NA2000; Educational Forum Guide; Cobo Hall; Detroit, Michigan, April 8-12

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 3/1/2000

Sponsored by:

DPI Material Handling Systems

Linpac Materials Handling

The NA 2000 Educational Forumis co-sponsored by the Material Handling Institute and the Materials Handling and Management Society

For further information visit www.mhia.org or call 800-446-2622

Workshops

Saturday & Sunday, April 8-92-day workshop - 8:30am-5:00pm

The basics of material handling: Concepting solutions and applications

Session #W01

Howard Zollinger, Zollinger Assoc.

This comprehensive short course is designed to provide end-users and field service/application specialists with a firm foundation on which to build their material handling expertise. It is especially valuable to those who are new to the material handling industry and are ready to take their careers to the next level. This is not a course based in theory, but on real-world experience. The content has been created to meet the needs of users, distributors, and suppliers of material handling equipment and systems.

Sunday, April 9 - 8:30am-5:00pm

The logistics execution systems short course on warehouse and transportation management systems: A roadmap for design integration and implementation

Session #W02

John Hill, Cypress Associates

Designed for warehouse operators and managers, this workshop is geared to making you successful at implementing what for most is a major modernization investment. The morning session provides a detailed discussion of the role of WMS and TMS in supply chain management and alternatives available to prospective users. Attendees will have an opportunity to view actual application videos. The afternoon session provides a step-by-step approach to requirements characterization, justification development, procurement, and implementation.

Introduction to the economic justification of material handling investments

Session #W03

John Usher, University of Louisville

This one-day short course provides attendees with practice at applying the basic tools that are essential to justifying material handling investment. It is an introductory course; it is practical, not theoretical, and it is how corporate America evaluates capital investment alternatives. It is specifically designed for individuals with little or no background or formal training in economic evaluation. It is also designed with the goal that everyone in the supply chain end up applying the same criteria and using the same tools. The course includes six distinct modules containing numerous examples along with exercises that participants will have a chance to work on individually and on teams.

Sunday, April 9 - 1:00 pm-5:00 pm.

The fundamentals of constraint management and synchronous flow: An interactive learning experience

Session #W04

Ed Ligon, Chesapeake Consulting

Those who attend this 4 hour session will gain a basic understanding of constraint management and synchronous flow. You will learn the principles, terms, and techniques of constraint management. This is an interactive session in which you will experience the concepts of synchronous flow through hands-on exercises designed to teach the basics of this common sense approach to business management.

Monday, April 10 - 1:00 pm-5:00pm

The fundamentals of constraint management and synchronous flow: An interactive learning experience

Session #W05,

Ed Ligon, Chesapeake Consulting

Those who attend this 4 hour session will gain a basic understanding of constraint management and synchronous flow. You will learn the principles, terms, and techniques of constraint management. This is an interactive session in which you will experience the concepts of synchronous flow through hands-on exercises designed to teach the basics of this common sense approach to business management.

Thursday, April 13 -8:00am-4:00pm

The basics of material handling: The foundation of better planning and analysis

Session #W06

H. Lee Hales, Richard Muther and Associates, Inc.

This workshop provides an introduction to the field of material handling including systems analysis, equipment selection, and the relationship of material handling to other activities and operations of the industrial plant or warehouse. It is also an excellent refresher course for those who want an update on the latest trends. Whether or not you are new to the field, you will learn how to plan and analyze material handling systems; how to improve material handling operations; and when to apply material handling automation.

Seminars

Monday, April 10 - 8:30am-9:45am

Integrating material handling planning with manufacturing execution: A case study on performance excellence

Session #S01

Dave Bartley, HK Systems; Todd Hunter, HK Systems

Gillette integrated automated material handling equipment into its South Boston manufacturing center (SBMC) to take full advantage of their manufacturing execution system software. This case study will explore the methods utilized to select the appropriate equipment and software interfaces, design the equipment layout, implement the design, maximize system productivity, and maintain flexibility for future growth.

Running out of space in the warehouse? Ideas for making the most out of what you have

Session #S02

William Guiher, Inflection Point, Inc.; Bob Silverman, Gross & Associates

A process and space usage checkup is in order before you consider adding additional warehouse space. This session will help you understand how to analyze your current operations, equipment, and space utilization to determine whether you really need more space, or just need to learn how to better use what you have.

Financing your next material handling investment: Examining how to make leasing work

Session #S03

Ed Romaine, White Systems, Inc.; Bernie Knill, Materials Handling Management

Investing in material handling solutions doesn't have to tie up your precious capital. This session will explain the leasing programs available and present a leading case study to show you how leasing provides an effective solution to help you invest in the material handling tools you need.

