A Solution for Every Industry and Application: Market Segmentation in Material Handling

Alfred Sloan pioneered the concept of market segmentation in the automotive industry back in 1924, directing General Motors to produce "a car for every purse and purpose." This strategy is built on the notion that an extra layer of specificity - rather than a one-size-fits-all approach - best addresses the nuanced demands of each customer. Its staying power is a testament to the importance and relevance of this strategy in virtually any industry. 

But when considering how to design a material handling system, every purse and purpose gives way to different industry challenges, from e-commerce and retail to food and beverage. Material handling automation must be based on these specific operational requirements and applications.

Today's material handling solutions must combine the right mix of automation, software and labor to meet benchmarks for throughput, accuracy and other performance criteria. Material handling consultants who take an in-depth approach dial up the right components, with appropriate modifications to ensure peak performance based on environmental, product and performance specifications. 

Here are two customization examples from the recent history of material handling:

E-commerce: Goodbye cartons, hello polybags

Material handling conveyors are mission critical components of virtually every automated system in every industry. But with the advent of dimensional weight pricing in 2015, e-commerce retailers are challenging the capabilities of conveyor and sortation equipment to transition from traditional rigid cartons to smaller and more malleable shipping containers such as bubble mailers and polybags.

Despite the packaging changes, operations still need material handling equipment to quickly and efficiently move product and keep their businesses running. To accommodate packaging changes, system suppliers can provide new material handling technologies designed or modified to handle the flow of bubble mailers and polybags from pack-out operations to shipping in e-commerce applications.

Food: Palletizing performance tailored to operational demands

Food distributors are faced with the challenge of supplying multiple products to buyers around the world. The challenge is to serve the need for different products, packaging, pallets and layer patterns while still maximizing profitability and operational efficiency. 

Customized material handling guidelines and equipment modifications enable automated systems to handle these variable requirements, thus enabling distributors to effectively leverage scale to minimize cost for end users. Solutions can also streamline compliance with food safety and traceability initiatives, with some systems incorporating barcode scanners to ensure the right cases make it onto the right pallets. 

Material handling and logistics continues to adapt

From new packaging to product traceability initiatives, material handling systems continue to evolve to accommodate macroeconomic forces and the requirements of individual operations. This flexibility can enable operations to break new ground with new, innovative applications and greater levels of system performance and longevity. Follow Honeywell Intelligrated on X, Facebook and LinkedIn, and attend a material handling expo to find what's next. 

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