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Material Handling is the movement, storage, control and protection of materials, goods and products throughout the process of manufacturing, distribution, consumption and disposal. The focus is on the methods, mechanical equipment, systems and related controls used to achieve these functions. The material handling industry manufactures and distributes the equipment and services required to implement material handling systems. Material handling systems range from simple pallet rack and shelving projects, to complex conveyor belt and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Material handling can also consist of sorting and picking as well as automatic guided vehicles. [1]
This topic is discussed in greater detail in the Material handling equipment article.
The material handling system (MHS) is a fundamental part of a Flexible Manufacturing system since it interconnects the different processes supplying and taking out raw material, workpieces, subproducts, parts and final products. Due to the automated nature of the whole production process, the MHS must respond in concert with timeliness for all requirements of the processes and systems.
The MHS is composed of warehouses, buffers, conveyors, transportation vehícles or systems, part sorters, feeders and manipulators.