Order picking basics - Part 1: The processes, principles, and practices

Session #S04

Susan Rider, Real Time Solutions

What are the most common practices and procedures for an effective order picking process? This beginner's course will explain and preview the most common order picking processes and principles. The basics of order picking will be defined along with appropriate applications, layout designs and the basic principles of pick paths and methodologies.

Monday, April 10 - 8:30am-11:30am

Simulation of material handling projects: Lessons learned and money saved

Session #T01

Van Norman, AutoSimulations; Matt Rohrer, AutoSimulations

This tutorial quickly teaches beginners how to eliminate problems before they occur through the simulation of material handling projects. You will examine case studies, see what has worked and what hasn't worked for a wide range of operations and why.

Monday, April 10 - 10:15am11:30am

The basics of design, layout, and application of power and free conveyors

Session #S06

Robert Pierson, Jervis B. Webb

Walk into this seminar and just 75 minutes later, you'll know a great deal more about how to lay out an effective power and free conveyor system. Whether you're dealing with a process or assembly application, this enlightening seminar will help you assure trouble-free operation and eliminate potential bottlenecks.

Warehouse modernization from the ground up: A case study

Session #S07

John Horvath, The Boeing Co.

When the warehouse needs an upgrade, you need to know the options available and how to make it happen. Through presentation of a case study, this session provides an opportunity to see how a warehouse was modernized from initial planning through implementation of the changes.

Capital investment comparisons and decision making with both strategic tactical and financial criteria

Session #S08

John Usher,University of Louisville

Make better decisions by considering the combination of both monetary and non-monetary costs and benefits. This session will show you how to include "soft" benefits (strategic and tactical) in your justification. Learn what resources are available that permit inclusion of soft benefits into analysis.

Order picking basics - Part 2: An introduction to data requirements and analysis

Session #S09

Jim Penn PriceWaterhouseCoopers; Susan Rider, Real Time Solutions

Determining the appropriate order picking design, layout and methodologies requires understanding and analyzing data. Learn about the data required to accomplish the analysis and how you can determine the best layout of conveyor, storage medium, profiling and picking methods. This session will walk you through the top five elements of data requirements and examine the rules of thumb that you can put to work in your distribution center.

Monday, April 10 - 2:00pm-3:15pm

New technology merges layout planning and simulation

Session #S13

Dave Sly,Engineering Automation, Inc.;

Shreekanth Moorthy, Engineering

Automation, Inc.

Learn how new simulation technology can help you evaluate layouts by taking the typical inputs into layout planning (activity analysis, space constraints, relocation costs, material flow and handling data, etc.) and turning them into fully simulated options.

An introduction to automated palletizing

Session #S14

Michael Hernan,Integrated Technologies Group, LLC; Juan Brown Integrated

Technologies Group, LLC

This seminar provides a practical introduction into different methods of automating palletizing including row-stripping, vacuum-head and robotic palletizing equipment and their most popular hybrids. This session will also include information on guarding, upstream and downstream materials handling requirements, and cost justification.

Cutting edge trends in supply chain management software

Session #S15

Darrell Rodenbaugh, HK Systems

Supply Chain. Everyone's talking about it...but what are the implications for supply chain software? This session presents the state of the art in supply chain management software, how the pieces fit together and trends for the future.

New methods for predicting and auditing integrated systems reliability and performance

Session #S16

John Usher, University of Louisville

Do you know how components of a system affect uptime and performance? Do you know how to track and report the numbers? This session will help you determine the factors that affect the reliability and maintainability of your material handling system and present methods for predicting and auditing reliability and performance of an entire system rather than individual components. Learn how to use the performability index.

Monday, April 10 - 2:00pm-5:00pm

Order picking basics - Part 3: Split case equipment selection and layout for high, medium, and low throughput requirements

Session #T12

Tom Lagaly, Real Time Solutions; Dan Kremers, Distribution Planning, Inc.

The layout design alternatives for high, medium and low throughput requirements will be discussed in this session. The tutorial will also cover the details of the type of rack options, conveyor layout and picking methods for each type of SKU velocity. The session will describe the most productive layout designs based on space utilization, streamlined pick path and throughput requirements.

Monday, April 10 - 3:45pm-5:00pm

How to measure and benefit from your warehouse vital signs

Session #S18

Robert Footlik, Footlik & Associates

This session promotes keeping things simple - if at all possible - and will illustrate how to do just that. It will show you how to correlate performance with certain key symptoms and what low cost corrective measures can be taken before rushing into a major capital improvement campaign.

