Definition and Functions of MHE

hello!

just to get all of us familiar with the topic of our blog, here's a brief definition:

Material Handling Equipment (MHE) are mechanical devices for handling of supplies with greater ease and economy. MHE facilitates the movement and storage of materials within a facility or at a site.

The basic FUNCTIONS of MHE:

1. Transport: moving the material from one location to another. (e.g. between workplaces, loading docks & storgae area)

2. Positioning: handling material at a single location so that it is in the correct position for subsequent handling, machining, transport, or storage.

3. Unit Load Formation: to restrict materials so that they maintain their integrity when handled a single load during transport and storage.

4. Storage: holding or buffering materials over a period of time. Some may involved the transport of the materials too.

5. Identification and Control: to collect and communicate the information used to coordinate the flow of materials within a facility and between a facility and its suppliers and customers.

credits to: http://www.ise.ncsu.edu/

personal opinion: i believe that although all the 5 functions of MHE are important and relevant, TRANSPORTING the goods in the warehouse is a crucial one. Not only that this itself involves the load formation, positioning and storage, it is also the most obvious purpose of MHE. wouldn't you agree with me that you will first think about "movement of goods" when material handling equipments are concerned?

oh, and i think that the appropriate choice of MHE and the proper manner in which the MHE is used will also affect the quality of the goods and their packaging especially when they are being moved.

Well, now that we are aware of what MHE is and its basic functions, we are ready to go deeper and learn more.

-ann-