Simplifying Material Handling Increases Employee Productivity

Implementing tugs proactively reduces the number of work-related injuries in material handling applications, which has a direct effect on worker productivity. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2010, 50 percent of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) were back injuries that required an average absence of seven days and the most severe work-related MSDs required as many as 21 days off work. Preventing the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders reduces employee absenteeism, which improves overall productivity.

Additionally, material handling tugs also increase employee productivity by simplifying material handling applications. In situations where manpower is used, utilizing multiple workers to push a single load reduces the amount of productivity realized, as personnel are abandoning their tasks to aid in moving heavy loads. By allowing one worker to single-handedly control materials weighing over 100,000 pounds, the number of workers dedicated to a single material handling task decreases, ultimately reducing unnecessary production halts.

Flexible Material Handling

Tugs not only improve control, but also increase flexibility with the option to push and pull loads, depending on application requirements. Further, these devices can provide additional stability, as multiple devices can work in unison to move difficult loads. For instance, when constructing pre-fabricated housing, each piece is moved sideways along the construction zone. Using a tug on each end of the piece, operators can push the material in sync.

Material handling tugs can also be equipped with safety accessories and job-specific attachments. With the option for safety horns and strobes, operators can signal facility occupants of their impeding approach to avoid collisions—even on noisy plant floors. Further, for challenging or diverse loads, tugs can be equipped with attachments designed to complement individual needs, such as a push pad assembly, railroad truck attachment and an angle plate for modular homes. These attachments provide the ideal performance capabilities for transporting virtually any load safely and efficiently.

Big Picture: Little things that make a big difference in your operation

This article was originally posted in Modern Materials Handling.

Automation, technology and software promise new levels of efficiency and productivity along with the capability to execute complex order fulfillment strategies. That’s the good news. The bad news: just as a supply chain is only as efficient as its weakest link, a sophisticated materials handling system is only as efficient as the bottlenecks in a distribution center. A high-speed order fulfillment engine won’t hit its numbers if inventory doesn’t get off the receiving dock or orders can’t get through manual packing stations to meet shipping cut-off times.

As a result, these new systems are highlighting the big difference that little things can have on operations. Seven examples to consider for your facility include:

1. Receiving, inspection and quality control with powered mobile workstations
2. Capture cube and weight information now for packaging later
3. Integrate workstations with the materials handling system
4. Lean out the labeling process
5. Optimize and automate the packaging process
6. Don’t overlook the dock
7. Automation doesn’t stop at the dock door

Read the full article here to learn more about how to impact your performance. 

Battery-Operated Tugs Engineered for Safety

Battery-operated tugs are designed to ideally distribute weight and maximize torque. Containing specifically-designed gears, this technology effectively converts speed to torque, enabling operators to minimize the effort required to pull or push loads. The body of these devices acts as a wedge, slightly lifting the load at an angle and transferring all the weight to the drive wheels, which allows torque to propel the device forward. With this technology, users can maneuver heavy materials without straining muscles—reducing the likelihood of injury during initial exertion.

Tugs also include features that prevent incidental injury during operation. Machines equipped with anti-runaway capabilities power down once the throttle is released. Additionally, the tug is designed in a way that, prior to operation, users must actively pull back the handle and hold it in place to power-up the machine. Together, these features prevent any incidental propulsion of the device. Another safety feature built into the controls of the machine is an emergency reverse switch. When pulling a load in reverse, if the device comes into direct contact with the operator’s torso, the emergency switch will automatically move the tug forward and stop the machine, preventing users from being pinned or crushed.

Along with operational safety features, these devices can also be constructed to improve ergonomics. For instance, devices containing ergonomically-designed handles protect fingers from being crushed when turning corners sharply. With the tug’s easy maneuverability, users will not experience shoulder and back pain due to overcompensating for lack of control. Plus, by allowing operators to be closer to the loads, tugs offer better visibility to reduce incidental collisions with equipment and other workers.