Material Handling Management Society (MHMS)
Independent organization created to provide continuing education to material handling professionals.
Material Handling
The storage, movement and security of products throughout the entire operational process. The objective is to lower all costs involved while also increasing efficiency, productivity and safety. Supply Chain and Logistics are often used interchangeably although they are not the
Manipulator
A device added to a material handling piece of equipment to assist in the handling or “manipulation” of the product. Often equipped with an end effector to grab onto the product. Manipulators counter the weight of the product creating a
Manifest
Document that lists products/orders on a bill of lading or in a shipment.
Logistics
The management of material flow throughout the supply chain. Logistics can be as broad as managing inbound and outbound flows to a facility or as narrow as managing the flow within an individual process. Supply Chain and Material Handling are
Loading Dock
The area of facility where shipping and receiving is performed and product is loaded/unloaded into trucks, vans or containers.
Load Bearing Surface
Area where load will actually come into contact with the load.
Live Roller Conveyor
Any powered conveyor that utilizes rollers as the direct surface that conveys the product.
Line Shaft Conveyor
A powered roller conveyor where a round shaft or spool rotates underneath the rollers. Small rubber bands or o-rings wrap around rotating shaft and fit into grooves in rollers to mobilize the rollers which then convey the product.
Lifting Table
A table with a scissor lift device attached to it which raises and lowers product to desired elevation.