Dirty Warehouse? Clean it Up with the Terra 28B!

The Terra 28B is a perfect cleaning solution for small warehouses or working applications. From cleaning up sawdust in lumber mills to purging carpet in the office, this handy sweeper can handle it all. Featuring easy operation, great maneuverability, durability, active dust control and low maintenance. When you are thinking of a cost effective way to sweep up debris quickly, the Terra 28B is a great solution for a variety of applications.

The Terra 28B features All Surface All Purpose sweeping technology. The efficiency of this machine is maximized as the operator transitions from one floor type to another without having to change the type of broom. The unique broom design is coupled with the incredibly engineered skirting system. The main broom contains dual rows of soft and coarse bristles that will pick up everything from dirt to sand, to paper and plastic bottles on carpet and hardwood floors. The long-running, maintenance free gel battery comes standard on the Terra 28B, while an onboard battery charger allows the operator flexibility to plug the sweeper in any place there is an outlet.

The One-Touch operation, a streamlined design and superior maneuverability make this sweeper easy for any operator to use. This sweeper offers traction assist for fast and easy cleaning. Tools-free broom removal and adjustment makes for easy cleaning of the sweeper at the end of an operator's shift too.

This cleaning machine is made for any and every application that has a demand for maintaining a clean and pristine look and feel. It is also foldable and can be stored nearly anywhere.

To schedule your free demo of the Terra 28B contact Shoppa's Mid America today!

Forklift Rental: What to Expect When You're Expecting (to Rent, That Is)

A need for a forklift can be immediate or planned. Immediate needs can occur due to broken equipment, season needs, or unexpected demand while planned needs are usually a result of bidding, contractual projects. For immediate needs, short-term projects and specialty lifts, the solution is renting. Forklifts can be rented daily, weekly, or monthly to meet your specific circumstance. So, what should you expect when you are planning to rent?

Maintenance Responsibility

The requirements to rent from a forklift dealership, that typically rents for the purposes of industrial or commercial use, include having a one million dollar liability insurance policy and completing the credit application process. Once approved, the rate of the rental will depend upon the rented time frame of the lift. General maintenance is included in this rate; however, you may incur variable maintenance and damage costs while the rental is in your possession. Variable maintenance costs are expected costs including fuel or the need of a specialized attachment.

If operator abuse or unexpected incidents happen to the forklift while in your possession, you may be held liable and obligated to cover the cost of the damages to the forklift. Scratches on forklifts, torn seats, broken lights and cut tires are the most common damage costs incurred. However, these can be avoided with cautious and trained operators and pedestrians.

Availability

Availability is being able to get what you need when you need it. Availability of forklifts will differ from dealership to dealership, but typically the machinery can be received within an hour to a week of the request. Many will carry brand specific forklifts and much of a company's rental fleet with be shared among various branch locations. A significant portion of availability will depend largely on utilization - the percentage of available lifts versus what is currently being rented. It is not uncommon for a dealership to have 80% of its rental fleet rented at any given time. If the piece of equipment you need is in the 80% that is currently on rent, it can take up to a week to locate that piece of equipment from another branch location and deliver it to you.

Considerations

When considering renting from a dealership or a rental company, know that all forklift equipment is not maintained the same. The age of the equipment, the maintenance of the fleet, and whether the rental forklift is "rent ready" will contribute to the overall rental experience. As a forklift ages, it becomes less ergonomic for the operator, reducing productivity. A well maintained forklift will be "rent ready," ensuring an unlikely probability that issues will occur and the forklift will be in optimal operating condition for the entire stint of your rental agreement.

Making the Right Decision When Renting a Forklift

Figuring out the best budgetary decision for your industrial equipment needs can be a challenging task. Sometimes it makes financial sense to purchase, but often a short or long term rental might be a better decision for your company's needs. That is why Shoppa's Mid America keeps a huge on-site rental fleet with inventory of forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, aerial equipment, pallet jacks and floor cleaning equipment for a wide variety of application needs. Short term rentals are available by the day, week or month. Long term rentals and rent-to-own programs are also available. The rental fleet includes lift trucks that range from 3,000 lbs. to 17,500 lbs. capacity. The pneumatic and cushion units are also available in propane, gas or diesel.

Short Term Rentals

"Keeping a rental fleet of new and late model lift trucks and other material handling equipment ensures that we get our customers the equipment they need to get the job done," says Robert Horine, Rental Manager, at Shoppa's Mid America. "It's your when you want it, and ours when you don't."

"We have one of the largest rental fleets in our area," he continued. "It is important to us to make sure that our customers have the right truck for the job. Before delivering a unit, we make sure that we review all the specifications: capacity, mast height, tire type, fuel type, etc. Even if our customers are not sure of what they need, we walk them through the process to match the correct equipment for the application."

