Whether you’re a small business or a large organization, you likely have an operation where materials need to be moved on a daily basis. From manufacturing to retail and beyond, most businesses handle some type of material handling solution so their operations run smoothly without any unnecessary delays.
Choosing the right material handling equipment can help your company streamline storage and transportation, minimize employee costs, and improve efficiency. Fortunately, there is a wide range of material handling solutions available.
In this article, we’ll examine the various types of material handling solutions available, as well as factors to consider when choosing the best material handling equipment for your business.
What is Material Handling?
Material handling is the process of transporting products and materials, whether done manually or through automated equipment, from one location to another. This includes the distribution of incoming materials, the transportation of outgoing materials, or both, broadly classified as storage and transportation.
Five Types of Material Handling Solutions
There are various types of material handling solutions available, such as:
- Storage rack systems are ideal for organizing and storing stock items. Also known as a stock-keeping system (SKS), they have one or more racks to hold your items and a storage area to keep them organized.
- Storage cabinets are advanced versions of a stock rack system tailored to hold specific types of items, like pharmaceuticals, electronics, or miscellaneous items such as office supplies.
- Storage shelves are a simple system that holds a single item, perfect for smaller items requiring minimal space
- Pallet jacks are essential for transferring pallets efficiently from one place to another. Pallet jacks come in a variety of options, including manual, electric, and hydraulic.
- Automatic pallet changers move pallets so they can be loaded onto a truck for easy transportation between locations.
What to Consider When Choosing a Material Handling Solution
Some factors to consider in choosing an appropriate material handling solution include:
- Transportation modes: You should select the transportation mode that works best for your company’s needs. There are many different transportation modes to consider, such as a rollaway, conveyor system, or rack system.
- Material handling equipment: Consider the material handling equipment you plan to use. Assess equipment capabilities, maximum weight capacity, and maintenance requirements.
- Loading areas: Maximize efficiency by considering the location of your loading areas, including the size and shape, and resolving any potential loading issues that may cause delays.
- Storage area layout: Address clearance issues within the storage area, which is essential for large-scale operations.
When Should You Use the Right Material Handling Solution?
The best time to employ a material handling solution is when you need to move materials between different locations within your company or between your company and various other business locations.
Manufacturers benefit from storage rack systems if they need to collect materials from multiple suppliers. If you need to transport materials between different locations within your company, a storage cabinet system is great for storing different types of materials.
For retailers moving products between different stores or distribution centers, you can use storage rack systems to transport items. A storage shelf system, on the other hand, can be used to store and organize items.
If you’re a distributor, you can utilize storage rack systems for collecting raw materials from various suppliers and delivering them to production lines.
How to Select the Material Handling Equipment: Which Solution is Right for You?
Choosing the best material handling solution can help your company run more efficiently and increase employee satisfaction. When you choose the right material handling equipment, you can also improve productivity, streamline processes, and create a more agile and responsive business model capable of meeting evolving market demands.
B&G Industries is Your #1 Source for Pallets
Which material handling solution is right for you? B&G Industries is here to help you find the material handling equipment for your business. Schedule your free consultation today!