September 14, 2015 - Page 9 of 19

Automated Products Will Lead Future Material Handling Growth

Automation and third world development are expected to drive the 5% annual global growth predicted in the material handling industry, according to a new study released by The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry research firm (see our previous post). Durable goods will continue to lead demand, but opportunities in nondurable goods are also anticipated.

In 2007, durable good manufacturers led global demand for material handling equipment. Over the next five years, material handling growth will be led by a massive worldwide increase in motor vehicle production followed by increased demand for durable consumer goods, particularly electronics. However, rapid scientific and technological advances in nondurable goods, particularly the chemical and food and beverage industries, are also expected to create new demands for material handling products around the world.

Rapid industrialization in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Mideast and Latin America will increase demand for conventional material handling products such as industrial carts, tugs, trucks, lifts, conveyors, hoists, production line movers, cranes, etc. However, the Freedonia Group expects automated material handling products, including robots and automated guided vehicles (AGV), to post the best gains as industries in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan move to increase automation. Software, systems design, project management and other high-end services to these markets are also expected to post significant increases. Economic and manpower issues will drive the march toward automation and increased productivity in western markets with an emphasis on automated equipment and systems that can be easily integrated into large-scale automated factory and warehouse environments.

High fuel prices, environmental concerns and worker health and safety issues will also play an increasing roll in shaping material handling demand, particularly in U.S. markets. The current shift away from fuel-intense gas-powered trucks to more energy-efficient battery-operated material handling movers and tugs that was sparked by high fuel prices is expected to accelerate. Escalating medical, insurance and workers’ compensation costs will likewise drive a move toward ergonomically designed material handling equipment and systems.

Ergonomics Is Back on the Congressional Table

With the Democrats expected to control both the House and Senate come January, ergonomics is back on the Congressional table. In 2001, spurred by business lobbyists, a GOP-controlled Congress killed a Labor Department regulation aimed at reducing ergonomic-related injuries. Heavily supported by Democrats, the measure was, and still is, a top priority for union groups. According to political analysts, it was a stunning defeat for the Clinton White House. With the support of the Bush administration, Republicans have managed to keep the issue off the docket. However, now that Democratic power is the rise, unions are again pushing for ergonomic regulations.

An internet article on The Hill, a Washington insiders tip sheet, said, “Sen. Barack Obama has promised to issue a new ergonomics regulation as president, and industry officials say they want to be ready for it.”

Chamber of Commerce leaders are mobilizing for a Congressional fight, stating in a recent announcement, “the threat of a new ergonomics regulation has been kept in check by the Republican congressional majorities and the Bush administration. But with the recent shift in power on Capitol Hill, and regardless of who wins the White House, issuing a new ergonomics regulation will once again become a hot issue.”

Naturally, no businessman looks forward to tighter regulations and the time-eating forms, procedures and training that usually accompany them. Particularly in the current economy, we’re all budget conscious and no one’s looking for ways to fritter away more money. But if you look at the statistics, embracing ergonomics makes good business sense.

Workplace injury and illness costs American businesses $171 billion annually. Workers’ compensation claims add another $60 billion to that annual price tag. More than a quarter of those claims are for back injuries from repetitive lifting, pulling, pushing and straining, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. OSHA reports that back injuries cost U.S. businesses $12 million in lost workdays and $1 billion in compensation costs each year. The time-lost cost of a single injury is estimated at $26,000.

Ergonomics has been repeatedly proven to significantly reduce back and other repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. Businesses that institute ergonomic practices and use ergonomically-designed equipment realize immediate and significant reductions in injury rates and associated medical, insurance, disability, workers compensation and lost man-hour costs. Proactive implementation of ergonomic policies improves worker morale and demonstrably increases operations efficiency and productivity. Contact the specialists at DJ Products to find out how ergonomics can improve your business.

MHIA Funds Distribution Ergonomics Research

The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has awarded a $50,000 research grant to Ohio State University researchers in Columbus, Ohio. The grant will be used to help fund creation of a research center focused on distribution ergonomics. Provided through MHIA’s College Industry Council on Material Handling Education, the grant represents MHIA’s maiden effort in direct funding of material handling and logistics research.

In their award-winning grant application, Dr Carolyn Sommerich and Dr. Stephen Lavender of OSU proposed:

To create a research center that develops and devaluates ergonomic methods, tools and processes that will allow distribution center workers to work more safely and efficiently; and
To develop partnerships between regional distribution centers and material handling equipment manufacturers to assist the distribution centers in becoming workplaces of excellence via the proper utilization of ergonomics and lean engineering.

