Course of MT- 362Material Handling

Lecture # 1

Course Outline

Course Outline

Material Handling!

Introduction

• Material handling definitions- The movement of raw materials, semi-finishedgoods, and finished articles through variousstages of production and warehousing iscalled material handling

Introduction• What is material handling?

- materials handling is• loading

• moving and• unloading of materials

- To do it safely and economically,different types of tackles

(methods), gadgets andequipment are used, materials handling is referred toas mechanical handling ofmaterials

Introduction• Material-handling

Is the movement, storage, controland protection of materials,goods and productsthroughout the process of

manufacturing, distribution,consumption and disposal

Historical background

Background• Since primitive (prehistoric), men discovered the use of

wheels and levers, they have been moving materialsmechanically.

• Any human activity involving materials need materialshandling.However,in the field of engineering andtechnology, the term materials handling is used withreference to industrial activity.

• In any industry, be it big or small, involvingmanufacturing or construction type work, materials haveto be handled as raw materials, intermediate goods orfinished products from the point of receipt and storage ofraw materials, through production processes and up tofinished goods storage and dispatch points

What is best?

• What is best material handling?- Materials handling as such is not a productionprocess and hence does not add to the valueof the product

- Because material handling costs money;therefore it should be reduced as much as possible.

But why it is important?

• The important point in favour of materialshandling is that it helps production.

• Depending on the weight, volume andthroughput of materials, mechanical handling ofmaterials may become necessary.

• In many cases, mechanical handling reducesthe cost of manual handling of materials, wheresuch materials handling is highly desirable.

• Thus the type and extent of use of materialshandling should be carefully designed to suit theapplication and which becomes cost effective

Material handling requirements

• The essential requirements of a good materialshandling system may be summarized as:

i. Efficient and safe movement of materials to thedesired place

ii. Timely movement of the materials when needed

iii. Supply of materials at the desired rate

iv. Storing of materials utilizing minimum space

v. Lowest cost solution to the materials handlingactivities

Importance of material handling

• The foremost importance of materials handlingis that it helps productivity and there by increasesprofitability of an industry.

• Many enterprises go out of business because ofinefficient materials handling practices.

• In many instances it is seen that competingindustries are using same or similar productionequipment, and one who uses improvedmaterials handling system stays ahead of theircompetitors

Qualities of good material handling

• A well designed materials handling system attempts toachieve the following:i. Improve efficiency of a production system by ensuring the right

quantity of materials delivered at the right place at the right timemost economically

ii. Cut down indirect labour costiii. Reduce damage of materials during storage and movementiv. Maximise space utilization by proper storage of materials and

thereby reduce storage and handling costv. Minimise accident during materials handling

vi. Reduce overall cost by improving materials handlingvii. Improve customer services by supplying materials in a manner

convenient for handlingsviii. Increase efficiency and saleability of plant and equipment with

integral materials handling features

Negative aspects of materials handling

• Additional capital cost involved inany materials handling system

• Once a materials handling systemget implemented, flexibility forfurther changes gets greatlyreduced• With an integrated materials

handling system installed,failure/stoppage in any portion of itleads to increased downtime of theproduction system

• Materials handling system needsmaintenance, hence any addition tomaterials handling means additionalmaintenance facilities and costs

Material Classes

• Gasses• Liquids

• Solid Bulk materials

Material Handling Equipment Loads

• Types of Material Handling EquipmentLoads:

- It usually classified into:• Unit Load

• Bulk Load

Unit Load

• Unit loads are those which arecounted by numbers or units

• Examples:- component of a machine

- complete machine

- structural element

- beam

- girder

- building block

Unit Load

• Sometimes certain quantitiesof free flowing materials canbe placed in a container andcan be handled as unit load

• Hoisting equipment areprimarily used for handlingunit load

• Unit loads are usuallyspecified by it’s weight (orquantity)

Bulk load

• When the load is in theform of particles or lumpsof homogeneous materialsor powder like materials,which can not be countedby numbers, it is called as“Bulk load”

• Examples:- Sand, Cement, Coal,Mineral, Stone, Clay etc.,

Bulk LoadMaterials handling related features of solid bulk materials: :i. Bulk Density

ii. Lump-Size

iii. Flowability

iv. Abrasiveness

v. Miscellaneous Characteristics