Norpak Handling’s tips on making conveyor system implementation work

Buying a new conveyor system requires careful consideration of several factors.

Investing in a new material-handling system is a big decision, and Norpak Handling wants to ensure that its customers get the most out of it. Successful conveyor system implementation will result in years of optimal production, reduced expense, and minimal downtime, while a hasty decision process can be costly.

A business must analyze what it has, what it needs to accomplish, and its budget in order to implement a successful solution.

The five key questions

Norpak advises every customer to ask five key questions when embarking on a new conveyor system implementation or improving a current one:

1. 1. What is the product?
   2. What are the expectations?
   3. What is the environment?
   4. What is the deadline for project completion?
   5. What is the plan of action after purchase?

First, the business must consider the exact product and/or product mix to select the right conveyor. What are the product sizes and weights? If items are bagged, are the items uniform? Are they evenly distributed within transport containers? Other important factors: the colour of the packages, whether the product is liquid, and whether totes will be used.

Next, the conveyor supplier needs to understand what the customer expects from the system. Some options can add floor space, boost production or storage capacity, reduce labour, improve ergonomics, minimize maintenance and/or energy, or maximize sustainable returns. The user must decide what specific benefits are needed or desired.

Conveyor system implementation should also correspond to the work environment. Is the workplace dusty or dirty? Will there be potential oil or water spillage? Is there heavy workforce interaction and vehicle traffic, and will an overhead system pose a safety hazard? Fourth, the customer must discuss the ultimate timeline for completion and make all relevant parties aware.

Finally, consider a post-purchase action plan. Will there be a training program on the new system for workers? Will maintenance training be conducted before implementation of the system? Will products be tracked on a regular basis?

These are the factors one must consider in order to get the perfect material-handling system for a facility.

To learn more, contact Norpak.

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