Planning

All material handling should be the result of a deliberate plan where the needs, performance objectives and functional specification of the proposed methods are completely defined at the outset.

So What is a Plan?

A plan is a prescribed course of action that is defined in advance of implementation. In its simplest form a material handling plan defines the material (what) and the moves (when and where); together they define the method (how and who).

• The material handling plan should reflect the strategic objectives of the organization as well as the more immediate needs.
• The plan should document existing methods and problems, physical and economic constraints, and future requirements and goals.
  
• The plan should promote concurrent engineering of product, process design, process layout, and material handling methods, as opposed to independent and sequential design practices.

  LifeCycle

Life cycle costs include all cash flows that will occur between the time the first dollar is spent to plan or procure a new piece of equipment, or to put in place a new method, until that method and/or equipment is totally replaced.

So What Should I Include?

• A long-range plan for replacement of the equipment when it becomes obsolete should be prepared.
• Measurable cost is a primary factor, it is certainly not the only factor.
  
• Include capital investment, installation, setup and equipment programming, training, system testing and acceptance, operating (labor, utilities, etc.), maintenance and repair, reuse value, and ultimate disposal.
  
• Plan for preventive and predictive maintenance when applicable and if possible the estimated cost of spare parts and cost of maintenance  

  Environment

Environmental consciousness stems from a desire not to waste natural resources and to predict and eliminate the possible negative effects of our daily actions on the environment.

• Accommodate the handling of material and other by-products of material handling.
• Your units should be designed and built for reusability and if applicable, be biodegradable
• Materials specified as hazardous have special needs with regard to spill protection, combustibility and other risks.

There are other principles to consider so please comment and let us know what driving factor impacts your day to day operations.  Have questions?  We'd love to hear from you!