PART II | LESSON 7: THE PRODUCT DECISION CHAIN MATERIAL HANDLING ACADEMY

Lesson 7 Worksheet: The Product Decision Chain

The whole skill is running the chain in order. Do the recall first, then the drives drill, then the judgment scenario, then walk Riverside's four cartons with the calc closed. The order isn't a suggestion.

Put the Chain in Order

Here are the seven steps, scrambled. Number them 1 through 7 in the boxes, from the first move to the last call. Remember where the calculator sits.

  1. Interpret. Read the outputs against the thinking you already did.
  2. MTBH in hand. The full table, every product the system might see.
  3. Decide. Make the engineering call the numbers can't make for you.
  4. Then open the Product Spec Calc. Not before.
  5. Envelope defined. Inside is automatic, outside is a defined exception path.
  6. Work the package-basics outputs. Roller centers, curve width, tumble angle, weight per foot.
  7. Decide which package drives each output. The step people skip.

Which Package Drives It

Every output on the tab traces back to one package. Write which one, minimum, maximum, or average, drives each output below.

OutputWhich package drives it
Roller centers and the smallest gap
Belt width and curve geometry
Speed and throughput
Maximum incline angle

Judgment, Not Data Entry

Read the scenario. Answer without opening a calculator, as judgment rather than data entry.

SCENARIO

Three cartons cross your desk: a small case at 8 by 6 by 4 and 2 pounds, a standard case at 14 by 10 by 8 and 8 pounds, and a large case at 20 by 16 by 12 and 22 pounds.

Which drives roller center selection, which drives belt width, which drives the maximum incline angle?

Where would you expect two outputs to conflict badly enough that it forces a design decision instead of a calculation?

RIVERSIDE PROJECT NOTES: WALK THE CHAIN, CALC CLOSED

Back to Riverside's four cartons. Before you open the Product Spec Calc, answer the three questions below. Then open the calc and check your answers against the outputs. Note anything that surprised you. Your answers tell you whether you're ready to use the calculator or using it to avoid thinking.

ProductLengthWidthHeightWeight% VolumeProduct Use
Small Case8"6"4"3 lbs4%Packaged food
Standard Case13"9"3"12 lbs78%All clients
Tall Case10"8"14"18 lbs12%Apparel client
Large Case22"15"7"28 lbs6%Housewares