Page 281 - DMGT501_OPERATIONS_MANAGEMENT

Unit 13: Supply Chain Management and JIT

(b) Fixed route of movement Notes
(c) Constant rate of material movement
(d) Mass production units
3. Industrial Trucks: These are manual or external powered vehicles, which can move on a
variety of paths. These are particularly useful for the following situations:
(a) Uneven (intermittent) supply of material
(b) Varying paths of movement

(c) Job-shop production units
4. Forklifts: Forklifts are used to move parts through varying paths. Because they have
drivers, these vehicles are very flexible. Forklifts generally do not move large volumes of
parts along the same path.
5. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs): AGV is a programmed vehicle, used to carry load
from one location to another in an automated work place. They can be used to move parts
through a variety of paths and are flexible in that they can be directed to follow more than
one path. The most common type of such vehicles normally follows a predetermined path
on floor embedded wires arranged to form closed loops. These vehicles are called as wire
guided AGVs.
Another variety is free-ranging AGVs, which offer more flexibility, as they need not
move on a pre-specified path. An off-board controller is used to send despatcher commands
for the identification of the load, destination of the load and, other instructions related to
loading and unloading of the load.

6. Elevators and Lifts: These are used to raise or lower material in the vertical direction.
They are just like lifts of a multi-storied building but carry material.
Efficient planning and control of the material handling system can add to efficiency.

Example: Standard size of material should be transported to reduce time. Part orientation
principle should be employed so that, while unloading, the material position should be as per
the need of the destination point.
By using the concept of unit size load, many companies aggregate material into a longer unit/
container or pallet of standard size thereby saving on transportation costs. Backtracking of parts
movement should be avoided as it only adds to cost and time. Cost-efficient material handling
is beneficial to both the organization as well as the work force.

Receiving

Receiving is a follow-on activity to a purchase order. It forms the basis for updating the financials
and inventory records and can trigger warehouse management and the quality management
processes. Traditionally, receiving and inspection share facilities. As soon as material is received,
it is documented and passed on to quality control for inspection and then moved to stores for
inward distribution to manufacturing.
For planning and controlling operations, accurate information regarding materials must be
available. Information regarding description of all the materials, quantity received and their
locations is entered into the organization's information system in receiving. With the warehouse
management systems, you can control the goods receipt and goods issue processes at a physical
level.

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