“The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” ― Nikola Tesla

The vision of Nikola Tesla is why we have electricity. He worked for Thomas Edison but Edison hated him, and ignored his inventions. Tesla quit, saying he was going on his own – he couldn’t wait around for Thomas Edison to ‘see the light’ of Tesla’s inventions and Alternating Current. Edison was funded by JP Morgan at the time who asked him, “Do you have any competition, Edison?” Edison replied, “No, no one.” He was wrong.

While Edison had laughed at Tesla’s ideas, George Westinghouse gladly heard his story and funded Tesla’s electrical current invention. Westinghouse’s calculated risk not only helped Tesla light up the Chicago World Fair in 1893, Westinghouse Electric was born from Tesla’s work and to this day we all benefit from the vision of Nikola because they pioneered long distance power transmission.

Edison had also bid to light up the World Fair in 1893. . . he lost to Tesla.

Tesla’s unwavering vision of the future put an end to Edison’s electricity system, but it was never about winning to Tesla, it was about doing the best, right thing.

Vision, invention and calculated risk.

This risk is the same kind we take at KMH every day leveraging experience and forward thinking.

This Holiday season is a perfect time to learn from your Holiday Rush mistakes and capitalize on them for 2015 and beyond. Mistakes are insights, lessons for innovating solutions and that’s what we do best at KMH. Our well planned Operational Audit leads to solutions for your bottom line down the road. The rush puts everyone on high alert and trains the team to see glitches and tricky spots in the company. That’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Most people think mistakes and being under pressure then failing mean you’ve lost the game. At KMH we know every glitch is fixable, that’s why we do what we do best. The best thing about being an inventor and an innovator is you know never give up – the solution exist, and we help you build it.

Your business, team and customers evolve every day and every time you receive a new order it’s a chance to do it a little better. The future is in the hands of those with vision for the long haul, for the next order and challenge and then the next and the next. Outperforming yourself over time can be more important than beating the competition just for today. The competition may have their eyes on your for the short term, let them. We help you keep your eyes on the prize for the long term win.

At KMH, partnering for your success and passion for excellence is why we carry the full line of Material handling products. How can we help you?

Vision, stability and adaptability – Building a company that survives all the storms the competition crumbles under is our passion, why we partner with you, today and for building your dreams and legacy.

You can learn more about our innovative dedication to your Future for FREE, any day of the week. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Holiday rush is upon us.

Maintaining a safe, steady productive pace is our wish for you.

Our expertise in Material Handling is focused to help you effectively manage Holiday volume, avoid chaos, save time and increase profits. At KMH we pride ourselves on solutions for your operations.

Our Operational Audit is FREE.
We offer countless ways to increase your bottom line.

Here are 6 to get you rolling:

1. Get our Free Energy Audit

Our Energy Audit will help you better understand your energy usage and determine where your facility can go green and save money. Many states offer tax breaks and utility rebates. Check your State here: http://www.dsireusa.org/

2. Prevent Expensive Repairs

Schedule regular inspections and service to improve your equipment and work systems. We will help you save valuable time and money before needing repairs to increase efficiency and decrease risk.

3. Re-slot

The fewer touches of product, the less cost of shipping an order. A revamped slotting strategy can reduce Order Pickers travel time reducing picking labor and increasing productivity.

4. Consider Automation

About 60 percent of Order pickers spend their time walking products around. An automated solution, such as conveyance, can reduce travel time and lower your cost per unit shipped.

5. Order Online

Looking for something? http://kmhsystems.theonlinecatalog.com/ From bins, drums, doors, pallet and scales to racks, shipping supplies to tables, tools and work benches – Our Online Catalog makes it EASY!

6. Safety

Avoid peak Holiday disasters by not implementing new unnecessary modifications through December. Facilities change with the volume, maintain a positive productive workflow for everyone and try to schedule heavy replenishment and put away in off hours to reduce aisle congestion.

“To resent efficiency is a mark of inefficiency.” – Henry Ford

With the Holiday season fast approaching, are you ready to operate at maximum uptime?
Here are four tips for your Holiday Season. It is best to perform a full-scale preventive maintenance checks on your system regularly. KMH technicians can come to you to complete the inspection and schedule as well as perform any needed repairs.