As the exclusive authorized dealer for Toyota, Shoppa's Mid America knows its equipment, and more importantly knows what equipment is best suited to get your job done. The dealership keeps a large fleet of many capacities and capabilities. "I like to say that we specialize in getting you the right type of equipment." Horine added.

Long Term Rentals

Shoppa's Mid America also offers long term rentals. Full maintenance leases are offered with up to six years of guaranteed up time. We want to help your company get out of the forklift business so you can concentrate on what your company does best. Let us manage your fleet through a long term rental program.

The representatives at Shoppa's Mid America are very customer service oriented. Your business is not a square peg that they are trying to ft into a round hole. From specification matching though delivery, the courteous representatives will expedite getting your company the lift trucks and other equipment you need.

Shoppa's Mid America is also very competitive on long and short term rental units, offering some of the most attractive rental rates in the area. Contact us today to find out if we have a solution that meets your needs!

10 Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining to Forklift Training

When it comes to training for these trucks, there are specific OSHA requirements that must be met. Below are some frequently asked questions related to forklift training.

1. What vehicles are considered to be powered industrial trucks?
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) defines a powered industrial truck as a mobile, power propelled truck used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier materials. Powered industrial trucks, often called forklifts or lift trucks, can be ridden or controlled by a walking operator. Excluded from the OSHA standard are vehicles used for earth moving or over-the-road haulage.

2. How has OSHA changed its powered industrial truck standard?
Previously, the OSHA standards required that any trained operators could operate powered industrial trucks with just generic operator training. The new standard requires employers to develop a training program specific to the type of truck to be driven and the working conditions encountered. Employers must also evaluate the operator's performance in the workplace and certify that each operator has received the training needed.

3. What industries are covered by the new standard?
The new standards cover general industry, maritime and construction. The general industry standard is 1910.178(1).

4. Where can an operator obtain the training to become a certified forklift operator?
The employer is responsible for implementing a training program and ensuring that only trained drivers who have successfully completed the training program are allowed to operate powered industrial trucks. An evaluation of each trained operator must be conducted during the initial training, at least once every three years, and after refresher training. The training and evaluation may be conducted by the employer, if qualified, or an outside training organization. Shoppa's Mid America offers both OSHA compliant operator safety training and "Train the Trainer" programs. Operator safety training classes are offered once a month and are available on-demand at your location. Visit our website to learn more and see a schedule of upcoming classes.

5. What type of training is required?
The training must be a combination of formal (lecture, video, etc.) and practical (demonstration and practical exercises), and include an evaluation of operator performance in the workplace. Truck-related topics must be included, along with the requirements of the OSHA standard. The specific training topics are listed in the standard.

6. Who should conduct the training?
All training and evaluation must be conducted by a person with the necessary knowledge, training and experience to train operators and evaluate their competency. This may be the employer, another employee, or other qualified person. The training and evaluation does not have to be conducted by a single individual, but can be done by several persons, provided each one is qualified.

7. Is refresher training required?
Refresher training is required when the operator has been observed driving unsafely, been involved in an accident or near-miss, received an evaluation that indicated unsafe operations, is assigned to drive a different type of truck, or if a workplace condition affecting safe operation changes. An operator evaluation is required after refresher training.

8. What does "certified" mean?
The employer must certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by the standard. The certification must include the name of the operator, the date of training, the date of evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.

9. Does an operator who has already been trained as a powered industrial truck operator have to be retrained under the new law?
If an operator has received training in a required topic and the training is appropriate to the truck and the working conditions encountered, additional training in that topic is not required if the operator has been evaluated and found competent.

10. Where can I get additional information about OSHA and the new standards?
For more information, contact your local or regional OSHA office or visit www.osha.gov. You can also contact Shoppa's Mid America today to get a free safety evaluation by one of our certified trainers.

Distracted Driving is Dangerous - Even on a Forklift

Most people would agree that distracted driving is a worldwide problem; however, they might also think that it is one which does not apply to them. It doesn't matter if you are operating a service van, semi-truck, car, or a forklift; distractions can cause injury or death to the vehicle operator, to other drivers or to pedestrians who are unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Eating while driving, passengers or the radio are some of the biggest diversions when it comes to driving a car, but certainly not the whole realm of distractions in today's world. Drivers today deal with cell phones, text messaging, surfing the web on their phones, DVD players, navigation devices, MP3 players, complex sound systems and much more.

The problem in the material handling world is that people are bringing poor habits from their personal vehicles into the workplace and on to powered industrial trucks. Distractions on forklifts include two-way radios, FR scanning equipment, eating and drinking, cell phones, music playing devices, pedestrian traffic and fatigued driving just to name a few. As far as radios, RF scanners, cell phones and music players go; smart companies will put in place a policy which says "these types of devices may not be used while in motion, no exceptions." Make the first offense a formal write up and time off and the second termination and your rule will be very effective.

