The city of Memphis is known for the authentic blues, great barbecue … and basketball shoes? Nike — the Portland, Oregon, based maker of sports footwear — recently expanded its distribution center in Memphis to a sprawling 2.8 million square feet, making it the biggest Nike DC on the planet. The interior of the updated facility … Read more
During the last few posts I have been discussing loading dock design. In the first article titled Loading Dock, I covered safety considerations and the layout and creation of the area known as the apron space. This is the space in front of the loading dock where trucks can maneuver safely for proper positioning in … Read more
In previous articles I have discussed the different elements of a loading dock design including safety, apron space, truck bays, and the various styles of docks and dock approaches. In this article I will discuss dock height and door sizes. It should be obvious that proper dock height is an essential part of a well-designed … Read more
In the first story on Loading Docks, I discussed the loading dock design of apron space and truck bays. In this installment I will cover Types of Docks and Dock Approaches. There are five types of docks –- Cantilever, Enclosed, Flush, Open, and Saw Tooth. Cantilever Loading Dock Design This particular style of loading dock … Read more
A major section of a warehouse that calls out for the execution of safety practices is the loading dock. Not adequately considered, a loading dock can be the center of major accidents and needless expenses. Risks and expenditures can be minimized as long as proper safety features are incorporated into the design. Careful planning can … Read more
(Editor’s Note: In today’s Thursday Feature, we take a closer look at one of the most common and frequently used tools in any material handling operation … the ladder.) We use ladders so often that we tend to take them for granted. But when you are in need of a ladder and don’t have one … Read more
Most businesses use automation to stack pallets. But if you’re packing all or some of your pallets by hand it often can seem like a game of “Jenga”, the tabletop game in which wooden pieces are carefully stacked until one wrong piece causes the whole thing to come falling down. Even companies that usually use … Read more
The Second Harvest Food Bank, in Springfield, Ohio, is manned mostly by volunteers. But executive director Keith Williamson was having a hard time retaining unpaid workers because of conditions at the charity’s warehouse. Because of the 58,000 square foot warehouse’s open floor plan, volunteers packing boxes of food to be distributed to the area’s needy … Read more
Whether you are managing a brand new warehouse or one that’s been around for years, the one thing you can’t take for granted is shelving. The shelves you select need to be able to hold the amount of weight piled on them; they must allow easy access to the items they hold; they must be … Read more
Editor’s Note: In today’s Thursday Feature, we are going to examine the rise of the machines, or why robots have suddenly made the leap from manufacturing to widespread use in material handling in warehouses and distribution centers. Just a few years ago, robots were widely used in manufacturing but rarely — if ever — seen … Read more
