Factors Affecting Materials Handling System
The followings four factors material handling system:
Production System: There are two basic types of production systems. One is intermittent or job lot production the other is continuous production. Intermittent systems are used where a variety of jobs are being done at the same time on a variety of machines and in a variety of places. Since a great deal of flexibility is necessary it is likely that variable path equipment will be used more than fixed path equipment. In terms of materials handling devices lift trucks pallets hand trucks and trolleys would be more useful in intermittent production system in continuous production systems. These materials handling devices would not be so commonly used in continuous production systems because fixed path equipment would be more reliable and more economical in many cases. In mass production or continuous process systems one would find extensive use of conveyors cranes hoists pipe lines and in modern plants automatic of transfer machines and tape controlled indexing machines.