“MHIA is proud to support this important research which will contribute significantly to the body of knowledge on ways to improve the safety and productivity of warehouses and distribution centers,” said Daniel Quinn, MHIA Vice Chairman for Education Planning & Professional Development. “Going forward MHIA is anxious to support research such as this which will benefit the safety and productivity of factories and warehouses in the United States.”

In making the grant announcement, MHIA voiced a commitment to supporting material handling and facility logistics research and teaching in the future. Increased funding will be available for such research in the 2009-10 academic year. A call for proposals is expected to go out late this year.

DJ Products applauds MHIA’s new initiative. We recognize the importance of ergonomics in the workplace and are dedicated to the design and production of ergonomic material handling solutions. Visit the DJ Products website for more information about ergonomic products that can make your plant or business safer, more efficient and more productive.

Preventing Overexertion Injuries

Pushing, pulling and lifting are the three tasks most frequently performed by American workers. Overexertion during the execution of these tasks is responsible for 25% of all workplace injuries in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that one in every 200 workers suffers an overexertion injury. Annually, these musculoskeletal injuries cost U.S. business over $1 billion in direct compensation costs and more than 12 million lost workdays.

Repeated studies have proven that ergonomically-designed equipment can significantly decrease costly musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace. Ergonomics is the science of adjusting the equipment to the size and capabilities of the worker. Ergonomics emphasizes worker safety and comfort with the goal of reducing worker fatigue, discomfort and injury. The use of ergonomic equipment allows businesses to maximize the efficiency and productivity of their workforce while protecting workers’ health and safety.

The consequences of neglecting ergonomics are staggering. Workplace injury and illness cost U.S. businesses $171 billion annually, more than cancer or heart disease, the country’s two biggest killers. According to the American Medical Association, more than 13.2 million workers a year suffer a non-fatal workplace injury, many of them preventable musculoskeletal injuries.

Statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor reveal that workers’ compensation claims cost U.S. businesses $60 billion a year. More than 50% of those claims are for back injuries caused by pulling, pushing or lifting, tasks, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. One in five disabling workplace injuries affects the lower back. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 1.75 million U.S. workers each year succumb to a back injury that involves lengthy and costly medical and rehabilitation treatment, in addition to a considerable number of lost workdays.

Utilizing ergonomically-designed motorized carts and powered movers to assist workers with pushing, pulling and lifting tasks can save a business thousands of dollars — $4 for every dollar invested, according to a 2008 study reported in the New Hampshire Business Review — in decreased medical, insurance and disability costs resulting from musculoskeletal injuries. DJ Products, a national leader in the manufacture of ergonomically-designed electric carts and movers, specializes in providing affordable ergonomic solutions to material handling applications. For more information, visit the DJ Products website.

Election Ushers in Era of ‘Ergobamanomics’

In the wake of Barack Obama’s election, U.S. industry should brace itself for a re-emphasis on ergonomics in the workplace. We are about to enter the era of “Ergobamanomics,” predicts senior editor Austin Weber, coining the phrase in his November 6 post on AssemblyBlog, a function of Assembly magazine which serves the manufacturing product assembly market.

“We’re going to have a government that makes sure workers aren’t put at unnecessary risk,” Obama said while stumping on the campaign trail this summer. It seems likely that increased federal emphasis on the development and implementation of ergonomics standards and legislation will be part of the Obama administration’s plan to revitalize and improve U.S. industry. In numerous studies, ergonomics has been proven to significantly reduce workplace injuries and improve worker health and safety.

While workplace health and safety policy changes may not be immediate — president-elect Obama will, after all, have his hands full with more pressing problems in the first few months of his presidency — a solid Democratic majority in Congress makes it likely that tighter ergonomic standards will see quick passage in the near future. Some industry experts believe that a return to the OSHA standards of the Clinton administration could easily be enacted by Congress within the first six months of the new Obama administration.

The sweeping OSHA ergonomics changes ushered in by the Clinton administration in 2000 were quickly repealed by Republicans when George Bush took office in 2001. OSHA’s scaled-back ergonomics plan of 2002 revised the controversial Clinton-era regulations to focus primarily on the reduction of repetitive stress injuries. During his 2004 Senate campaign, Obama said he supported reviving the more comprehensive Clinton OSHA ergonomic standards. During his presidential campaign, Obama has repeatedly promised to renew the government’s commitment to improving the health and safety of all American workers.

Critics fear that a return to Clinton-era OSHA ergonomics standards would place an additional onerous burden on struggling American businesses. Tighter ergonomics standards could necessitate retooling and restructuring of production tasks. Training programs would have to be developed and executed. Increased record-keeping of repetitive stress and musculoskeletal complaints and injuries would also add to time-consuming paperwork and reporting demands, critics charge.

