The Ultimate Guide to How Do I Choose Material Handling Equipment

The Ultimate Guide to How Do I Choose Material Handling Equipment

Meta Description: Learn how to choose the right material handling equipment for your operation by evaluating space, materials, workflows, and costs. Find tips on researching standard options like conveyors, forklifts, and racks to optimize efficiency and productivity for your unique needs.

Choosing the right material handling equipment is crucial for optimizing operations in any facility. A careful selection process ensures the right tools are in place to move materials throughout your workflows efficiently.

This guide will help you understand the key factors to consider when evaluating your options. From assessing spatial needs and throughput volumes to researching suitable equipment types and costs, these steps will aid in identifying solutions tailored to your unique application.

Key Takeaways

• Carefully evaluate your facility, materials, workflows, and costs before selecting material handling equipment.
• Research standard options like conveyors, forklifts, cranes, and racks that suit your application.
• Compare purchase, operational, and potential labor savings costs over five years.
• Consult industry experts for unbiased analysis and recommendations from experienced suppliers.
• Conduct equipment trials to validate the solution for your unique needs and future flexibility.

Understanding Your Material Handling Needs

Properly evaluating your material handling system requirements is essential for choosing equipment that will meet your current and future needs. Taking time to understand critical aspects of your operation, such as available space, handled materials, and typical workflows, will ensure your selected solution is a good fit.

Evaluating Your Space Requirements

When assessing space requirements for storage equipment, carefully measure your facility’s floor areas, shelving spaces, mezzanines, and clearances. Note ceiling heights and any structural elements that may limit equipment size. Consider future expansion plans when reserving space. With constrained areas, look into vertical lift modules, narrow aisle racking, or mobile shelving to maximize storage density.

Assessing Your Material Types and Volumes

Carefully inventory all material types handled – from raw materials and components to finished goods. Note weights, sizes, shapes, and any special handling requirements. Track current and projected volumes to size equipment for peak throughput.

Heavier, bulky, or fragile items may require different equipment like forklifts, cranes, or conveyors versus manual pallet trucks for lighter loads.

Analyzing Your Typical Workflows

Map out workflows for receiving, storage, order fulfillment, inventory management, packaging, and shipping. Note movement frequencies between areas and typical load sizes.

Consider automation for repetitive, ergonomically challenging, or time-sensitive tasks like sortation and replenishment. Flow efficiency is key – optimize for direct and efficient material movement that flows without congestion.

In conclusion, taking the time upfront to understand spatial, material, and process specifics lays the groundwork for choosing the best material handling equipment suited to your unique operation and business growth strategy. Contact rental experts for assistance with requirements evaluations.

Researching Equipment Options

Thoroughly researching the different types of material handling equipment available is key to shortlisting the options that best match your unique needs. Taking time to learn about common solutions will help narrow the field.

Conveyors and Sortation Systems

Conveyors efficiently move materials horizontally, vertically, or at an angle within a facility. Belt, roller, overhead, or floor conveyors connect process steps.

Sortation systems use diverters, scanners, and chutes to separate and route items to unique destinations like shipping containers. These automated solutions optimize workflow but require more space.

Forklifts and Lift Trucks

Internal combustion or electric forklifts in different capacities lift and transport pallets, bins, and rolling stock within 4-24 feet lift heights. Reach trucks and extend forks for high-bay access. Tow tractors pull wheeled trailers of containers and racks. Manual pallet jacks and stackers move lighter loads short distances.

Cranes and Hoists

Gantry, bridge or overhead cranes lift and move heavy loads over long-spans. Hoists and winches suspend loads for lifting and lowering in confined areas or onto mezzanines. Cranes require high ceilings and clear floor areas but improve ergonomics and efficiency for bulk and heavy materials.

Storage Racks and Shelving

Pallet racks in various configurations maximize vertical floor space. Shelving, bins, and carousels organize smaller items. Mobile racking systems on rails reconfigure storage density.

Select rack type and structural strength based on load weight, inventory levels, and throughput needs.

Thorough research of these material handling equipment options considering facility constraints and operational needs allows for creating a shortlist of suitable solutions for trials or pilots.

Consult experts for recommendations, product specifications, and total cost of ownership analyses. Hands-on testing best validates appropriate material handling equipment supplier selection.

Comparing Costs and Benefits

A full cost-benefit analysis considers both the cost considerations and the short-term and long-term financial impacts of material handling equipment choices.

Purchase and Installation Expenses

Initial outlays cover the equipment cost as well as set-up and integration work. Consultants can estimate these costs and potential savings from the supplier’s price quotes. Financing options allow suitable equipment to be procured without large capital outlays.

Ongoing Operational Costs

Recurring expenses include utilities, repairs, preventative maintenance contracts, spare parts inventory, and consumables. Automated systems have higher electrical costs, whereas manual equipment incurs labor expenditures. Projecting 5-year operational and maintenance costs aid comparison.

Potential Labor and Efficiency Savings

New equipment can reduce strenuous manual material movement, speed up processes, and improve workflow consistency. Fewer production interruptions and increased output per worker from automated equipment enhance productivity. Downsizing labor needs or redeploying staff generates savings. Faster inventory turns, and order processing helps boost customer satisfaction.

A full review of expenses, potential savings, and intangible benefits provides clarity on options with the best value over time. While upfront costs are higher for automated solutions, their various operational efficiency and ergonomic benefits help reduce total operational costs and improve bottom lines in the long run for many operations.

Consulting Experts for Recommendations

With many equipment options available, expert guidance from experienced consultants can streamline the selection process.

Seeking Referrals from Other Businesses

Contacting other businesses in similar industries for referrals to reputable material-handling consultants and suppliers is recommended. Discussing customized solutions with peers provides valuable first-hand insight into performance, operating and maintenance costs, needs, and total costs of ownership.

Evaluating Supplier Reputations and Services

Suppliers with proven industry experience, supplier reputation, and positive customer satisfaction ratings instill confidence in their recommendations and post-sale support. In-depth discussions on application expertise, flexible rental options, maintenance contracts, employee training programs, and quick response times for service requests ensure the right supplier partner is chosen.

Consultants perform unbiased evaluations of facility requirements and provide objective opinions on suitable equipment after vetting specifications. Their analyses factor in current needs as well as future flexibility for process changes.

Taking advantage of industry knowledge and past project experience streamlines the selection process and helps make an informed choice.