warehouse and logistics operators warned to be careful when choosing material handling system
When it comes to choosing the correct material handling system, warehouse and logistics operators need to be careful to get the engineering right from the start.
Don Erskine, managing director of Industrial Conveying, says operators need to be “diligent” when it comes to selecting the design engineers and equipment suppliers to avoid the risk of project failures.
“A materials handling project is only as good as the sum of its parts, and in this case the parts are the original equipment and those assigned to specify it – the design engineers,” Erskine says.
“Often, the task of designing a materials handling system and then sourcing the equipment for it is handed over to a third party company which may have a good general knowledge, but lacks specialised expertise in materials handling.”
Using a “solutions specialist” is the key, Erskine says, to avoid the risk of downtime, particularly if they are also an original equipment manufacturer, to ensure a more consistent level of technology throughout the project.
Other advantages of using a local manufacturer include a fast supply of spare parts, as well as better communications with the design engineers and allowing for faster and more accurate design, component sourcing, installation and ongoing technical assistance.