We've all been reading lately about hidden liabilities at certain companies. But we haven't heard much about hidden assets. Yes, hidden assets. They are out there, and you may well have some. All it takes is one question to find out.

Do you measure various performance levels in the plant or warehouse?

In other words, do you know what your productivity levels are? How about shipping accuracies? Or order turnaround speed?

If you don't know the answer to these and related questions, you may well have hidden assets that both you and the people you report to should know about. It could also turn out that you've got some hidden liabilities of your own. In either case, you will definitely come out ahead just by knowing how efficient your materials handling operations really are.

Just ask Magid Glove & Safety Co. This manufacturer of work gloves and protective clothing and safety equipment knew its efficiencies were poor. So the company set out to improve, turning a three-floor factory into a three-floor distribution center. As Senior Editor Dave Maloney reports in the story on p. 28, this somewhat unconventional upgrade permitted a 30% reduction in labor, provided real-time order information, increased efficiencies by 80% and more.

Now if you know what your performance levels are and want better numbers like Magid did, your timing couldn't be better. Next month is the 2002 edition of the North American Material Handling & Logistics Show & Conference. It's slated for Detroit April 8-11 and promises to have on hand 400 leading suppliers of materials handling and related information system solutions. Our preview of the show starts with Get Ready for NA 2002 .

Some of the companies that will be in Detroit are also featured in the Top 20 systems Suppliers story. As you will see, there have been some shakeups in the past year among these largest suppliers of materials handling systems. Siemens Dematic is now far and away the largest supplier with $4.6 billion in sales since the purchase last year of Mannesmann Dematic. New to the list are Schaefer Holding International and The Brambles Group.

One other resource you have at your disposal for gauging your materials handling performance is coming next month. That's when we will announce our 2002 Productivity Achievement Award winners. As in the past, awards will be given in three categories – warehousing, distribution and manufacturing. Once you see what these companies have achieved, you'll be able to benchmark your operations against them and see where you stand in comparison. Now that could well open the door to still other hidden assets.