advice for the airborne
Does some of the action in your warehouse happen in mid-air? We’re not talking about Cirque du Soleil-type acrobatic
stunts, but rather, the use of overhead
hoists and monorails to move goods
around a facility. If you answered yes, you
may be interested in some new publications from the Material Handling Industry
of America (MHIA) that offer practical
advice and information for users.
The Overhead Alliance—an organization that includes the Crane Manufacturers
Association of America (CMAA), Hoist
Manufacturers Institute (HMI), and
Monorail Manufacturers Association
(MMA)—is offering a complimentary
download of the Hoist Operator’s Manual.
Designed to serve both as a guide for
novice workers and as a refresher for experienced hoist users, the publication
addresses topics like inspection, recommended practices, standards, and maintenance. You can download the 56-page
manual in PDF format using the link
found at http://www.mhia.org/news/
mhia/9292/hoist-operator-s-manual-
offered-through-the-overhead-alliance.
The Monorail Manufacturers Association, meanwhile, has released two American
National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. The new standards, MH27.1 -
2009—“Specifications for Patented Track
Underhung Cranes and Monorail Systems”
and MH27.2 - 2009—“Specifications for
Enclosed Track Underhung Cranes and
Monorail Systems,” reaffirm the respective
2003 versions.
MH27.1 – 2009, for manufacturers and
users of underhung cranes and monorail
systems, discusses curves, switches, transfer
devices, trolleys, lift and drop sections, and
associated equipment. MH27.2 - 2009 was
developed to improve the uniformity of
underhung crane and monorail performance and enhance public safety. It includes
suggested design practices and performance testing criteria for crane and monorail
equipment.
Both standards are available at no cost
from the MHIA Bookstore.
inbound
CSCMP rolls out flexible membership system
If you’re involved in logistics or supply chain management, then joining
a professional association is a no-brainer. For a modest membership fee,
you get informative publications, opportunities to attend educational
programs and conferences, access to job postings, and much more.
But what if you’re between jobs or are just getting started and funds
are tight? Or what if you’re located overseas?
If you’re looking to join the Council of Supply Chain Management
Professionals (CSCMP), that’s no problem. The organization recently
adopted a flexible membership system that offers something for just
about everyone. In addition to the regular, full-service membership
(priced at $295), CSCMP also offers:
Associate memberships ($150) for professionals aged 30 and under
Web memberships ($150) for members in India and several other
countries
In-transition memberships ($150) for members in good standing
for three or more years who can demonstrate financial hardship
All of these categories include more than two dozen member benefits,
including discounted rates for CSCMP’s Annual Global Conference;
access to online and onsite professional training; and publications like
CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly, The Journal of Business Logistics, and
CSCMP Explores …
For more information, go to cscmp.org, or contact Krissy Scordato at
kscordato@cscmp.org or (630) 645-3464.
does freight finally rate?
Not so long ago, freight transportation equipment
barely rated a second glance from anyone outside the
industry. But now, images of trains, planes, and ocean
containers are turning up in some unexpected places.
For instance, the November 2009 issue of Real Simple
magazine included a photo of a boy playing with a toy train while hopper cars crossed the stunning Utah landscape behind him. (Mom Justine
Kurland is a photographer who documented trains and modern-day
hobos in her new book, This Train is Bound for Glory.)
Then there’s the recent wave of ocean shipping-themed advertising—
nothing says “international trade” like a dock piled high with ocean containers, it seems. Software giants SAP, IBM, and Microsoft have all used
such images to convey their international expertise.
Freight transportation even rated a mention in a recent Boston Globe
article about an archaeological dig in Egypt. The story noted that in
December, a team from Boston University discovered a cache of shipping supplies, including a crate marked with “the ancestor of the modern package label”—hieroglyphics identifying the contents.
Most surprising of all: Big rigs, apparently, are cool. Teen Vogue
magazine has been offering a cosmetic bag featuring colorful, cartoonish
depictions of all kinds of trucks as an incentive for subscription renewals.
Who knew that trucks were “fashion-forward” and “playfully chic”?
