Function  of Materials Handling:

The basic  function of materials  handling are to choose most  appropriate material  handling  equipment  which  is safe  and can fulfill material handling requirements at the minimum possible overall cost  and  to choose  production  machinery  and assist in plant layout  so as to  eliminate as  far as  possible  the  need  of material  handling. In  general the functions   of good  material  handling  system include:

1.   Using the principles of containerization unit load or cartelization, aim at moving  optimum  number   of pieces in one unit.

2.   Safe standard efficient effective  appropriate flexible and proper sized material  handling  equipment  should  be selected.

3.   Employ mechanical aids in place of manual labor in order to speed up the material movements.

4.   Minimize the movement  involved in a production operation.

5.   Changes  in sequence of production  operation may  be suggested order to  minimize  back  tracking and  duplicate handling .

6.   Handling  equipment  arrangement should minimize  distances moved  by products  and at the  same time handling equipments  should interfere with the  production line.

7.   Minimize the  distances moved  by  adopting shortest routes.

8.   Design containers packages drums etc, to  economize handling  and to  reduce  damage to the  materials  in transit.

9.   Utilize gravity for assisting materials movements wherever possible.

10. Material handling equipments  should  periodically be resorted to check up repairs and maintenance.