Sturtevant, WI -- (SBWire) -- 05/31/2016 --Large manufacturing companies stay competitive in today's business environment by improving throughput time, eliminating waste, reducing costs, and improving product quality. According to Ed Brown, founder of Topper Industrial, the new vision guided vehicles (VGVs) paired with industrial carts are ideal to achieving these objectives and moving to a Fork Truck Free Environment.
This is all part of a fork truck free initiative which improves throughput time by maintaining minimum inventory levels. VGV/Carts help to maintain minimum inventory levels by delivering products consistently and reliably.
Brown said this important combination supports pull-through production methods. Pull-through production is triggered by a customer order (as opposed to traditional push-through method, in which products are manufactured in long production runs and stored in anticipation of orders). VGVs deliver the parts as needed, and therefore, not utilizing expensive labor for those activities that are more customized.
As a key function of lean manufacturing this pairing of VGVs/Carts enhances the use of work cells. An autonomous production line that can efficiently and continuously perform all required operations, where VGVs enhance the use of work cells as they deliver the right parts to the intended work cells.
These VGVs/Carts applications include:
- Transfer of product over long routes between pickup and drop off points
- Transporting work in process (WIP) between assembly cells
- Replenishing work cells with raw materials
- Removing finished goods from work areas and transporting to storage / shipping
- Trash removal
Fork truck free initiatives are increasingly popular as sufficient data has revealed the true cost of fork truck ownership. Where purchasing managers are focused on lowest cost acquisition, operations managers must account for the extensive budgetary requirements in maintaining the fork truck fleet. The ergonomic benefits, along with safety enhancements, increase the likelihood of North American fork truck free operations. OSHA compliance is best realized by eliminating the source of the safety hazard.
About Topper Industrial
For more than twenty years, Topper Industrial, (http://www.TopperIndustrial.com) based just outside of Milwaukee, WI, has been a leader in the material handling equipment industry. The company's product roster features industrial carts, conveyors, lifts, lifts & tilts, shipping racks, containers, casters, and cart components. From mother-daughter carts to quad steer carts to tilt carts and rotate carts, Topper's material handling solutions make delivering material line side more effective through more efficient practices. Topper Industrial has a team of experienced professional experts able to assess and provide the right product for all material handling equipment requirements.
Topper Industrial is a proud member of MHI. The Topper Industrial client roster includes Anderson Windows, Detroit Diesel, Honda, Kia Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Aramark, Johnson Controls, Whirlpool, and Caterpillar. Follow on Twitter @TopperInd. Call 800-529-0909.
North American Manufacturers Moving to Fork Truck Free Environment