Food and drink is another area of concern. Companies which want to avoid the chance of accidents in this area will advise operators to keep food in the lunch room. Even if operators are not eating or drinking while in motion, the chance of a spill or drip while in motion and the subsequent distraction, is too great. Hot and cold liquids which are spill on operators result in many auto accidents each year, as do the dropping and retrieval of unsecured items. It does not help that many manufacturers are now building cup holders into their dashboards; it only encourages operators to bring along things best left behind.

Another problem is drowsy driving. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 auto crashes per year in the US. These crashes result in 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths. There is no doubt that all types of vehicle operators, including forklift operators, suffer from fatigue, with long shifts and odd working hours. Night shift workers suffer the most from fatigue, as the distractions of trying to sleep during the day, when everyone else is awake, are many. Most people can handle getting too little sleep one night fairly well, but the effects of sleep deprivation night after night are cumulative and can be harmful both physically and emotionally. Many people also work rotating shifts, where the body never gets a chance to adjust to one set schedule, causing problems with sleep patterns. The answer to this problem is likely twofold, consisting of education for your operators and also keeping a close watch out for potentially exhausted workers. If operators can take steps to get more sleep, understand the effects of fatigue on their bodies, and learn to know their limits, it will create a safer working environment for them and others. Supervisors must also be watching for the early signs of drowsy driving and assigning those people to non-driving positions for the rest of the shift, somewhere where the consequences of sleepiness would not be dangerous.

Shoppa's Mid America offers OSHA compliant safety training courses once a month and on-demand at your location. Our certified trainers are also happy to visit your facility and provide a free safety evaluation. Visit our website to learn more, see a schedule of upcoming classes, or to request a training session.

Which Forklift Telemetry Device is Right for You?

Over the last ten years we have seen a major emphasis on forklift tracking using fleet management and telemetry devices most commonly referred to as "black boxes." Companies are pushing for better utilization and cost tracking technology to assist them in being more productive and lowering their operating expenses measured by Cost Per Operating Hour (CPH). Technology constantly changes and new suppliers are appearing while more seasoned vendors are constantly changing their technology. Some technology is simplified to collect hour meter readings while others consist of multiple I/O's or input/output that track and measure many different parts of the forklift. With added features you typically have added costs. Some suppliers try and alleviate the sticker shock by offering a monthly service that is easier to swallow. This constant change creates a challenge for most companies in determining the right technology for their application which leads to the question:

Which forklift telemetry device is right for you?

To get this answer, it is important to sit down and review the issues that you are trying to resolve.

• Do you feel that you have too much equipment and need a solution that tells you how much your equipment is running?
• Do you have operator issues with miss-use and abuse in the form of equipment, product, and/or warehouse damage?
• Do you need to ensure that your operators are only operating equipment that is assigned to them or ensure they perform their pre-shift inspection?
• Do you want technology that will help you track battery usage and rotation?

All of these plus many more are legitimate reasons to look at forklift telemetry as a way to gather the right information to help you get to your answers. At Shoppa's Mid America, we have onsite experts that have studied the different suppliers in the market and their technology. We keep up to date with the latest trends and services they offer. We will ensure that you only get the technology that you need and don't pay for features you will not use. Let us assist you with finding the right product to solve your problem.

Contact us today for more information.

10 Ways to Improve Material Handling Efficiency

If your distribution center is running at peak performance, congratulations. Keep up the good work. Chances are your company is enjoying the fruits of this success. Throughput is flowing flawlessly and the competition is running for the hills. Times are good.

But if you think your distribution center can run more efficiently, that throughput can still be increased, costs could still be lower, and manpower could be better utilized, then here are 10 ways to improve your warehouse efficiency.

1. Gain an understanding of the current state of your distribution center.
Let's start with the basic premise, "You don't know where you are going until you know where you are." This means you must first measure and capture all data relevant to your company's operation. This would include labor expenses with overtime separated out, number of orders processed in a given amount of time, number of lines pulled by each operator, number of forklifts in operation during that time and the expense of leasing or operating each one, overall utility costs to run the distribution center and total cost per square foot of operating space in your facility.

2. Have a clearly developed customer service policy.
The most important question you should ask yourself is "What is my commitment to my customers?" The answer could be as simple as: One hundred percent of all customer orders received by 4:00 pm will be processed and shipped to the customer as a perfect order with 72 hours. In this case, a perfect order would be measured by its successful on-time delivery, with no damage and all documentation and labeling complete and accurate. Determine what is realistic and achievable for your organization and what will position you in front of your competitors. Develop your internal processes to achieve that high level of service.

