Hollywood Handling

Hey folks! I just saw that “Incredible Hulk” movie. Three thumbs up! The materials handling in it accounts for the extra thumb. You’ll see conveyors, lift trucks, shelving… and you’ll see this big green guy do something we’ve all wished we could do after a bad day—toss a lift truck at someone. This was all in the first half hour.

More mayhem ensues, but there IS a great safety message, believe it or not. Every once in a while, a message flashes on the screen, showing how long it’s been since our hero hulked out. It’s just like the safety messages you see in the best plants and DCs: “15 days without a lost day incident.” Except, in this movie, it says something like “15 days since last hulk-out.” Or something like that. The point is, Hollywood is becoming a materials handling best-practice advocate. Yeah, I know it’s not good to toss a lift truck, but there were consequences, and that’s a good message. (I think I saw a moment of regret in the Hulk’s eyes.)

Let’s use this as a starting point, folks. Whenever you see examples of materials handling in the movies or TV, blog to me about it. You know they’re out there. Every crime drama has a shootout in a warehouse. And how about Rocky? Where did he do his sparring? In a refrigerated warehouse. His opponents were hanging from an overhead conveyor, I think. You get the picture. I want to show our profession is ready for prime time. I want there to be a special category during the Oscars and Emmys. I WANT MATERIALS HANDLING TO GET ITS 15 MINUTES OF FAME! (How about "Imperfectly Frank–The Motion Picture?)

Excuse me while I call my agent. Meanwhile, seen any good movies lately?