2011 represented the year in which the U.S relied on less foreign oil than in any of the previous 16 years. But even with domestic oil production doing relatively well, the U.S. produces only two percent of the world’s oil reserves.

“Because of new technologies, because we can now access natural gas that we couldn’t access before in an economic way, we’ve got a supply of natural gas under our feet that can last America nearly a hundred years,” said Obama. “And developing it could power our cars and our homes and our factories in a cleaner and cheaper way. The experts believe it could support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. We, it turns out, are the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. We’ve got a lot of it.”

In April 2011, Obama discussed the rollout of the White House’s National Clean Fleets Partnership designed to assist large companies with reducing diesel and gasoline usage in their fleets by meshing electronic vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-savings measures. This effort focuses on replacing gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles with advanced technology vehicles or those that run on alternative fuels like electricity, natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, or propane. Fourteen corporate partners, including UPS, FedEx, AT&T, and PepsiCo among others have joined the force to change the way we operate vehicles and technology.

“Industry and business leaders all support the use of available energy resources within the United States to make the U.S. less dependent upon foreign oil as well as to increase job opportunities,” Brittain Ladd, global supply chain consultant for CapGemini, reported in a Modern Materials Handling article. “My recommendation is that there should be a collaboration between business, communities and government to ensure that there is a strategy in place to optimize the energy resources we have available to drive adoption as fast as possible.”

For more updates on our country’s forward movement toward greener and more resourceful practices, be sure to check back in with our blog at The Material Handling Company

Because warehouses are known for having enormous overhead costs, many of them have shifted into greener practices to maximize their return on investment. Such  businesses are revisiting the fundamentals: reduce, reuse and recycle.

 REDUCE

Reducing overall consumption (e.g. amount of packaging for shipping that is used) is the first place to start when it comes to alleviating the stresses of overspending. More advanced packing materials reduce weight and, therefore, decreases shipping costs. Companies are beginning to use motion sensors for lighting so electricity isn’t wasted. Another energy – and money – saver is to charge forklifts during off-peak hours when energy costs are lower.

REUSE

Warehouses do a good job already of reusing materials, such as wood pallets and plastic totes. But, they still have room for improvement. One way to reuse materials is with returnable packaging for products. Packaging can be very expensive to manufacturers and it usually becomes lost after shipping. By making it easier for customers to return and reuse packing product, less waste is created and more money can be saved.

RECYCLE

Sending used packaging and packing materials to recycling facilities instead of waste facilities is much more environmentally sound. Also, properly recycling batteries, oils and chemicals are becoming a major focus, especially by business auditors. While you may not see an immediate ROI, following these practices can significantly reduce costs.

Converting your warehouse into a greener space with greener practices is no immediate change. However, you can start with the small things like recycling paper instead of tossing them in the trash, printing only what is necessary and turning off electricity where and when it is not necessary.

Fore more information on making your workspace – warehouse or not – a greener place, check back with us at Material Handling Company or find us on Twitter for the industry’s beats and insights.

Perhaps unknown to some, there is a shortage of skilled manufacturers. To combat this issue, Dayton Progress Corporation in Ohio – a worldwide leader in precision metal fabrication – has announced a “manufacturing challenge.” This challenge is to bring awareness to careers in manufacturing and will target Dayton area high school students.

THE CHALLENGE

The Dayton Progress Manufacturing Challenge consists of a prize valued at over $40,000 and will be awarded to the high school with the most creative and effective promotional program of career opportunities in manufacturing. The winning school will receive state-of-the-art manufacturing computer technology (hardware and software) in addition to student scholarships.

While careers in manufacturing are some of the most unique (and high-paying), they don’t receive the credit they deserve given that manufacturing jobs typically do not require a college degree. Therefore, there is minimal – if any – focus on the manufacturing industry in secondary schools. Dayton Progress Corporation has created this challenge to reward schools and their students who honor the industry through awareness.

Not all students see the college experience as part of their future. For those who do, a career in manufacturing can still be their chosen path. This challenge will give four select students the opportunity to explore the industry while still in high school through a paid after-school internship. The goal of the internship is two fold: to provide high quality training in manufacturing and also to provide leeway into a full-time position (in lieu of college or post college).

“Dayton Progress is pleased to be taking a leadership role in the effort to alleviate the severe shortage of skilled workers through awareness of manufacturing careers,” President & CEO Alan Shaffer said in a Modern Materials Handling article.  “As one of the largest area manufacturers, we want to make high school students aware of the high-paying career opportunities in this region. It is also important to reward those schools and their students who do the best job of career awareness development,” Shaffer said.

