Material Handling Flashcards

A warehouse is experiencing a high rate of product damage during putaway. Which root cause analysis step should be taken FIRST?

Answer: Review equipment inspection logs, operator training records, and slot configuration to identify patterns

Systematic root cause analysis using data (inspection logs, training records, damage location patterns) identifies the actual cause before corrective action is taken.

What is the purpose of rack protection (column guards and end-of-aisle protectors) in a warehouse?

Answer: To absorb or deflect forklift impacts and prevent structural rack damage

Column guards and end-of-aisle protectors are sacrificial barriers that absorb forklift impacts, protecting rack uprights from damage that could cause structural failure.

Which picking method assigns a picker to a specific zone and has them pick all orders that require product from that zone?

Answer: Zone picking

Zone picking divides the warehouse into zones, with each picker responsible for fulfilling order lines only within their assigned area.

What is the CORRECT procedure when a forklift must travel with a raised load?

Answer: Lower the load to travel height (typically 6–8 inches off the ground) and tilt mast back slightly

Traveling with a lowered load (6–8 inches) and slightly tilted-back mast lowers the center of gravity and improves stability, reducing tip-over risk.

A company is selecting between wooden and plastic pallets for an international shipment. A key regulatory reason to choose heat-treated wood or plastic pallets is:

Answer: ISPM 15 requires wood pallets used in international trade to be treated to prevent spread of invasive pests

ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures) requires wood packaging used in international trade to be heat-treated or fumigated to prevent pest transfer across borders.

Which KPI is MOST useful for measuring the efficiency of a warehouse's material handling equipment fleet?

Answer: Equipment utilization rate (percentage of available time equipment is productively used)

Equipment utilization rate measures how much of the available operating time is spent on productive work, revealing idle time and capacity for improvement.

When using a pallet jack on a ramp or incline, the load should be positioned:

Answer: Uphill from the operator so the load does not roll back onto them

The load should be uphill from the operator so that if the pallet jack rolls, the load moves away from (not toward) the operator, preventing crushing injuries.