Justifying outsourcing: Make the business case for maintenance, operations, and logistics services

Session #S19

Ken Johnson, HK Systems

Your company's skills are focused on producing your products. Learn how to let others focus on providing you with more effective solutions for maintenance, operations, and logistics services. This session will show you how to determine whether outsourcing is right for you and how to make it happen.

Selecting and properly applying the right package conveyor for warehousing applications

Session #S21

Howard Zollinger, Zollinger & Assoc.

If you're a project manager or engineer with minimal conveyor experience, sign up for this one now! This introductory course will cover operational characteristics and design details to help you select and apply the right conveyors for your performance requirements.

Tuesday, April 11 - 8:30am-9:45am

Emerging trends in automatic data capture

Session #S25

Frank Goodfinger,RSVI ACUITY CiMatrix

Major advances in the technology of scanning is in the making, and it promises more affordable ways to improve the performance of material flow control. Enhance your own vision in the seminar and begin developing your own strategy for making the most of the coming possibilities.

Applying modular conveyor solutions in dynamically changing businesses

Session #S26

Robert Rienecke,The Buschman Co.

Through actual applications and illustrations, you will learn how new conveyor designs and advanced controls have made conveyor layouts highly flexible and easily modifiable as business needs change.

A financial and performance comparison of unit load AS/RS with very narrow aisle fork trucks

Session #S27 Tuesday, April 11

8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

Howard Zollinger, Zollinger & Assoc.

Using an actual application situation, the seminar leader takes an in-depth and critical look at choosing between two popular and reliable methods of storing and retrieving unit loads in a high bay storage/staging environment.

Measuring material handling performance in manufacturing and production operations

Session #S28

Burt Schaffer,Tompkins Assoc., Inc.

The first step to improving material handling performance in your manufacturing or production operations is to learn what to measure! This session will present the most important and useful measures. Learn how to apply them to track improvement of your operations.

The future of the mobile computer in material handling

Session #S29

Dennis Waliczek, Telxon Corp.

Have you gone mobile yet? Learn how mobile computing and communication technologies are being used to increase productivity in material handling and how future technologies and trends will affect the use of mobile computing devices in your operations.

System design and selection of the right conveyor sortation solution

Session #S30

James Apple, The Progress Group

In this session you are not only exposed to the range of equipment options and new technology, but also to new layout and operational issues such as singulation induction, and recirculation will impact performance of a package sortation operation.

Order picking basics - Part 4: Operating policies and their impact on performance

Session #S31

Walt Stilphen, American Sales Company; Susan Rider, Real Time Solutions

The best layout designs and order picking technologies may not be the solutions for greater performance. Operating policies and poor management strategies can affect the results achieved from the process. In this session you'll learn 10 steps that you can take to increase your performance in order picking. Are IE standards the way to increase productivity?

How new technology is impacting the specification and performance of AGV systems

Session #S32

Tom Allen

In this seminar, you will learn about the advances in vehicle navigation technology, the factors that influence application changes, and how advanced vehicle design practices have combined to reduce costs and improve overall system performance. An absolute must seminar for new system planning or expansion.

Tuesday, April 11 - 8:30am-11:30am

Success with reusable plastic container solutions: End-user experiences & trends

Session #T23

Monica Cashin, Rehrig Pacific Co.

Three end-users share their experiences of how plastic pallets have improved the bottom line and provided many other benefits. Learn how to do even better by following their experiences and lessons learned through an informative question and answer session following their presentations.

The newest tools for the concurrent design and analysis of layout planning & material handling

Session #T24

Dave Sly, Engineering Animation, Inc.

Get ready to save time and money on your next project. This step-by-step introductory course reviews the principles which guide layout planning, as well as the tools most industrial engineers and factory planners commonly use. Actual case studies illustrate how you can achieve the concurrent engineering of layout planning and material flow.

Tuesday, April 11 - Keynote Speaker

12:30pm-1:30pm

Demand chain optimization: When best practice isn't good enough

Session #K01

Homer Dunn, Nonstop Solutions

Business themes come and go, but the concepts and principles surrounding Supply Chain Management will be with us for a very long time. However, Homer Dunn is one of a growing number of business leaders who has jumped ahead of the pack and has begun to articulate principles that go "beyond Supply Chain Management." But it is much more than talk; in fact he has done something about it. Words in publications like Fortune Magazine that have been used to describe what he and his company are doing include things like "the wizards of the value chain" and "hyper-efficient processes." It is people like Homer Dunn who are the real innovators and who dare to cross the boundaries of conventional practice that cause single themes to take on real meaning and to reach the potential originally envisioned by their early promoters.

