Unit 8 Material Transport Systems 8.1 Unit Introduction 8.2 Unit Learning Objectives 8.3 Material Handling Equipment 8.4 Material Transport Equipment 8.5 Analysis of Material Transport Systems 8.6 Unit Review 8.7 Self-Assessment Questions 8.8 Self-Assessment Answers 8.1 Unit Introduction Material transport systems are used in manufacturing and production environments to take materials from one location to another. According to the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), material handling is the movement, storage, protection and control of materials throughout the manufacturing and distribution process, including their consumption and disposal. It should consist of the following desirable characteristics: BULLETLIST Be designed with safety in mind Be developed for performing efficiently Be developed to operate at low cost Be designed to perform in a timely manner Be developed to operate accurately, delivering the right materials in the right quantities to the right locations Be designed to deliver materials without damage ENDLIST KEYPOINT Material handling is the movement, storage, protection and control of materials throughout the manufacturing and distribution process, including their consumption and disposal. END KEYPOINT Coordination and control is required to move materials that act as inputs to the process and remove materials as outputs from the process. Material handling is often overlooked in the general scheme of production. The cost of material handling is significant and averages around 20-25% of total manufacturing labour cost. In this unit general material handling principles are introduced, with discussions on material handling equipment and their design considerations. The varieties of material transport equipment are presented. This is followed by an analysis of material transport systems, which examines quantitative models of vehicle-based systems of transport, and of conveyor-systems. 8.2 Unit Learning Objectives After completing this unit y