ABSTRACT
One of the most important aspects in new plant development or in modification of an existing handling plant is thorough analysis of the material system. Material handling can account for 30-75% of the total cost, and efficient material handling can be primarily responsible for reducing a plant’s operating cost by 15-30%. How material is handled can determine some of the building requirements, department arrangements, and time needed to produce a unit. When an employee handles an item, he or she adds nothing to the product’s value but does add to its cost. Planning the handling, storage, and transportation associated with manufacturing can considerably reduce the cost of material handling. In an assembly line system, for example, properly designed equipment will space the production along the assembly lines, bringing material to an operator at a steady rate and sending the part or subassembly to the next station after the operator has finished the task.