Tuesday, April 11 - 2:00pm-3:15pm

Controlling material and worker flow in manufacturing cells

Session #S36

Ronald Askin,University of Arizona

Cellular manufacturing is no longer a new production phenomena. Much has been learned about how to control work flow and optimize performance. This seminar examines the operating options and provides you with control practices you can implement in your plant.

Postponement: How to successfully organize and perform value added processing in the warehouse/DC

Session #S37

Lloyd Morgan, St Onge Company; John Faulkner, St Onge Company

To increase flexibility and responsiveness, warehouses and distribution centers are being asked to do many a wide variety of value-added tasks. See how to make postponement a valuable service performed in your facility by learning when and where it makes sense. Case studies will be presented within consumer electronics and consumer products.

Advanced order picking - Part 1: High performance picking solutions in a shrinking labor pool

Session #S38

Dale Barbee, Manhattan Associates; Susan Rider, Real Time Solutions

It's happening all over the country! The labor pool is shrinking, forcing distribution professionals to increase their productivity with less. How do you automate to get high performance while maintaining your accuracy?

Tuesday, April 11 - 2:00pm-5:00pm

How to use automatic identification to track and control your investment in reusable plastic containers and pallets

Session #T34

Rendell Pratt, TKV Containers, Inc.

After you make the investment in reusable plastic containers and pallets, you need to reliably track and control their use. This session presents the proven methods and the latest technology; showing you how proper control and execution can provide greater service and return on investment.

Supply chain management and the impact on warehouse design

Session #T35

James Apple, Bruce Strahan, Progess Group

Change continues at a very rapid pace. If you don't keep up you could end up costing your company lost business and profits. This highly popular tutorial and its instructors are back again to make certain no one misses the boat on how to adapt warehouse designs to the evolving impact of supply chain management practices.

Tuesday, April 11 - 3:45pm-5:00pm

The logistics of production kitting: How to make it work

Session #S40

Sherman Stenson, Tompkins Associates

Kitting can be a valuable way to organize resources for flexible, responsive production and warehouse operations. Learn the key variables and methods involved in making kitting work best in your operations.

How to achieve high performance cross docking operations

Session #S41

Burt Schaffer, Tompkins Associates

This popular seminar by an experience practitioner will be help you plan and implement a high performance cross docking operation. This seminar will help you understand and define specific requirements and outline actions that will lead to a successful high throughput cross docking operation.

Advanced order picking - Part 2: Superior customer service in an E-commerce environment

Session #S42

Chris Arnold, Amazon.com; Susan Rider, Real Time Solutions

It's the "buzz word" into the millennium! E-commerce. What are some of the unique differences in e-commerce order picking versus traditional order picking? Hear how one of the leaders in the e-commerce industry delivers superior customer service and how they have solved tremendous order picking challenges. Amazon.com will share some of their valuable lessons learned.

Wednesday, April 12 - 8:30am-9:45am

Cost justification of your investment in reusable plastic containers and pallets

Session #S45

Monica Cashin, Rehrig Pacific Co.

Learn the critical factors involved in developing a solid return on investment case using reliable cost analysis techniques. Proven methods and worksheets will be provided that you can use in your own operations.

Integrating bar code scanners with unit load and package conveyors

Session #S46

Gary Greiner, Accu-Sort Systems

Product on the move on your conveyor system needs to get where its going efficiently and reliably. Learn how to integrate bar code scanning technologies with your conveyor systems to provide a flexible, dependable solution.

Compliance labeling: How to establish a win-win relationship with your suppliers and customers

Session #S47

Rick Bushnell, QUAD II,Inc.

Whether your customers are making label demands of you or you are making label demands of your suppliers, learn how to make it a win-win program for everyone. This session will present how to develop labeling and identification to support a smoother flowing supply chain.

A project manager's guide to material handling codes and standards

Session #S48

Mike Ogle, Material Handling Industry; Don Durbin, Material Handling Industry

Codes, Standards, Regulations, Directives... What do they all mean and how do they affect my company? This session presents what they are and how you can better understand and utilize them to improve safety, performance, and competitive position. The session will also explore the range of on-line resources that are available.

Wednesday, April 12 - 8:30am-11:30am

Ergonomics and material handling: A task oriented assessment of needs and solutions

Session #T44

Jim Galante,Southworth Products; David Butwid, Gorbel

Proper ergonomics is mandatory in today's work environment, especially in the manual handling of loads. This tutorial uses case illustrations, an analysis of equipment options and a multimedia equipment selection guide to assess needs and solutions. When you return to your job, you'll be much better prepared to recommend ergonomic compliant solutions for work centers in your plant or warehouse. Each participant receives a CD ROM.

