What is Material Handling?

 Materials handling is the science and art

both involving the moving, packing and
storing of substance in any form, and
includes the preparation, placing and
positioning the material to facilitate their
movement or storage.

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 What is Material Handling?

(IMMS) International Materials Management

Society defines the materials handling as:

“Materials handling is an art and

science involving the materials,
packaging, and storing of substances
in any form ".

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 INTRODUCTION
 Basic function of materials handling is the
movement of material.
 Industrial revolution in late 18th and early 19th
centuries, developed the need of materials
handling from factory system. The industries,
supermarket, offices, construction projects and the
banks - all are engaged in moving things.
 In early days man was physically handling the
material, however, over a period of years, he has
started applying mechanical principles like lever,
wheel, pulley etc.

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 Materials handling generally adds significant
element of cost to a product.
 Materials handling generally costs between 20
to 35% of the cost of the product.
 Earlier, it was a general belief that most of this
cost is inevitable and can not be easily avoided.
 But now-a-days need for reduction in material
handling costs through systems approach is
being realized.
 Not only cost, majority of production time is
also consumed in handling material before,
during and after the manufacture.
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 The materials handling time and cost can be
reduced by proper selection, operation,
maintenance and layout of these handling
devices.
 Materials handling is a prime consideration in
designing new plants,
 Existing plants can also be modified by the
application of modern materials handling
devices. These devices increase output,
improve quality, speed up the deliveries and
therefore, reduces the production cost.
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 Materials handling :

Time.

Materials
Movement. Quantity.
handling

Space

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 Movement :
 Materials handling involves movements of materials
mechanically or manually in batches or one by one
within the plant.
 Movement of materials may be horizontal, vertical or
combination of both.
 Primary concern of materials handling engineer is to
find out most efficient manner as to how raw
materials reach operator and how finished or
processed articles are removed from the work station.
 And also concerned to find out as to how parts,
materials, and finished products must be moved from
location to location.
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 Time :
 Materials must arrive at its place at right time.

 Materials handling must ensure that no

production process or customer (internal as
well as external) need is hampered due to late
or early arrival of material at each location.

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 Quantity :
 Materials handling must ensure that each
location continually receives the right quantity
of materials.

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 Space :
 Space requirements are influenced by the
materials handling flow pattern.

 Space is required for storage of raw materials,

parts and semi-finished or finished products,

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 Inefficient Materials Handling
Reasons:
 Back-tracking in material flow.
 Congested aisles.
 Bottlenecks or hindrances in material flow.
 Disorganized storage or piled up material on
floor.
 Excessive movement.

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 Good Handling System
Advantages:
 Better use of the floor space and facilities.
 Increased production due to reduced manufacturing
cycle time and faster movement of materials.
 Reduced materials handling time and indirect labor
cost.
 Improved inventory control.
 Less fatigue of workers.
 Reduced inventory in process.

Cont…..
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 Greater industrial safety and elimination of
accident potential and disruption of work
 Better working conditions.
 Better protection of materials being handled.
 Help in manufacturing the quality standards.
 Improved moral of workers.
 Reduced cost of transportation.

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 MATERIAL HANDLING COST

Materials handling includes following costs :

 Materials handling cost = cost of handling +

cost of transportation + cost of packaging +
cost of space + cost of handling equipment
including operation, maintenance and
depreciation etc.

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 In any industry materials handling is of
following three types:

1. handling of individual part or unit by

men,

2. handling in room, department, or plant

Cont…..
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3. handling of materials during the entire process
of production and distribution, starting from
raw material source, going through the factory
and distribution network to the ultimate
customer and beyond, to waste disposal and
recycling. As shown below;
Raw material —» Supplier —> Transportation —
> Receiving -> Storing —> Issue —»
Manufacturing or fabrication -> Packaging —>
Shipping —»Dealer or Distributors warehouse
—> Retailers —> Customer - Disposal —»
Recycling
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Elements of the movement
of materials:

Picking up the load

Transporting the load

Setting the load down.

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