HOW YOUR WAREHOUSE CAN REDUCE PRODUCT DAMAGE

• Check and re-check pallets. Stringers, nails or missing support blocks, or faulty plants have the potential to cause loading and unloading malfunctions. In one particular instance, loose stringers can get hung up on pallet racks and cause a load to collapse.
• Be clean and pristine. Cluttered and disorganized aisles are recipes for product damage. This disorganization could force forklifts to maneuver around obstructions, creating the likelihood that a forklift may drop a load or run into shelving and other racking systems.
• Manage your weight. Overloading shelving or racks can cause a dangerous collapse, which could destroy thousands of dollars worth of inventory. Make sure you and your team knows the capacities your storage systems can hold. Unfortunately, It is common to ignore capacity and warning signs until it’s too late and an accident happens. These signs should be taken very seriously.
• Invest and install safety equipment. It may not feel like it’s in your budget to go all out on purchasing the best safety equipment. However, installing rack safety netting may prevent injury or death of an employee. Rack safety netting can help stop cartons from crashing down off of palletized loads. Pallet rack column protectors are another option  and are typically less expensive.
• Use accumulation conveyors. Accumulation conveyors hold products in place until signaled for release. This helps to stop collisions through minimal or no driving pressure.

These five accident preventatives are a few of many to help keep your warehouse products safe and sound. Whether you’re in the market for purchasing additional safety equipment, learning new best practices and how-tos, Material Handling Network is your connection. We provide you – material handling manufacturers and distributors – with education, industry leads and advertising services. For more information on how to get started working with us, contact us today at:

Matt Witte

mwitte@abstraktmg.com

(314) 338-8824

 The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 and the Provisions and Use of Work Equipment Regulations state that racking and shelving systems must have regular inspections by a qualified individual. This process helps warehouses to comply with the law and best practices, as well as identify any flaws or problem areas in this system that may otherwise go unnoticed.

THE PALLET RACK AND KEEPING THINGS SAFE

The modern pallet rack is considered to be a sturdy “workhouse” that has the capabilities to hold a particular capacity as long as it is not overused, overloaded or poorly built. It is common for pallet racks to experience slight damage, which can either go unnoticed or unreported.

Maybe you are doing the inspections or choose to bring in external parties to conduct them. Regardless, there are three components below that should be checked:

• Racks should be level. Floors can be uneven or maybe the rack was installed with extensive shims. Crooked or misaligned racks are a recipe for collapse with the potential to damage to thousands of products and danger to warehouse personnel.

• Check for rust or material corrosion. Over time, metal typically finds a way to rust, regardless of the environment, exposure to water or other external factors. If you notice scraped or severely scratched paint, it is likely that your rack had some sort of a collision or corrosion.

• Overloaded racks are extremely hazardous. It’s not always something you can tell at first glance, but overloading racks is more common than not and it’s the number one reason for damaged racks and disasters involving them. Rack capacities should be clear and stressed as extremely important.

If your material handling company does not have a safety team on staff or someone knowledgeable on how to do inspections, consider incorporating this into your business model. Or, you can outsource it and look to companies like PeakLogix to provide you with new pallet racks or help with repairs. In our industry, safety is critical. For more guidance and insights on the material handling industry, check back in with us!

WHERE FORKLIFTS CAME FROM

Hoists – apparatuses to lift and lower products – gave birth to the forklift, but that was after several years of hoists operated as chains and winches. Eventually the chains and winches evolved into wooden platform trucks in the 20^th century, paving the way to electrical motors and traction batteries.

The first electric forklift came about shortly after WWI and was comprised of a bomb-handling crane with power lifting capabilities. The earliest of the forklifts were very simple in nature – no hydraulics, not even forks. They were designed primarily to move products just a few feet. Therefore, chains and elbow grease sufficed for such product movement. At the time, this industrial innovation made loading and unloading of freight significantly more efficient. Efficiency was critical, especially since there was a vast labor shortage as a result of WWI.

HOW THE FORKLIFT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME

The 1930’s marked a major breakthrough in the development of the forklift. During WWII, laborers found themselves in dire need for even more efficient methods of loading large quantities of goods onto wagons and ships. Therefore, the electric forklift became essential.

In the 1950’s, businesses realized the need to design more effective storage methods, which meant expanding upward instead of outward. With this idea in place, more advanced equipment that could power lift high off the ground was necessary. New forklift models were designed to fit in narrower spaces with capabilities of lifting products over 50 feet high. With forklifts being able to reach these heights, safety became an increasing concern.

Environmental and emissions concerns – in addition to the actual lifting of equipment – have forced engineers to redesign engines so they are more environmentally friendly. Power sources have also evolved from battery power to electricity, propane and natural gas.

The forklift has evolved in a variety of ways within the last century and it is continuing to evolve with efficiency in material handling being the driving force. Organizations like MHEDA and OSHA remain leaders in helping to create more forward (and upward) movement with regards to advancing material handling technology. In the meantime, Material Handling Company will continue to provide industry news and insights for any and all of your supply chain needs.

Fortunately, 2012 is booked up with a slew of continuing education events this year. Perhaps your company is not in the position to fly you to another state for a weekend conference or your schedule simply doesn’t allow it. Many continuing education programs are now online via webinars.

