PRODUCTION ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE. . . CONVEYORS.

For many years a wide use of conveyors has been stunted by the accepted idea that conveyors are the solution only if existing conditions involve large quantities of similar things to be moved over the same path. This conception of conveyor applications is undergoing change. The computer, in one or another of its many forms, is a pivotal tool as companies seek greater production output, reduced inventories, better customer service, reduced errors and losses, faster order response, and better general control of operations. And as computers move in there is an expanding role for conveyors, and handling equipment that operates conveyor-like. These two interrelated factors - a changing user perception of the plant and computer use - stand out when materials handling experts peer into the 80s. The article discusses possible uses of conveyors in the near future and presents application notes that highlight getting the most out of available, proven technology.