3. Measure and record how many time an item is touched from the time it is ordered until the time it leaves the building.
Look for ways to eliminate handling items twice, keeping in mind that every time an item is touched there is the opportunity for human error. For example: Instead of picking items into a tote first and then dumping them out on a table, only to be re-packed into a carton, why not pick items directly into the shipping box?

4. Business can start picking up when companies start looking up.
Traditionally, companies tend to expand their operations laterally as they grow and the number of stock keeping units (SKUs) increases. It's easy to forget that your facility may have more available overhead space that can be utilized. By elevating some or most of the processing, packing or picking operations, use of free cubic overhead space may allow the distribution operation to extend the number of years within the existing facility. This bodes especially well from an economic standpoint for companies with favorable lease rates or those that own their building outright.

5. Gather data on the SKUs you currently have in inventory frequently.
Slot your facility carefully to ensure that each SKU is mapped for the shape, weight and velocity of its particular use. Identify how fast the items move from a demand perspective, according to class and make sure the most active SKUs are assigned to locations closest to input/output points in order to maximize throughput efficiency. Measure the dimensions and weights on all existing and in-bound SKUs. This can be accomplished accurately by using a CubiScan or other suitable measuring device. Knowing the volume of each SKU will allow you to slot efficiently, facilitate accurate check weighing, if appropriate, and accommodate current and future picking technologies. The data also allows you to take advantage of the cubing features of most Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) in order to calculate the appropriate-sized carton to use for a respective order. The difference between using a larger and smaller carton when shipping an order may not seem like a high-priority decision. But a smaller carton costs less and reduces the dead space that usually requires fillers such as Styrofoam peanuts and plastic pouches.

6. Consider or re-think your current picking technology.
Assuming you have measured accurately the number of lines being pulled by each operator, now may be the time to evaluate the feasibility of using a picking technology such as Radio Frequency (RF), Pick-To-Voice or Pick-To-Light, thus eliminating paper based picking which may not be cost-efficient for your shipping needs. Factors in making the proper picking technology decision should include density of SKU locations, required throughput, characteristics of the items you are picking, and any specialized procedures in place, such as serial number tracking.

7. Select the picking method that is right for your company.
Evaluate the merits of piece picking, where a picker picks one order at a time by walking up and down each pick aisle until the entire order is complete. How cost-effective is this versus, say, batch picking (a picker picks all orders at the same time in the same pass), zone picking (pick area is broken up into individual pick zones, similar to an assembly line), or wave picking (all zones are picked at the same time, rather than having orders move from zone to zone)?

8. Practice task interleaving.
This refers to the process and method of combining your active picking with the put-away process. Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) utilize logic to direct lift truck operators to put-away a pallet while enroute to the next full pallet pick. For example, if a forklift operator receives instructions to put away a pallet, the WMS will initiate a pallet pick so the forklift operator does not come back without a load. Since the average forklift operates on a 33.5 lb. LP tank, that costs an average of $25-$30 to fill, with a tank life of only about eight hours, you can see the cost-effectiveness of not coming back empty-handed.

9. Keep system downtime to a minimum.
Conveyors, carousels, palletizers and other devices such as tapers, case erectors, and stretch wrappers require planned maintenance. Equipment should be inspected, maintenance records stored with easy access, and small problems corrected immediately. Automated distribution centers should conduct planned maintenance at regular intervals, particularly belt tracking for conveyors, taking motor temperatures and lubricating as necessary. Spare parts, such as motors, belts, bearings and rollers, should always be on hand. The investment in a good maintenance plan will keep your orders moving and protect large investments in replacing equipment minimally.

10. Examine your equipment's vulnerable points from a power management perspective.
Mother Nature is not always a friend to a distribution center. If lightning issues or erratic power outages are frequent in your area, protect your distribution center from potential power spikes by using surge protectors and conditioning your service from the local electric utility provider. Don't let the minimal cost of surge protection cause major damage to your equipment or wipe out the programming in your controls. Remember, one damaged power supply can shut down a sorter, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime and delayed transportation expenses.

These 10 ways to improve your material handling efficiency can help increase the amount of perfect orders being shipped, and in so doing ensure customer satisfaction and promote increased sales. And along the way you've successfully answered that all-important question, "What is my commitment to my customers?"

Shoppa’s Mid America offers a wide variety of resources and services to maximize your warehouse space, increase your productivity and enhance your efficiency. Our professional warehouse systems specialists can even design and install a custom plan to improve your operations. We understand your diverse warehouse needs. Your entire facility should be organized, efficient and safe, and that's why we offer a one-stop shop for a wide variety of warehouse products, including pallet rack, shelving, dock equipment, safety accessories, workshop equipment and more. It's our goal to help you create the safest, most productive work environment throughout your warehouse. From office area to loading dock to employee breakroom, let us provide all the products and services you need for a streamlined, safe and efficient facility. For more information about our warehouse products and services, please contact Shoppa's Mid America today.