Material Handling System

Material Handling is the movement, storage, control and protection of materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. The focus is on the methods, mechanical equipment, systems and related controls used to achieve these functions. The material handling industry manufactures and distributes the equipment and services required to implement material handling systems. Material handling systems range from simple pallet rack and shelving projects, to complex conveyor belt and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Material handling can also consist of sorting and picking, as well as automatic guided vehicles. - From Wikipedia

Essential Of Good Material Handling System:
- Efficient and safe movement of materials to the desired place.
- Timely movement of the materials when needed.
- Supply of materials at the desired rate.
- Storing of materials utilizing minimum space.
- Lowest cost solution to the materials handling activities.

Advantages Of Material Handling System:
- Improve efficiency of a production system by ensuring the right quantity of materials delivered at the right place at the right time most economically.
- Cut down indirect labor cost.
- Reduce damage of materials during storage and movement.
- Maximize space utilization by proper storage of materials and thereby reduce storage and handling cost.
- Minimize accident during materials handling.
- Reduce overall cost by improving materials handling.
- Improve customer services by supplying materials in a manner convenient for handlings.
- Increase efficiency and saleability of plant and equipment with integral materials handling features.

Disadvantages Of Material Handling System:
- Additional capital cost involved in any materials handling system.
- Once a materials handling system get implemented, flexibility for further changes gets greatly reduced.
- With an integrated materials handling system installed, failure/stoppage in any portion of it leads to increased downtime of the production system.
- Materials handling system needs maintenance, hence any addition to materials handling means additional maintenance facilities and costs.