Wednesday, April 12 - 10:15am-11:30am

Powered industrial truck operator training (PITOT): The requirements, expectations, and opportunities

Session #S51

Jim Shephard, Shephard's Industrial Training Systems, Inc.; Bernie Knill, Material Handling Management

You MUST provide training for your industrial truck operators: OSHA says so. Learn how best to make it happen by understanding the requirements and the ways to institute a program that not only meets the requirements, but provides you with safer, productive, cost effective drivers.

Pallets - Identifying & lowering the total cost of ownership

Session #S52

Steven Geiges, Treen Box & Pallet Corp.

Do you know your Total Cost of Ownership? This session will give you valuable information on how to identify the layers of internal and external costs directly related to the use of wooden pallets.

Using voice recognition to improve productivity in warehousing

Session #S53

Dave Henry, Firebrand

Voice recognition technology makes warehousing applications such as order selection and inspection more productive by allowing workers to concentrate on the task at hand rather than keyboards or scanners. This session covers the basics of speech recognition and the RF networks needed to support it in a real-time environment.

Use point staging & storage solutions: Applications in manufacturing and distribution

Session #S54

Joe Thompson, Remstar Intl.; Bill Gray,

Remstar Intl.; Colman Roche, Remstar Intl.

Application experts will present two specific application studies in the areas of manufacturing and distribution, then call for participants to list key concerns or challenges they face. The experts will then present specific product solutions that meet those operational needs through better use of space by applying the appropriate staging or storage solution.

Wednesday, April 12 - 2:00pm-3:15pm

Trends in outsourcing powered industrial truck fleet management

Session #S57

Art Andrew, Sr., Fleet Management 2000; Bernie Knill, Material Handling Management

You know you need a good industrial truck fleet with reliable uptime, but you don't want to focus your attention and capital on maintenance resources. Learn when and how to outsource using operational data, maintenance costs and replacement formulas for each type of unit in your fleet.

The cutting edge of RFID technology and applications for manufacturing and distribution

Session #S59

Suzie d'Hont, Texas Instruments, Inc.

The cost of implementing Radio Frequency Identification Technology has recently taken a dramatic downturn opening possibilities not possible even a year ago. Learn what has changed, how to benefit and the parameters of successful implementations.

How to create a profitable private label Internet order & fulfillment operation

Session #S60

Peter Stiles, Advantage Design; Brian G. McHale, NFI Logistics

E-commerce and Internet ordering can be a profitable addition to your operations if you understand how to structure it correctly. This session will provide you with the fundamentals of how Internet ordering and fulfillment will affect your current operations and how you can make the transition.

Wednesday, April 12 - 2:00pm-5:00pm

Ford Motor's manual handling system design guide

Session #T56

Catherine Rae, Sandalwood Enterprises, Inc.; Glenn Jimmerson, Ford Advanced

Manufacturing; Paul Aldighieri, Ford

Powertrain Auto Trans; Arnold Love,

Visteon, RAROB Ergonomics

This tutorial will introduce you to Ford Motor Company's Global Ergonomics Process, specifically how it is applied proactively. You will learn how Ford's Advanced Manufacturing Group used scientific research, sound ergonomic principles, customer and supplier input to develop a strategy for the selection and design of Manual Handling Systems (MHS).

Wednesday, April 12 - 3:45pm-5:00pm

Using local positioning systems (LPS) to achieve superior material handling control on the plant floor

Session #S63

Guy Parsons, Pin Point Corporation

Continuous, real-time tracking and control of valuable material handling assets and personnel within the factory or warehouse is getting easier thanks to local positioning systems (LPS). Through application examples, you will learn how and where the tracking of assets can improve your operations and complement bar-code and RFID systems."

Preparing your supply chain for E-commerce: The critical warehouse design issues

Session #S64

Ed Romaine, White Systems

E-Commerce does not work without a computer and the Internet, and it most certainly will not work profitably without a warehouse designed for that purpose. If such an operation is or could be in your planning horizon, come learn what others are doing now to respond to the challenges.

Warehouse fire protection: The requirements and trends

Session #S65

Keith Roemer, FM Global

Fire protection is a serious issue that affects safety and the bottom line. Learn how your facility can use improved storage principles and sprinkler technologies to provide cost effective prevention and early suppression of fire. Gain a full understanding or your company's responsibilities.