An Approach for Selection of Material Handling Equipment

The appropriateness of the use of MHS cost as the sole criterion to select a MHS design depends on the degree to which the other aspects of the production process are able to be changed. If a completely new facility and production process is being designed, then the total cost of production is the most appropriate criterion to use in selecting a MHS—the lowest cost MHS may not result in the lowest total cost of production. If it is too costly to even consider changing the basic layout of a facility and the production process, then MHS cost is the only criterion that need be considered. In this study, after describing the material handling equipment selection and pre-design of material handling systems problems and explaining their complexity and solution approaches, it is shown that material handling equipment selection and pre-design of a material handling system can be combined by using a knowledge-based approach. In this study Material Handling/movement is selected only for same horizontal level, that’s why the study with lifting and lowering equipment like conveyors or elevators are not included.