The Road to System Integration Step 3: Installation
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Integrated Systems and Controls (ISC) Industry Group of Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has released its Summer 2011 Quarterly Report titled The Road to System Integration Step 3: Installation.
This report offers advice for a smooth and successful installation of an integrated material handling system.
According to the report, the work of ensuring a smooth installation begins well before your supplier arrives to install the first piece of equipment. If quick and easy installation is critical, designing a system with off-the-shelf components instead of customized ones reduces the risk of installation delays. “Having easy access to hardware is key,” Rockwell Automation’s Ken Fry, vice chairman of the SC Industry Group. “If you need to replace something during the installation, you’ll be able to get it more quickly if you’re working with standard components.”
The report suggests scheduling a walk-through of your facility with the supplier well before installation begins. This is the time to review the installation schedule and the list of customer requirements and responsibilities included in the contract. Knowing exactly what you’ve agreed to provide at what points in the schedule will help all to avoid time-wasting glitches or misunderstandings.
Rockwell’s Fry offers another recommendation for projects in existing facilities. Before installation begins, perform a network analysis to verify that the data network will be able to handle the added load of the new equipment without negatively affecting the performance of existing equipment.
Finally, Intralox’s Shana Relle, chair of the ISC Industry Group, “it’s a good idea to have the maintenance team on hand during the installation so they can receive training from the installation crew.” Seeing how new equipment is installed often helps maintenance personnel better understand how to maintain and service that equipment.
View the complete report — The Road to System Integration Step 3: Installation
Quarterly Reports are an information source from several Industry Groups of MHIA. Each report will focus on trends in the use of material handling and logistics equipment, such as guided vehicles or automated storage, to solve challenges in the plant and warehouse ranging from ROI to sustainability to productivity in the new economy.
Members of MHIA Industry Groups are suppliers of material handling and logistics equipment and systems. These industry experts make it their business to evaluate operational challenges and solve them efficiently and cost effectively. That makes them authoritative sources for solutions to challenges that end users face on a daily basis.
ISC is an Industry Group of MHIA. ISC members are the Industry's leading suppliers of integrated material handling and controls systems. They supply systems worldwide and in virtually every major manufacturing and distribution sector.
MHIA is an international trade association that has represented this industry since 1945. MHIA members include material handling equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers, and third party logistics providers. Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHIA a strong national and international representative for the material handling industry. Much of the work of the industry is done within its product-specific sections, councils and affiliates. The association also sponsors trade events, such as ProMat 2011 and MODEX 2012 to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate industry professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.
Contact: For more information on MHIA activities and programming contact Carol Miller at 704-676-1190/800-345-1815.
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