Material handling is an essential process in many industries and involves the movement, storage, control, and protection of materials and products throughout the manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution processes.
The goal of material handling operations is to improve efficiency, productivity, safety, and profitability while reducing costs and waste. To achieve these goals, there are ten principles of material handling that everyone involved in the process should follow, whether reviewing existing methods or looking at new processes.
Let's take a look at each of the principles of material handling and the questions you should ask yourself when assessing the movement of products, equipment or raw materials, and what material handling equipment and material handling systems may be required.
Material handling is the movement, protection, storage and control of materials and products throughout manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, consumption and disposal.
The planning principle involves identifying the materials that need to be moved, determining the best way to move them, and ensuring that the process is safe and efficient. When using the planning principle to assess a material handling task, ask yourself the following questions:
The standardisation principle involves using the same processes and material handling equipment for similar tasks to reduce variability and improve efficiency. When considering standardisation, ask yourself:
Our electric tugs and tows are often used for a variety of load movement tasks, helping to drive standardisation of material handling equipment and maximise efficiency.
This involves minimising the amount of physical work required within material handling systems to move materials by using equipment and automation, rather than pushing the limits of human capabilities. When considering the work principle, ask yourself:
Putting stress and strain on people only creates risk, so eliminating manual handling helps to protect the workforce, keeping them safe, but also empowers them to be more efficient.
The Ergonomic principle involves designing workstations and material handling equipment to minimise physical strain and fatigue. When considering ergonomics, ask yourself:
The Ergonomic principle is one we pay close attention to at MasterMover, when designing material handling equipment, to ensure our electric tugs and tows are easy to use for safe and effective operations!
Looking at Unit loads involves consolidating materials into a single load for more efficient movement, to maximise physical material flow. When considering the unit load principle, ask yourself:
Trains of trolleys, platforms or dollies are often a good way to way to move more material in one go, reducing total trips or the number of times a task is carried out.
The Space Utilisation principle involves maximising the use of available space for handling and storage activities. Warehouse space is often at a premium - even in terms of overhead space - and the same is true in manufacturing environments. When considering space utilisation, ask yourself:
The Systems principle involves using a coordinated system of processes, equipment, and people to improve material flow, improve operational efficiency and reduce waste. When considering the system principle, ask yourself:
A coordinated system is essential to ensure material handling processes, and the wider operation, runs smoothly.
The Automation principle involves using technology to automate material movement for improved efficiency and safety. When considering automation in material handling systems, ask yourself:
Ultimately if a material handling task is being repeated often, and especially where it involves regular travel times, AGV solutions could be the answer.
This involves considering the impact of material handling processes and material handling systems on the environment and taking steps to reduce waste and improve sustainability. When considering the environment, ask yourself:
Utilizing battery powered material handling equipment is often a good place to start, with simple charging, zero emissions and a quieter running noise level.
The Life Cycle Cost principle involves considering the total cost of material handling processes, including material handling equipment and time to run them. When considering the entire life cycle cost of material movement processes, ask yourself:
Sacrificing productivity by not investing in the right equipment and processes will only have a negative impact ultimately.
Following these ten principles of material handling can have several benefits for businesses, including:
By asking yourself the right questions for each principle and implementing the necessary changes, you can create a material handling process that boosts operational efficiency, safe, and is sustainable.
Remember, every material handling task is different, so it's important to consider each principle carefully and tailor your approach accordingly.
MasterMover electric tugs and tows have been designed with many of the 10 principles of material handling in mind. So, if you are looking for the right equipment to drive efficiency and safety when moving loads on wheels, please get in touch!