Tag: Material Handling Tugs

5 Tips to Help You Choose the Right Material Handling Tug for Your Warehouse

Material Handling Warehouse Managers Discussing Motorized Tugs
Motorized Tugs Improve Safety

So, you’ve made the decision to implement material handling tugs in your warehouse to protect workers and improve productivity. How do you decide which ones are best for your applications? Our experts share five questions that will help you choose.

1. Does the tug promote a safe working environment?

A good tug allows a single employee to easily move heavy objects and materials with less effort. In addition to strength, the tug should offer maneuverability through tight quarters that will reduce the risk of collisions, falling containers and other mishaps.

2. Does the tug cut down on physical strain?

Transporting bulky or heavy items often results in workers twisting, turning and bending, which can lead to injuries as well as chronic pain in the long term. With our tugs, once the connection is made, a worker simply walks at a normal pace to operate it.

3. Does the tug promote proper posture?

When employees contort their bodies into awkward positions to move heavy objects, it places excessive stress on their musculoskeletal system. While it may get the job done, workers pay the price in sprained muscles and damaged joints. Operating our tugs lets employees maintain a neutral upright position that avoids strain.

4. Does the tug minimize the need for manual tasks?

Manual material handling, or MMH, is a frequent cause of back pain and overall fatigue. Statistics indicate that three-quarters of workers involved in MMH tasks experience injuries that make up one-third of compensation costs. Quality material handling tugs take the burden from workers, safeguarding their well-being.

5. Is the tug ergonomically designed?

Repetitive motions can often lead to long-term physical problems. A tug that’s ergonomically designed includes features that reduce wear and tear from these movements. It also creates a safe grip to optimize control and reduce the risk of accidents.

Choose Electric Material Handling Tugs from DJ Products

Our comprehensive line of battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers make warehouse safety a priority while also reducing your carbon footprint. Contact us at 800.686.2651 or use our handy online chat feature, where our knowledgeable Sales Engineers are ready to answer your questions.

DoD Service Contract Program Change is on a Slow Track

Army parade – boots close-up
Government Procurement Drives Demand for Industrial Handling Solutions

In January 2016, the Department of Defense instituted a policy aimed at streamlining their services contracting with better oversight and control. While the new policy is expected to make the process more cohesive, it may take another dozen years before coming to full fruition.

“A 15-Year Effort”

More than half of the Department’s procurement budget is allocated to services, with the remainder for purchases such as contract equipment. According to Ken Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition, the goal is for contracts to become part of “the general culture and policy” rather than standalones.

In Brennan’s view, the new policy is “a 15-year effort” that is already about three years along. Brennan adds that is making significant progress, and he anticipates potential for guidance soon in the areas of small businesses and administrative services.

Functional Domain Experts

One major change involves the creation of functional domain experts, or FDEs, to lead each of the individual service sectors. Claire Grady, director of defense procurement and acquisition strategy, explains that this lets people with particular expertise create strategies to improve planning and execution while reducing costs.

FDEs will also implement metrics to monitor contract performance, determine best practices and recommend policies. Grady says will be paying close attention to the metrics established by these new domain leaders.

Military and Material Handling Solutions

DJ Products offers quality options for contract equipment. Our battery-powered tugs and movers handle applications like maneuvering aircraft in and out of hangars and pulling heavy engines and parts. Visit our website to have your questions answered online by one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.

The ABCs of Supply Chain Logistics

Acronyms are widely used by all types of businesses and organizations. They simplify communications by providing a quick shorthand for long, sometimes cumbersome terms.

Supply chain logistics has its own dictionary of terms. Here’s a guide to some major ones and how DJ Products and their line of material handling tugs can positively impact them.

  • WIP Work in process (or progress) indicates raw materials that have begun the manufacturing process but are not yet complete. A high WIP can be a sign of bottlenecks somewhere along the line. Our tugs reduce the amount of time needed to move materials from place to place, helping to streamline the work process.
     
  • FIFO First-in-first-out is a means of managing inventory where the first items to arrive in a warehouse are the first ones to be moved out. This is particularly important for perishables or products with a limited shelf life. Tugs are compact and easy to maneuver, so they make it easier to store and access inventory as needed.
     
  • ECR Efficient customer response is imperative for a company’s success. Having an efficient way to quickly and easily transfer inventory means orders get fulfilled more promptly.
     
  • OSHA The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is the Federal governing body that enforces industrial safety regulations. Using material handler tugs requires less effort and minimizes physical stress, thereby greatly reducing the number of job-related injuries and accidents.

Whatever your needs, DJ Products has material handling tugs to provide a solution. Contact our Sales Engineers ASAP at 800.686.2651 to get your questions answered PDQ!