Role of material handling in modern day industry

As you can see, material handling is the most important component of warehousing. Every aspect of the warehouse depends on whether you have the most time and labour-saving tools. While the initial cost of a fully functional operating system may be high, the savings over time far outweigh the initial investment. A good material handling supplier will have everything you need and the expertise to help you choose the best supplies from equip2go.com.au for your warehousing needs.

So far, the twenty-first century has been one of challenges. From the attacks to the global recession, there has been one challenge after another. These challenges have affected every sector of the economy. The material handling industry is at the heart of the economy and has had to adapt to every change.

At conferences and seminars across the country, materials management experts are meeting and overcoming the challenges and changes of the first decade of the new century. There are two themes they keep repeating: the need to improve supply line links and the need to come to terms with the global economy.

Material handling in small enterprises

Small enterprises may not need to take direct action against terrorism, large multinational corporations do. This was the warning given by content management executives at a recent conference. However, the advice he gave was applicable to all businesses. Central to his message was the two-fold need to strengthen existing links and to establish new, alternative supply line links in the event existing links break.

At another conference, another speaker didn't mince his words about how the US is still hiding its head in the sand about the global economy. He believes that the country cannot believe that it can fight unemployment by creating low-skilled jobs. Whatever workers are paid in this country, their counterparts around the world can do less. His answer is that this country has to do better, not harder.

How do these speakers' words apply to warehouses in the middle of Australia? The company operated successfully for decades until the recession hit. He now finds that his current customer base is shrinking while his labour costs are rising.
While this company does not need to worry about handling, it can learn lessons from the speaker who addressed the need to strengthen and expand supply line links. Perhaps the warehouse is too dependent on its long existing contracts and needs to find new ones. At the same time, it must continue to serve its existing customers.

If this Central Australia warehouse tried to do its part to solve the local unemployment problem by hiring more workers, it would eventually add more unemployed to the roster while its labour costs crippled its business. A better solution is to upgrade its operations and provide modern material handling skills support to motivated existing employees, thus ensuring that they are not redundant in the future.

Of course, these are just thoughts. Every material handling business faces its own set of challenges. Another business may be able to reach a global market by focusing its energy on its website presence and establishing overseas supply line links. However, the point is that it is time to face the facts and find solutions for the new millennium.

Final thoughts

Material handling equipment includes lift trucks and inventory handling systems such as conveyors, sorters, storage racks, shelving systems, and carousels. Lift trucks account for half of these total sales figures. Basically, it can be classified under five main heads, namely, transport equipment, positioning equipment, unit load forming equipment, storage equipment and inspection and control equipment.