DJ Products, Inc.

In our last post we talked about coming trends in warehousing. More companies are starting to outsource certain functions, such as logistics, as part of a program to increase efficiency and improve productivity. Outsourcing allows you to focus on your primary business model instead of stretching your resources to include secondary but essential functions such as logistics. The astute businessperson will realize that outsourcing is but one element of what must be a multi-directional effort to tighten efficiency and improve productivity in these difficult economic times.

Making a careful assessment of material handling equipment usage and associated costs — both direct and indirect — can have a significant affect on your bottom line.

• With the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline going through the roof, replacing outdated equipment with fuel-efficient electric and battery-powered equipment can save thousands of dollars in fuel costs.
• Replacing bulking, difficult to move equipment with highly maneuverable powered carts and tugs can improve workplace safety and worker morale and decrease lost man-hours from absenteeism and injury.
• Installing ergonomically designed pushers, pullers and carts can save thousands of dollars a year in decreased medical, insurance and disability costs resulting from musculoskeletal injuries.
• Implementing ergonomic practices in the workplace can improve worker morale considerably while increasing efficiency and productivity significantly. Retraining staff to utilize recognized ergonomic practices generally produces an immediate savings from reduced worker injuries and associated medical costs.

DJ Products specializes in providing affordable ergonomic solutions to material handling applications. Our highly trained staff can assist you in assessing your material handling needs and design solutions tailored to the specific needs of your business. For more information, visit the DJ Products website.

A shift toward logistics outsourcing could spell revolutionary change for the warehousing industry that could result in leaner, more efficient business models. That was the conclusion of logistics industry experts speaking at the recent Warehouse Educational Research Council’s (WERC) annual conference in Chicago.

“In the 20th century the common business model was a large integrated company that owned, managed and directly controlled its assets,” Andy Dishner, senior director of client solutions for TMSi Logistics, told conference participants. “But in this new century we have seen a major cultural shift toward outsourcing many key functions. It really comes down to evaluating whether logistics is your core competency.”

Damian Burke, a principal with logistics consultancy Conveying Solutions Inc., joined Dishner in urging the warehousing industry to streamline logistics. Currently, companies are forced to split their resources by handling their own logistics, an area in which they may not have sufficient expertise. Burke said many companies are turning to third-party logistics providers (3PL) to solve their logistics problems. By outsourcing logistics, companies can concentrate on their primary business and leave the logistics to experts, thus streamlining their own operations.

While recommending the use of 3PLs to handle company logistics, both Burke and Dishner reminded conference participants that they could not afford to ignore logistics management. “We realize that a lot of manufacturers realize that it could be professional suicide if the choice [of a 3PL] doesn’t work out,” Dishner said. “Relationships and measurements are key,” Burke added. “We are certainly not advocating reckless investment in systems you don’t trust.”

Vehicle pushers, car and truck pushers, trailer movers and heavy equipment tugs provide safe solutions for moving cars, trucks, trailers and heavy equipment. DJ Products has designed a line of vehicle pushers, movers and tugs specifically targeted to the automotive industry.

The CarCaddy car and vehicle pusher was designed to push cars, buses and heavy equipment down an assembly line. This battery powered pusher can push any cart, vehicle or piece of equipment that has all straight wheels or is on a rail when no turning is required or when wheels will be turned by an operator. The CarCaddy is used by manufacturers to push units short distances as they are moved from station to station down an assembly line.

In the automotive industry, the CarCaddy is also often used to push stalled vehicles with pneumatic tires that don’t require steering. The CarCaddy has plenty of power to move stalled cars, trucks, campers and buses at service centers and along highways. The CarCaddy prevents the pain and strain of overextended muscles that occurs when vehicles must be manually pushed from a parking area into a service center garage for servicing. The CarCaddy is also a boon for emergency response crews who must often move vehicles from the highway onto the shoulder of the road for servicing or towing.

When sufficient manpower is unavailable, another vehicle is often used to push the stalled vehicle. Even when executed with care, such maneuvers often result in dents, scratches and cracks to one or both vehicles. The CarCaddy Car Pusher is made of a soft, durable, padded material designed to preserve the paint and integrity of the back end of a stalled vehicle. No more dents, scratches and cracks!

To check out the CarCaddy specs, click here.