A pallet's specifications are often overlooked or minimized in importance. But that shouldn't be the case, says the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) (www.nwpca.com). Pallet specifications are summarized on a fact sheet, The importance of pallet specifications, by the NWPCA as part of their Deliver the goods industry promotion program.

Deliver the goods works with high-volume pallet user associations to exchange knowledge and identify pallet user trends and forecast their future expectations. End user associations can deliver marketing materials to their customers and prospects to enhance business relationships. In this particular fact sheet, the NWPCA says if companies are over-packaging their product to compensate for non-uniform pallets, it's costing them money.

An appropriately designed pallet can reduce product damage by eliminating or lessening the consequences of impacts, protruding objects, and heavy loads. And correct specifications can increase materials handling efficiency in all phases of the unit load process.

A proper pallet specification should also take into consideration not only the unit load weight requirements, but all of the materials handling situations the load will encounter. These include free span racking, conveyor travel, forklift handling, and automatic guided vehicle systems.