whose failure can shut down production—and arrange to
have them stocked in the DC. Chris Krafft, head of technical services for SSI Schaefer, further recommends storing
those parts near where they’re likely to be needed, especially in large DCs where conveyors might be located at a considerable distance from a centralized stock location.
Krafft also encourages managers to establish some sort of
mission control for maintenance that provides a centralized
view of performance problems detected by the system’s
diagnostics and automatically dispatches maintenance personnel to the relevant site. That sort of system can reduce
response time, he says.
▪ Consider upgrading your components. Conveyor technology has undergone rapid advances in recent years, with the
result that newer units operate much more efficiently than
those made just a decade ago. Taking advantage of these
technological gains does not necessarily require major capital investments, however. Often, companies can retrofit
existing systems with some of the newer components.
An example cited by most of the experts interviewed for
this story would be installing photo-eye sensors that shut
down sections of the conveyor when not in use. That’s now
fairly standard on new systems, but it’s a technology that
some older systems could easily adopt. The benefits include
quieter operation and reduced energy consumption. On
top of that, keeping motors and belts from running con-
stantly extends their useful life, adds Krafft.
VERSATILITY MATTERS
Quality Wildeck construction and versatility make the
V-lift™ the ultimate lifting solution.
In today’s ‘green’ building designs, floor space is at a premium
and moving up, not out, is definitely preferred. Look no further
than the V-Lift™ from Wildeck – the industry leader in space
optimization. The single cylinder hydraulic system eliminates
all moving hoses, cables, and chains. Fewer components means
easy installation, reduced maintenance and longer service
life. To get more value out of your operation, contact a Wildeck
representative today.
MEZZANINES
Capacity Matters
Efficiency Matters
LIFT SYSTEMS
Safety Matters
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