Next month is the “Strategies for Gaining Access to and Winning the Support of Key Decisions Makers” on April 12^th from 12:00-1:00pm. This particular webinar includes an in-depth discussion on why salespeople sometimes consciously avoid key decision makers. Additional topics to be discussed during this webinar include (but are not limited to):

• Raising the standards of sales professionalism to the highest possible levels
• Generating new business for your network by sharpening your salespeople’s ability to

gain access to key decision makers

• Providing methodologies for overcoming barriers that can block or impede the sales process

• Increasing your sales team’s confidence and ability to make persuasive presentations accounts at the executive level

• Helping salespeople transition from transactional selling to consultative selling

If getting away for the weekend is in your interest and your budget, mark your calendars for

April 24^th-26^th. The Four Pillars of the Sales Profession will be featured at a weekend Sales Professional Training Camp. The camp includes two and a half days of sales training, seminars and professional coaching – all held in Dayton, Ohio. Space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible!

There are more opportunities for continuing education in the material handling industry – especially through our partners at Peak Logix. They offer a program called “PeakLogix U” which offers routine classes both online or in convenient locations in Virginia and North Carolina. Visit their website for more information at: http://www.peaklogix.com.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for more updates on continuous education.

• To learn and understand their culture. Those purchasing your product or service are expecting you to take interest in their work environment and why they need your services. Since you are building or providing products that will contribute to their workspace, customers will expect you to do your part in knowing what – and who – it is that you are building for.

• To be honest. It sounds simple, but honesty goes a long way. If a customer asks for your opinion on a product and you know the best option suited for them is the cheaper one, then suggest it. The way you can prove your honesty is by stating something similar to: “in all honesty sir/ma’am, the cheaper one is going to fit your application best. Although this other one is much more expensive, it’s not necessarily the best option for your current needs.” Customers greatly appreciate a professional’s honest opinion and that may be the hook to a sale or even to converting them into a recurring customer.

• To Customize. Many times, customers feel as if they are your only client. If that were actually the case, most businesses would be out of commission. However, it is possible for any material handling company to have a long list of clients they serve but treat each individual customer as if they are the only one. How, you ask? Through customization. This may involve adding to your current staff or investing time in creating processes that are more unique. In the material handling industry, processes tend to be more automated. Utilizing manual methods for certain projects may help position your supply chain business above the fray.

Whether you manufacture or distribute pallets, racks, casters or any other materials, customer service will always be elemental in the process. Our partners at PeakLogix are a perfect example of great customer service providers. Find out what they do and how they do it right.

For more information on how to best handle  your material handling customers, check back in with our blog! We are on top of industry news, insights and best practices.

In a report sponsored by Accenture and conducted by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the study revealred that 64 percent of supply chain companies are projecting higher revenues in 2012 than in 2011. It was also noted that there will be more focus on balanced service-to-cost strategies and stronger cross-channel alignment as retailers have realized the value of efficiency and effectiveness in multi-channel retail. The most promising areas of investment for many material handling and industry retail companies are within software and technology, process improvement, facility design, management development and workforce training.

Multi-channel e-commerce is – without question – here to stay. Material handling companies are working to leverage their businesses by integrating e-commerce into everyday supply chain operations. E-commerce grew by 15 percent in this last year reaching just over $35 billion, with a continuous projected growth of an additional 10 percent each fiscal year.

The supply chain industry operates on a global scale and requires smooth and effective international relations in everyday processes, from design and development to shipping and handling. Supply chain companies are anticipating nearly a six percent loss of domestic sourcing to countries other than China. Thus, this will lead shippers to strategically consolidate suppliers in order to manage risks associated with underperformance. Non-domestic sourcing of product and support services are predicted to grow within the upcoming years, however it is likely that China will not be the focal point for expansion. Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia will account for over half of all new outsourcing in addition to North, South and Central America which will account for just under half (45 percent).

While it’s easier to pay attention to the “six percent loss” than the actual reason for the shift in sourcing, know that the change in sourcing locations is mostly due to the need for avoiding any issues that could arise with nearshoring. Nearshoring – if handled effectively – has the ability to speed up order time cycles and reduce supply chain costs, which together create better business.

While the sales numbers are projected (and by no means exact), it is definitely in the cards for the supply chain industry to experience notable growth in a variety of arenas. The economic downturn in years past is working to the industry’s benefit by helping to correct mistakes and refine processes.

From February 6-9, tens of thousands of manufacturers, distributors and supply chain and logistics professionals from over 80 countries came together in Atlanta, Georgia’s World Congress Center for MODEXSM 2012. The tradeshow held over 500 exhibits and spanned 150,000 net square feet. For material handling distributors, manufacturers and companies, this was the place to be this month.

MODEXSM 2012 showcased material handling equipment and systems solutions and also provided educational opportunities on an array of industry topics. With such a large event, organization was key in the planning stages. The show floor was divided into three solution-specific sections: (1) manufacturing and assembly (2) fulfillment and delivery and (3) information technology.

In the midst of the networking, showcasing and communicating between all attendees, there was an educational conference comprised of individual sessions. Each session featured a keynote speaker that discussed issues surrounding operational efficiencies and improving visibility within supply chain management systems.

Promat 2013 will be next year’s tradeshow of the year for the material handling industry. The event is slated for January of next year and already the planning has begun. For more information on attendance or show details, visit the website! Check in with us here at Material Handling Company for all of your industry news, material handling best practices and market research.