Sponsored jointly by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and International Material Management Society, this single source reference is designed to meet today's need for updated technical information on planning, installing and operating materials handling systems. It not only classifies and describes the standard types of materials handling equipment, but also analyzes the engineering specifications and compares the operating capabilities of each type. Over one hundred professionals in various areas of materials handling present efficient methods, procedures and systems that have significantly reduced both manufacturing and distribution costs.

The manufacturing industry has been optimized in recent years due to the rise of new technologies. These advances have paved the way for the development of intelligent vehicles. Intelligent Vehicles and Materials Transportation in the Manufacturing Sector: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal source of scholarly research on the various aspects of manufacturing vehicles with intelligent technology components. Including a range of perspectives on topics such as material handling, automated guided vehicles, and industrial robots, this book is ideally designed for engineers, academics, professionals, and practitioners actively involved in the manufacturing sector.

Timeless Insights for Planning and Managing 21st-Century Warehouse Operations Despite today's just-in-time production mentality, with its efforts to eliminate warehouses and their inventory carrying costs, effective warehousing continues to play a critical bottom-line role for companies worldwide. World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling covers today's state-of-the-art tools, metrics, and methodologies for dramatically increasing the effectiveness, accuracy, and overall productivity of warehousing operations. Written by one of today's recognized logistics thought leaders, this comprehensive resource provides authoritative answers on such topics as: The seven principles of world-class warehousing Warehouse activity profiling Warehouse performance measures Warehouse automation and computerization Receiving and put away Storage and retrieval operations Picking and packing Humanizing warehouse operations World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling describes the processes and systems required for meeting the changing demands of warehousing. Filled with practices from proven to innovative, it will help all logistics professionals improve the productivity, quality, and cycle time of their existing warehouse operations. Not too long ago, effective warehousing was a relatively straightforward progression of receiving, storing, and shipping. But in today's age of e-commerce, supply chain integration, globalization, and just-in-time methodology, warehousing has become more complex than at any time in the pastnot to mention more costly. World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling breaks through the confusing array of warehouse technology, buzzwords, and third-party providers to describe the principles of warehousing required for the implementation of world-class warehousing operations. Holding up efficiency and accuracy as the keys to success in warehousing, it is the first widely published methodology for warehouse problem solving across all areas of the supply chain, providing an organized set of principles that can be used to streamline all types of warehousing operations. Case studies from Avon, Ford, Xerox, True Value Hardware, and others detail how today's most innovative logistics and supply chain managers are arriving at proven solutions to a wide variety of warehousing challenges. Topics discussed include: Warehouse activity profilingfor identifying causes of information and material flow problems and pinpointing opportunities for improvement Warehouse performance measuresfor monitoring, reporting, and benchmarking warehouse performance Storage and retrieval system selectionfor improving storage density, handling productivity, and trade-offs in required capital investment Order picking strategiesfor improving the productivity and accuracy of order fulfillment Computerizing warehousing operationsfor profiling activity, monitoring performance, and simplifying operations World-Class Warehousing and Material Handling integrates global and e-commerce issues as it addresses customization, information technology, performance analysis, expansion and contraction planning, and the overall role of the warehouse in logistics management and the supply chain. Filled with proven operational solutions, it will guide managers as they develop a warehouse master plan, one designed to minimize the effects of supply chain inefficiencies as it improves logistics accuracy and inventory managementand reduces overall warehousing expense.

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The ergonomics focus is on how to design work tasks, tools, and environments to fit the capabilities and limitations of people. Ergonomic Design for Material Handling Systems describes how ergonomics can be applied specifically to load handling, both in the original design of systems and in their modification to make jobs easier and safer. Proven techniques (such as flow charting, or job analysis) are combined with new considerations (such as biomechanics and repetitive trauma) to optimize facility, work station, equipment, and job procedures. Ergonomic Design for Material Handling Systems shows how ergonomics overlaps and intertwines with traditional engineering and management, uniting them to produce ease and efficiency in material handling. This book demonstrates how to lay out facilities in order to achieve the most efficient and safe design. It tells how to organize tasks, machinery, people, and materials to improve work flow and "humanize" your workplaces. Consideration of human needs and abilities contributes essentially to successful performance-let this practical book be your guide.