1. Material handling
Defined as the art and science of moving, packing and storing of substances in any form.
Creation of time and place utility
Movement and storage of material at the lowest possible cost through the use of proper methods and equipments.
Lifting, shifting and placing of materials which effect a saving in money, time and place
Art and science of conveying, elevating, positioning, transporting, packaging and storing of materials

2. Importance of M H
Efficient material handling is important to manufacturing operations. Materials sent by vendors must be unloaded, moved through inspections and production operations to stores and finally to the shipping department.
These movements do not add value to the product but they do add value to the cost

3. Material handling analysis is a subset of plant layout
Material handling analysis is a subset of plant layout. Method study, plant layout and material handling are all part of the design of a production facility
Material handling system and plant layout enhance effectiveness of each other.
Efficient operation of appropriate material handling methods reduces costs and enables maximum capabilities to be derived from a given production facility

4. Objectives
Main objective is to reduce the number of handlings as well as the overall cost of material handling equipment and reducing the distances through which the materials are handled.
The other objectives:

5. Lower unit material handling costs
Reduction in manufacturing cycle time through faster movement of materials and by reducing the distance through which the materials are moved. Reduction in manufacturing cycle time results in reduced work –in –progress inventory costs.
Improved working conditions and greater safety in movement of materials
Contribute to better quality by avoiding damage to products by inefficient handling
Increased storage capacity through better utilisation of storage areas
Higher productivity at lower manufacturing cost

6. Material handling principles
Eliminate handling
If not, make handling distance as short as possible
Keep moving
If not, reduce the time spent at terminal points of a route as short as possible
Use simple patterns of material flow
The simplest path is a straight line, if not, avoid back tracking, cross overs
Carry pay loads both ways
If not, minimise time spent on transport empty by changing speed in return route
Carry full loads
-- If not, decrease carrying capacity by lowering the speed
Use gravity
If not use, use a cheaper power source

7. Material handling costs
Cost of owning and maintaining the equipment
Cost of operating the system
This is generally elusive

8. The product will not be worth any more to the customer simply because it was moved
Reduction of the cost
Eliminating the handling itself whenever, wherever possible.
Mechanising, largely by power conveyors, whatever handling still remains
Making the necessary handling more efficient.

9. Organisation for materials handling
The structure varies with industry, type of manufacturing process, the product manufactured, its bulk and its value
In small firms, it may be one of the functions assigned to the plant engineer, purchasing manager or production manager.
Big firms , a separate dept. itself is developed to study procedures and devise better handling techniques. When thus organised, they form part of industrial engineering division.

10. Unit load concept
Unit load is a number of items, or bulk material, so arranged that the mass can be picked up and moved as a single object, too large for manual handling.
Advantages:
Disadvanatages:
Cost of unitising & de unitising
Equipment
Bare weight of unitising medium
Problem of returning empty pallet
Transfer equipment often not available at both ends of the move

11. Flow pattern
When drawn on paper, the flow pattern becomes a flow chart, which will help locate needless criss crossing and back tracking of material movements. Once unwanted movements are known, steps can be taken to eliminate or reduce such moves.

13. Advantages of a good flow pattern
Increased efficiency of production
Better utilisation of floor space
Simplified handling activities
Better equipment utilisation, less idle time
Reduced in-process time
Reduced in-process inventory
More efficient utilisation of work force
Reduced product damage
Reduced walking distance
Minimal accident hazards
Basis for an efficient layout
Faster supervision

14. Minimal back tracking
Smooth production flow
Improved scheduling process
Reduced crowded conditions
Better house keeping
Logical work sequencing

15. Factors affecting selection of M H Equipments
Production problem
Volume of production, class of materials, layout of plant
Capabilities of handling equipments available
Adaptability, flexibility, load capacity, power, speed, space requirement, supervision requirement, ease of maintenance, environment, cost
The human element involved
safety

16. Types of material handling equipments
Conveyors
Belt conveyors, Chain conveyors, Roller conveyors, Pneumatic conveyors, bucket conveyors, screw conveyors, pipeline conveyors, vibratory conveyors, chute or gravity conveyors.
Do not require operators, inexpensive to operate
Cranes, Elevators and Hoists
Cranes – overhead rails or ground rails or wheels
Elevators – between floors – vertically
Hoists - vertically, horizontally – limited area – electric or chain hoist
Industrial trucks

23. Miscellaneous Handling equipments
Pipe lines
Automatic transfer devices
Automatic Guided vehicles
No operators, flexibility in paths, signals through wires on floor. A remote control computer reqd.
Industrial Robots
Built in control – can be programmed – hence very versatile