Despite industry fears, ergonomically-designed equipment and work procedures have the proven capacity to increase production efficiency and substantially cut injury rates. Results are both immediate and long-term, resulting in instantaneous and sustained reductions in medical, insurance, workers compensation and lost work hours while reaping considerable gains in worker satisfaction, production efficiency and improved product quality and customer service.

For more information on how ergonomically-designed equipment can improve your business, talk to the experts at DJ Products.

Ergonomic Material Handling Solutions Improve Productivity

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.

New CartCaddyHD Chain Drive Cart Mover pulls and pushes loads up to 50,000 lbs.

DJProducts, Inc. is the world leader in providing battery-powered carts and cart movers to the manufacturing, hospital, and retail industries. They provide solutions that eliminate the pains and strains associated with manually pushing heavy carts and wheeled equipment, or are less costly, smaller, and more maneuverable then traditional equipment like forklifts and pallet jacks that are not designed to push/pull wheeled carts and equipment.

Continue reading “New CartCaddyHD Chain Drive Cart Mover pulls and pushes loads up to 50,000 lbs.”

Battery powered car pusher for pushing cars, trucks, buses, campers, or anything on wheels

DJ Products of Minneapolis, manufacturers of walk-behind battery powered tugs and platform trucks, has introduced a Car Pusher specifically for pushing stalled cars, truck, bus, campers, or anything on wheels. Called the Car Caddy®, this pusher is designed for automotive, bus, and truck repair centers, dealers, manufacturers, and government highway service organizations.

Continue reading “Battery powered car pusher for pushing cars, trucks, buses, campers, or anything on wheels”

Plan Ahead for the MHEDA 2015 Conference

The premier networking and educational event of the year is already around the corner: the MHEDA Annual Convention & Exhibitors’ Showcase for 2015. The material handling conference is scheduled two weeks earlier than usual, so don’t be caught off guard!

The MHEDA’s 60th annual conference will be April 18 to 22, 2015 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Material handling events and entertainment include:

Talks, Q&As, and discussions on countless industry topics
A keynote speech on improving your company’s culture
Resort accommodations with great food, golf & entertainment
Rare and valuable networking opportunities with leaders of your field

MHEDA scheduled the conference for April 18–22, 2015. That’s two weeks earlier than usual, so don’t miss this event.

Start at the MHEDA site and click through to book your hotel now to guarantee a room. The JW Marriott is close to the airport and features the TPC San Antonio golf course on site (not to mention the Riverwalk and authentic, gourmet Tex-Mex fare nearby).

Workshop topics include:

Management tips from a former CIA leader
Talks on workforce planning, customer engagement, social media
Getting the most out of CRM
Technology roundups and presentations

The 2015 conference appears to have plenty in store for newcomers and return participants. They even have a spouse event planned, so you can bring your loved ones along to enjoy San Antonio with you.

From rubbing elbows to getting educated on the latest technologies, the MHEDA conference is an event worth attending every year.

We’re always looking for ways to help you discover better productivity and efficiency in the material handling industry. If you want to jumpstart your warehouse efficiency now, talk to us about cart movers and other ergonomic solutions!

5 Eco-Friendly Tips to Help Your Facility Go Green

“Going green” isn’t simply a trendy buzzword. Eco-awareness should be an integral part of everyone’s lifestyle. Your carbon footprint, no matter how great or small, is part of the overall environment that affects the health of our planet and its population.

Due to their significant consumption of resources, warehouses and manufacturing facilities present numerous opportunities for conservation. Here are five tips you can implement that pay major dividends in energy and material savings.

Reuse items like boxes and packing material wherever possible. These types of items have long been considered disposable, but they’re usually good for several uses before they become worn out.
If it can’t be reused, recycle it. Make it easy for your employees by providing several well-labeled stations with generously sized containers. Don’t forget about offices, lunchrooms and break rooms as well.
Reevaluate your lighting system. Wherever possible, replace older light bulbs with newer LED models. You may even want to consider installing skylights to take advantage of natural lighting.
Check the condition of your facility’s doors. Poor insulation may be causing your heating and cooling system to work harder. Remote-controlled and motion-sensor doors are available that limit the amount of heat that escapes when they’re opened.
Switch from propane or diesel forklifts to battery-powered equipment tugs. Not only do they conserve energy, they’re safer and more efficient to use.

Whatever your material handling needs are, you can find an eco-friendly solution from DJ Products. Please contact us at 800.686.2651 for more information on our CartCaddy5WP and other models from our full line of equipment tugs.