Material Handling Definitions

For this weeks blog, we would like to take a few minutes to cover some keywords and definitions that are common in the material handling world.  Remember, Storage Solutions is here to help you with all of your material handling needs, so feel free to give us a call at 866.474.2001 if you have any questions.

Batch Manufacturing—The production of parts or material in discrete runs, or batches, interspersed with other production operations or runs of other parts or materials.

Distribution Center–Intermediate warehouse(s) where products from different sources are assembled for shipment and distribution to specific customer locations.

End-of-Aisle Picking System–High-density mechanized binnable parts systems such as mini load or carousel units provide dense storage and maximize the use of available storage height. These systems are particularly useful when high transaction rates and large inventory levels result in unacceptably high travel times for man-to-part order picking methods. By delivering the part to the order picker, operator travel time is eliminated. These systems are also effective in situations requiring additional packaging, checking, or processing which would be impractical to provide on an order-picking industrial truck.

Logistics–The science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of operations. Deals with the design and development, acquisition, storage, movement, distribution, maintenance and disposition of material.