White Paper - 5 Simple Conveyor Application Rules
To implement a successful material handling solution, you must first be able to describe and discuss what you have, where you want to be and basically what you have to budget. Also, additional factors must be realized before finalization of the project is complete. However, below are a few very basic but essential facts that MUST be known and dicussed when reviewing the improvement of your current processes.
1) What is your product?
To properly apply the correct conveyor, the exact product and/or product mix must be discussed. A 'box' will lead to more problems than ever expect to create a solution.
- What are your product(s) sizes and weights?
- If they are bagged, what is the product contained within the bag? Is it uniform?
- Is the product evenly distributed within the transport container?
- What is the color of the packaging of the carrying container? Some electronic scanning and applying devices today cannot read certain materials which can cause huge problems when start-up occurs!
- Is the product liquid, which can shift during transport?
- Are you using totes? Do they need bar codes or RFID tags?
2) What are your expectations?
Make sure when discussing your project and application that you let us know what YOU expect out of the new equipment. If your expectations and hopes are not discussed, they will more than likely will never be met.
- Do you want to speed up production to shipping by 50%?
- Add floor space or increase storage capacity?
- Reduce your labor force?
- Make your work place more ergonomic?
- Reduce maintenance issues with existing equipment by replacing it?
- Conveyor system that utilizes PLC computer analytics?
- Energy and sustainable returns?
3) What is the environment?
No matter how great the equipment or material supplied, if it doesn't hold up to the environment it's used within, problems will occur.
- Dusty or dirty environment?
- Oil, water or liquid spray or spillage on the product conveyed or around any of the equipment? Even the slightest possibility of this must be discussed.
- Heavy workforce interaction and fork truck traffic?
- Will it be overhead thus creating a possible danger to those under it in worst-case scenarios?
4) What is your deadline for completing the project?
This is a fact that very often is discussed as the bid is finalized. However, it is easier to work backward from your completion date than it is to try to squeeze it in too late.
- Discuss the ultimate timeline for completion of the entire project regardless of different sectors involved.
- If it is a new building, are weather/construction allowances made for delays?
- Are all parties aware (robotics, controls, mezzanine, etc...) of this deadline?
5) What is your plan of action following the purchase?
- Do you have a training program for employees on the new equipment?
- Is maintenance training performed prior to the implementation of the conveyor system?
- Do you have a PM contract or plan?
- Will you be tracking daily, weekly, monthly product throughout as compared to expectations?
For over 20 years, Norpak has supplied and installed premier material handling solutions from coast to coast in Canada. While these questions are second natire to us, we want to help educate you on what to look for when beginning your conveyor system evaluations. We are proud to call 1000's of local, regional and national companies as well as many Fortune 500 companies satisfied customers and are looking forward to helping you improve and implement a successful material handling solution.
Please visit www.norpak.com for additional information or to contact us email us atsales@norpak.com!
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