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Profiled Career

Manufacturing Engineer



Technology: Product and Process Design, Machining & Metal Processing, Equipment and Machinery

Manufacturing engineers have the task of making manufacturing processes better, faster, and cheaper. Their success or failure directly impacts the advancement of technology and the spread of innovation.

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Material Handling and Movement



Technology: Automated Manufacturing & Assembly

Material handling refers to anything from the movement of products on an assembly line to our luggage at teh airport. Material handling is simply the physial movement of material from one location to another. While there is nothing really wrong with this definition, it is too broad and doesn't really tell us much about material handling in the manufacturing industry. (Source from Foremost Machine at http://www.foremostmachine.com/materialhandling.htm)


Photo and more information available from The Material Handling Industry of America, CSS Conveyor & Sortation Systems industry group (http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/conv.


Different types of material handling equipment include:


Automated Storage and Retrieval (AS/RS) - A combination of equipment and controls that handle, store and retrieve materials as needed with precision, accuracy and speed under a defined degree of automation. Systems vary from relatively simple, manually controlled order-picking machines operating in small storage structures to extremely large, computer-controlled storage/retrieval systems totally integrated into a manufacturing distribution processes. (Source: http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/as-rs).


Conveyor and Sorting - A conveyor is a horizontal, inclined or vertical device commonly used in manufacturing distribution facilities to move material, packages or objects. Conveyors usually consist of a looped belt or chain moving along a predetermined path and having points of loading and discharge, fixed or selective. A sortation system merges, identifies, inducts, separates and conveys products to specific destinations. (Source: http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/conv).
Crane Systems - Industrial cranes raise, shift, and lower loads with a projected, swinging arm or a hoisting apparatus supported on an overhead track. There are many different types of products. Bench or cart-mounted cranes are designed for small workspaces and one-hand operation. Jib cranes mount on walls or floors and consiste of a horizontal beam (jib) upon which a shuttle or hoist is mounted. (Source and more information about cranes at: http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/material_handling_packaging_equipment/material_handling_equipment/industrial_cranes).
Hoists - Industrial Hoists are lifting and pulling devices that use some form of line to move or lift a load. Industrial hoists are primarily used for vertical lifting. There are a number of standard specs to keep in mind when selecting a hoist for teh application at hand; notably load capacity, lift length, maxiumum lift speed, and whether a pully block is needed. Industrial hoists can be divided into two main categories, powered adn manual, based uponth their power source and method of actuation. (Source and more information about hoists at: http://www.industrialhoistsandcrane.com/industrialhoists.html). 


Lifts - Industrial lift equipment safely lifts people and materials in the manufacturing and distribution environment. Types of lift equipment includes, Adjustable Worker Elevation Platforms, Industrial/Tilters, Lift Tables, Pallet Rotator or Pallet Inverter and Stackers. (Source and more information about hoists at: http://www.mhia.org/industrygroups/lmps).





 


Videos - Applications about different types of material handling systems:



Conveyor - "Reading Rainbow segment -- How FedEx sort their packages and process - 1998" (07:01 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug4GH3IPjaI&NR=1


AGV and AS/RS - "viastore - automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS) warehouse management" (02:58 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xvBj4hBQ9k


Crane - "Material Flow A Breeze with Cantilevered Supports" (00:43 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_sy9W1gwMQ


Crane - "1.Gorbel(r) Crane Increases Productivity 40%..." (00:34 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1p0dPfJyD0&NR=1


Automated Warehousing - "Amazon Warehouse's processing" (02:50 min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6H7nfHjHtY&NR=1