Warehouse Material Handling and Storage Best Practices

Posted on Mar 7, 2025 in Technology

Detection Devices

Detection devices play a crucial role in various warehouse operations. They are used to:

  • Measure the presence or movement of objects.
  • Qualify and quantify features of interest.
  • Monitor conditions and provide feedback for corrective action.
  • Operate equipment with associated markers.
  • Trigger mechanisms for classification.
  • Provide input to computer systems and controls, updating databases and preparing analyses and summaries.

Types of Pallets

It is important to name the types of pallets:

  • Double-Base Input (unique entries – 4)
  • Double Base-Winged
  • Plana
  • Reversible
  • Box

Advantages of Metal Containers

  • Lightweight compared to other metal containers.
  • Allows product visibility with easy and quick identification.
  • Self-cleaning: falling debris is easily removed.
  • Sometimes, materials can be processed within the container (e.g., degreasing, cleaning, and air drying).

Types of Large Metal Containers

  • Half-height container for heavy loads (e.g., pipes).
  • Refrigerated container with integral unit.
  • Container for shot blasting (grain).
  • Open-top container for loads of various shapes (e.g., machinery).
  • Container frame for heavy-duty items (e.g., trucks, aircraft parts, engines).

Protective Packing Material

Protective packing material refers to methods or materials used to protect the contents of containers from damage.

Common materials and their properties:

  • ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): High impact absorption, good resistance to compression, but more expensive than other thermoplastics.
  • HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Excellent rigidity, excellent operating temperature range (-71 to 51°C), and suitable for food contact.
  • High Impact Polypropylene: More durable than polyethylene but less rigid; tends to crack at temperatures below -32°C.
  • High Impact Polystyrene: Hard, excellent resistance to compression load, good temperature range, but tends to crack easily with high impact and has low resistance to solvents and oils.
  • FRP (Fiber Reinforced Glass): Outstanding resistance to compression loads; can be resistant to heat and wear.

Storage Conditions for Tire Tubes and Flaps

Tire tubes and flaps should be stored in dry, cool places, free of oil and other petroleum products.

Tire Storage Methods

  • Vertical System
  • Horizontal System (maximum height: 1.20 meters)

Storage of Liquid Fuels and Lubricants

Hazardous substances should be stored only in specific premises designated for such purposes, under conditions appropriate to the characteristics of each substance. They must be identified according to the relevant Chilean standards. Storage tanks for liquid fuel must satisfy the provisions of Decree No. 90 of 1996, of the Ministry of Economy, Development, and Reconstruction.

Storage of Electrical and Electronic Components

  • Temperature: -10 to 45°C (cool and ventilated place).
  • Humidity: 30 to 85% (except when condensation occurs).
  • Pressure: 70 to 106 kPa (within the range of atmospheric pressure).

Forecasting and Demand Management

Importance of Forecasts

Forecasts are the lifeblood of any business organization and are crucial for all important administrative decisions.

Marketing Department’s Role

The marketing department relies on sales forecasts for new product plans.

Purpose of Demand Management

The purpose of demand management is to coordinate and control all sources of demand to allow the efficient operation of the production system and timely delivery of products.

Basic Sources of Demand

The basic sources of demand are dependent and independent demand.

Types of Forecasts

  • Qualitative
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Causal Simulations

Components of Demand

The components of demand include:

  • Average demand for a period.
  • Trend.
  • Seasonal element.
  • Cyclical elements.
  • Random variation.
  • Autocorrelation.

Popular Qualitative Forecasting Technique

One of the most popular qualitative forecasting techniques is market research.

Popular Quantitative Forecasting Technique

One of the most popular quantitative techniques is time series forecasting models, which seek to anticipate the future based on past data.