Reduce injuries, boost productivity and save valuable storage space

By investing in appropriate materials handling equipment, industrial companies can cut costs, boost productivity, reduce workplace injuries and save valuable storage and production space, says Andy Owen, Managing Director at MasterMover Ltd.

In the current economic climate, any way in which a manufacturing company can cut costs – by reducing labour, boosting productivity, saving valuable factory or warehouse space, or by reducing injury-related compensation claims – is surely worth a closer look.

Manual or mechanical handling, for example, including the pulling or pushing of moderate-to-heavy loads around a factory or warehouse, may seem pretty straightforward at first glance, but this is actually one area where industrial firms can cut costs and achieve greater efficiencies and productivity. After all, how many times have you seen an employee, or group of individuals, struggling to push or pull a heavy load from one side of the factory to the other? If it takes 20 minutes for a group of four people to carry out this type of task because inappropriate handling equipment is being used, what is the true cost to the business in terms of ‘lost’ production? Furthermore, what would it cost that company in a litigation claim if one of these workers were injured while pushing the load?