What you NEED to
KNOW about
PLANNING a
material handling system
Planning a material
handling system is not
about what equipment
to install—not at first.
It’s about starting with
a clear understanding
of what the system
should do when it’s up
and running.
When planning a major material handling system, it can seem a long road between inception and completion, from the blank page to an effective operation.
That journey begins with a good map—or, more precisely, with a detailed system
design for the warehouse operation. Crafting a detailed plan can be a complex and
often daunting process. Experienced systems integrators say the journey begins
with a clear understanding of the destination.
“The first thing we like to do is get a handle around the real objectives or goals
of the project,” says John T. Giangrande, a senior account executive for Fortna, a
major systems integrator and supply chain consulting firm. “If you’re building a
new DC or expanding an existing DC, what’s the driver? Is it about business
growth, or are you consolidating distribution centers?” Labor productivity or
