Order processing

Order processing starts with the receipt of an order from a customer. It may be obtained by a salesperson, be
telephoned in, or arrive by mail. Regular buyers and sellers are often linked electronically. As the buyer’s inventories
become low, an electronic purchase order is generated. It is communicated to the seller, whose computers will
determine that the goods are available, and the seller will inform the buyer, still using electronic methods, that the
order will be filled and shipped by a certain date. The first step in most order-processing systems is to verify the
accuracy of the order—that is, to make certain that the document contains no internal errors that might mean the
customer was uncertain about what he or she was ordering. The next step is to verify the customer’s credit or ability
to pay. After determining from which inventory point to ship the goods, instructions are sent to that warehouse to fill
the order. At the warehouse an “order picking list” is given to a warehouse worker, who assembles the specific order.
In the packing area, it is checked and packed for shipment, and the package is labeled. The traffic manager prepares
the transportation documents and notifies a carrier to pick up the shipment. An invoice for the goods is sent to the
buyer, and various inventory and financial records are updated. The shipper uses the term “order cycle” to indicate
the span of time between receiving and shipping the order. The buyer uses the phrase to indicate the span of time
between placing and receiving the order.

Material Handling 
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. [1]

Material handling equipment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Materials handling)

Industrial mezzanine.
Selective pallet rack is an example of storage and handling equipment.

Forklifts are the most common type of industrial truck.

A Miniload AS/RS - an example of an engineered system

Industrial KUKA Robots for palletizing - an example of an engineered system

Material handling equipment is all equipment that relates to the movement, storage, control and protection of
materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and
disposal. Material handling equipment is the mechanical equipment involved in the complete system [1]. Material
handling equipment is generally separated into four main categories: storage and handling equipment,
engineered systems, industrial trucks, and bulk material handling.

Contents

 [hide]

1 Ways in Which Material Handling Equipment Can Improve

Efficiency

2 Types of Material Handling Equipment

o 2.1 Storage and handling equipment

o 2.2 Engineered systems

o 2.3 Industrial trucks

o 2.4 Bulk material handling

3 See also

4 References

5 External links

[edit]Ways in Which Material Handling Equipment Can Improve Efficiency

Material handling equipment is used to increase throughput, control costs, and maximize productivity. There
are several ways to determine if the material handling equipment is achieving peak efficiency. These include
capturing all relevant data related to the warehouse’s operation (such as SKUs), measuring how many times an
item is “touched” from the time it is ordered until it leaves the building, making sure you are using the proper
picking technology, and keeping system downtime to a minimum......

[edit]Types of Material Handling Equipment

[edit]Storage and handling equipment
Storage and handling equipment is a category within the material handling industry. The equipment that falls
under this description is usually non-automated storage equipment. Products such as Pallet rack, shelving,
carts, etc. belong to storage and handling. Many of these products are often referred to as "catalog" items
because they generally have globally accepted standards and are often sold as stock materials out of Material
handling catalogs.

[edit]Engineered systems
Engineered systems are typically custom engineered material handling systems. Conveyors, Handling
Robots, AS/RS, AGV and most other automated material handling systems fall into this category. Engineered
systems are often a combination of products integrated to one system. Many distribution centers will optimize
storage and picking by utilizing engineered systems such as pick modules and sortation systems.

Equipment and utensils used for processing or otherwise handling edible product or ingredients must be of
such material and construction to facilitate thorough cleaning and to ensure that their use will not cause the
adulteration of product during processing, handling, or storage. Equipment and utensils must be maintained in
sanitary condition so as not to adulterate product.

[edit]Industrial trucks
Industrial trucks usually refer to operator driven motorized warehouse vehicles, powered manually, by gasoline,
propane or electrically[2]. Industrial trucks assist the material handling system with versatility; they can go where
engineered systems cannot. Forklift trucks are the most common example of industrial trucks but certainly
aren't the extent of the category. Tow tractors and stock chasers are additional examples of industrial trucks.

[edit]Bulk material handling

Bulk material handling equipment is used to move and store bulk materials such as ore, liquids, and cereals.
This equipment is often seen on farms, mines, shipyards and refineries. This category is also explained in Bulk
material handling.

[edit]See also

 Pallet

 Forklift truck

 Conveyor belt
 Automated Storage and Retrieval System

 Carton flow

 Mezzanine (architecture)
[edit]References