We stock a wide range of Pallet Rack Components for immediate delivery. Our working knowledge of the systems and components allows us to design complete systems. Call 1-800-338-1382 with your requirements, and we will meet all your Pallet Rack needs. Adding on to an existing system? We know which brands interchange. |
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Mobile Rack Case Study
Flow Rack Case Study
Mobile Flow Racks Slash Cost, Save Time
Lithonia is the nation's largest manufacturer of lighting products, offering thousands of lighting products for residential, commercial and industrial applications. It was the number and variety of products that challenged Six Sigma Project Manager Willie Johnson when he looked to improve assembly line productivity at the company's plant in Cochran, Georgia.
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Lithonia was using a conveyor assembly line that incorporated fixed place flow systems and full pallet stations. Over the past few years, customer demand for greater product variety, style and functionality changed product assembly requirements from an ongoing operation with few changeovers to one that was frequently interrupted with changeovers.
Johnson decided that one way to meet the changing requirements of the production process was to switch from fixed racks to a mobile rack system that would offer increased flexibility in setting up and modifying assembly operation. Johnson had mobile racks installed by Keneco on the Gotham Downlight product line. This line, under the direction of the Line Supervisor Geneva Tinsley, assembles over 50 models of Lithonia's Vertisys lighting fixture. The new mobile racks provided new flexibility on moving materials in and out of the assembly line, allowed parts to be positioned closer to the operators, and offered better identification methods for part location. In addition if a product was to be built on a different assembly line within the plant, the mobile flow system could be easily moved to the needed line. "The use of mobile racks reduced staging time by 20 to 25% and because of better positioning on the line, increased assembly efficiency as well", according to Johnson. Adds Tinsley, "Another benefit not to be overlooked is the ease with which the plant for can be cleaned, improving the workplace environment. .
"Keneco's mobile flow racks are a great concept for manufacturing that involves high volume changeover rates such as those experienced on our Gotham Downlight assembly line", concludes Johnson. "It is a concept that we can spread across the plant, simplifying the process of changing from order to order when different parts are required." |
Gravity Flow Case Study, Hospital Flow Racks
Healthcare facilities are turning to proven material handling systems to improve inventory control.
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A Gravity Flow Rack System has enabled University Hospital to keep inventory fresh, speed order filling and reduce storage space. University Hospital at Stony Brook, opened in 1980, is part of the State University of New York's Health Sciences Center, and is a major component in a unique regional healthcare plan serving Long Island New York.
James W. Conklin, Director of Purchasing, discussed a recent innovation in the hospitals handling and storing of I.V. and formula cartons (mostly liquids). The new system is based on a Keneco gravity flow order selection system."We find that this system ensures fresh inventory, which is critical to hospital operations," said Mr. Conklin. He explained that cartons can be opened at night and placed in the Central Sterils Supply area. This system saves space, and it becomes easier and faster to select items ordered by the pharmacy, nursing and ambulatory care units.
The system consists of a series of gravity flow racks, each 63" wide, 8 ft. high, and 7 ft. deep with inclined shelves supporting a series of rugged tracks incorporating wheels on 1 1/2" centers for optimum load flow. The system is loaded from the rear; the incline wheels, and gravity ensure that cases in a lane are always flush with and easily accessible from the picking side. |
University Hospital has installed these systems in two areas: eight units in Hospital Receiving, where full cases are stored on six shelves per unit until need at the Exchange Cart Area in Central Sterile Supply. Here the cases are opened before being loaded into a five unit system, each with 5 "knuckled shelves," which make the contents of the first carton accessible. Richard Anderson, Assistant Director, Material Management said that "the new system is very easy to work with. All items are dated, and the system assures 'first in first out.' We now carry a one to two weeks' supply and deliver most items to Central Sterile supply only twice a week instead of every day, as in the past."
"Before we installed this system, we had to physically move each carton several times to ensure 'first in first out.' Now they move themselves on the gravity flow shelves. We are able to handle more stock without increasing personnel, and there is no possibility of 'burying' a carton and not coming across it until after expiration." |
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Kathleen Quinn, Associate Director, Central Sterile Supply, has much to say about how the new system functions in her area. "First it has completely solved any stock rotation problems. Second, because access to an item is easier, due to open cases on the five inclined shelves of each unit, it is faster to accurately service our pharmacy, nursing an ambulatory care units. Here we load 50 carts, seven days a week, plus 16 modules once each weekend for clinics. Incidentally, the tallest girl on our evening shift is only 5'2", yet they have no trouble reaching product on the shelves. Third, we now carry more I.V.'s in two-thirds the space required for our former conventional storage racks. Fourth, we save manpower in ordering and stocking because we now order once or twice a week instead of daily, and by counting the number of empty positions in the rear of the systems, we can easily determine what we need and when we need it. Finally, our area is a great deal neater as a result of the gravity flow system.
Available with...
 
Roller Runways or Kenrail Track |
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