks,
pallets, hand trucks and trolleys.
 In continuous: extensive use of conveyors, cranes, hoists,

pipelines and in modern plants, automatic of transfer

machines
Factors affecting materials Handling System
…cont’d
2. Type of products to be handled
 Pipelines: used for Powders, liquids and gases.

 Cranes and hoists are best suited to very heavy

lifting jobs, where the material to be used cannot be

easily lifted from below.
 Conveyors: used where high volumes of products

move from one fixed point to another.

 Trucks: used where flexible destinations are required

and where the volume of material to be moved may

be low.
Factors affecting materials Handling System
…cont’d

3. Types of building. The number of floors has a direct

effect on the devices which should be used.
 Single- store building, the most common type being

built today lends themselves to the use of lift trucks

and conveyors.
 Multi-stored building, however, finds themselves to
the use of gravity flow with pipelines and shutters
which is the most economical method of materials
handling.
Factors affecting materials Handling System
…cont’d

4. Cost of Material Handling. The last major

factor is the cost of various devices which are
available for use.
 The usual life of equipment will also affect the

decision.
 Resale or scrap value is the other factor.

 operating costs which include fuel maintenance,

repair, insurance and labor costs

 MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT

There are many types of materials handling equipment.

1. Conveyors;
It is a devices that move material (or people)
horizontally or vertically between two fixed points.
Conveyors are used:
1. When material is to be moved frequently between
specific points
2. To move materials over a fixed path
3. When there is a sufficient flow volume to justify the
fixed conveyor investment
Conveyors
 Cont’d
2. Cranes and hoists; equipment used to move materials
over variable paths within a restricted area
 Within their area of operation, they are very flexible.

 Used to move loads over variable paths within a restricted

area
 Used when there is insufficient (or intermittent) flow

volume
 More flexibility in movement than conveyors

 Less flexibility in movement than industrial trucks

 Most cranes utilize hoists for vertical movement

Cranes
iii. Industrial Trucks; -
Equipment used to move materials over variable paths, with
no restrictions on the area covered by the movement.
 To move materials over variable (horizontal) paths with no
restrictions vertical movement if the truck has lifting.
 Used when there is insufficient (or intermittent) flow volume
 Provide more flexibility in movement
 Not licensed to travel on public roads
Industrial trucks
Precautions to be taken when moving materials manually

 Workers should always wear appropriate personal protective

equipment and use proper lifting techniques.
 Hand and forearm protection, such as gloves, for loads
with sharp or rough edges.
 Eye protection.
 Steel-toed safety shoes or boots.
 Metal, fiber, or plastic metatarsal guards to protect the instep
area from impact or compression.
 Precautions to be taken when moving materials mechanically

 Employees should avoid overloading equipment when moving

materials mechanically by letting the weight, size, and shape of the
material being moved..

 Employers must ensure that the equipment-rated capacity is

displayed on each piece of equipment and is not exceeded except
for load testing.

 Although workers may be knowledgeable about powered

equipment, they should take precautions when stacking and storing
 Important Safety Measures
 Employers must train employees in the proper use and
limitations of the equipment they operate.
 In addition to powered industrial trucks, this includes knowing
how to safely and effectively use equipment such as conveyors,
cranes, etc.…
 Use some basic safety procedures such as adopting
 Sound ergonomics practices,
 Taking general fire safety protections, and
 keeping aisles and passageways clear.
Ergonomics

 Ergonomics is defined as the study of work and is

based on the principle that the job should be
adapted to fit the person.
 Ergonomics focuses on the work environment
 Ergonomics includes restructuring or changing
workplace conditions, to make the job easier.
CODIFICATION AND SPECIFICATION

 Codification is a process of assigning a unique

code to an item for its easy and complete
identification.
 They not only facilitate proper accounting and
identification of stores but also contribute
immensely in standardization and variety
reduction.
SPECIFICATION

 Exact statement of the particular needs to be

satisfied, or essential characteristics that a customer
requires and which a vendor must deliver.
 It measure the degree of conformance
 Specifications are divided generally into two main
categories:
 Cont’d

1. Performance specifications: conform to known

customer requirements such as keeping a room's
temperature within a specified range.

2. Technical specifications: express the level of

performance of the individual units.
Thanks