PART II | LESSON 7: THE PRODUCT DECISION CHAIN MATERIAL HANDLING ACADEMY
DRIVING QUESTION Can this product be conveyed, and in what order do I find out?
The product decision chain as a left-to-right pipeline: MTBH, design envelope, which package drives each output, and roller centers, curve width and tumble angle. A gold gate precedes the Product Spec Calc, then interpret, then decide. A branch off MTBH asks whether the system is goods-to-person or ASRS, which routes to an OEM platform sizing tool that bypasses the conveyor calc.

The calculator is the last step, not the first move. Four steps of thinking, one tool, then two of judgment.

Package-Basics Outputs

Weight per foot

Heaviest carton at its shortest length is the worst case.

Curve width

Worst-case carton sets it. Round up to catalog, never down.

Tumble angle

Design inclines to the minimum in the mix, with margin.

Roller centers

Leading dimension over three. The one people trust without looking.

When the calculator changes: the Product Spec Calc is the authority for conventional conveyor. Goods-to-person systems and ASRS come with their own sizing tools. Identify the platform early, get the manufacturer's tool, and never substitute a general calculator for a manufacturer-specific one.

DESIGN PRINCIPLE Calculators are step five, not step one.