Preventative Maintenance

1. Forklift Checklist

Do you have a complete checklist for your operators?
Take the time to create a detailed checklist for your operators. Prevent accidents and repair costs and raise your bottom line, especially during the busy Holiday Season.

This list is a general overview, and not exhaustive. A complete checklist should be available for your operators.

Visual Inspection: Remember to check carriages, forks and locks, tires, masts and look for any leaks before operating.
Operational Inspection: Check your attachments, tilt, lift and cylinders. Be sure your brakes, lift and steering are in proper order and pay close attention for any unusual noises or exhaust that may signal a problem or failure in the unit. Stop and have a closer inspection at the first sign of any unusual sounds or activity to avoid accidents and injuries.
Engine Compartment: From your fluid levels, fuel lines, belts, oil filter and cooling system to brakes, panels and even hinges. Make sure your operators take the time to check your units to keep them running smoothly every shift.
Electrical Systems: Wire connections, battery electrolyte, brushes, switches and connector points.
Lastly check your Fuel System & Hydraulic System to lubricate your units on a regular basis.

2. Conveyor Care

Many components should be checked on a regular basis. Have responsible team members check your drives, take-up systems, belts, pulleys, idlers, and guards.

Cleaning and lubrication of your conveyor can take place on a weekly basis. More in-depth examinations of belts and pulleys should be done on a monthly basis. Preventive maintenance will help you avoid unnecessary downtime and to keep your operation running smoothly all year long.

A busy holiday season is the time to consider making any necessary part replacements and keep any spare parts on hand that would cause extended downtime. Our free operational audit can help you prepare in advance of the upcoming holiday season.

3. Conveyor Parts Preparation

During your operational audit, we can help you list and make preparations for parts you may want to have on hand. Making the right parts decisions in advance can prevent possible repairs & prevent multiple maintenance calls. For example you can pre-order a variety of regularly needed parts:

1. Motors
2. Belts
3. Drive and pulleys
4. Couplings
5. Rollers
6. Air bags and brake pads
7. Sensors

4. Software Maintenance

1. Is all software up to date? Check Windows updates, security software, and the applications that run the business. Are they performing as expected?
2. Backups… Are you backing up regularly? Do you have offsite copies? Do you have a procedure in place to restore files if needed?

There are many material handling maintenance checks that you should perform. We hope this list encourages you to get ready for the busy season! These are only a few tips that will help you review and prep the critical areas of your system before the Holiday Season.

Call us at 888-KMH-SYSTEMS for your free Operational Audit.

The internet has trained us to expect quick precision in order and delivery. KMH helps you implement efficient systems to ensure an experience worth reliving to keep the business going, and the customers coming for more. KMH Systems helps you move the needle in Material Handling ROI with reliable delivery and installation, project management along with parts and service support.

Inventory Management Database

Controlling overstock and outage frees up cash tied to inventory giving you an advantage over your competitor. KMH can work with you to design software that tracks your inventory as it is transported from vendor to warehouse, between warehouses, and finally to a retail location or directly to a customer saving you wasted dollars. Clear and accessible data storage increases efficiency while keeping everyone and everything organized. Your database will also give your organization insight into trends that could save you money down the road while storing your inventory more effectively.

Consistent Clear Communication

Keeping your database accurate and your inventory well organized creates efficiency of time while high cost facility space is better optimized. Intelligent storage ensures the movement of goods with high precision. Less questions equals less mistakes, thus creating higher profits. No more “Where is it? Who put it there?” Storing things efficiently speeds your delivery time for your sales force, creates the environment for workers to fulfill orders correctly and increases customer satisfaction.

Ways We Can Help You Increase Your Storage Density

Creative and effective use of space raises your bottom line. When your orders come in, the steps to get it shipped with the highest level of efficiency and the lowest cost per unit shipped is what we do for you.

KMH works with you to refine the use of your floor and air space with performance, economics and ergonomics in mind. Our Team guarantees you a smooth operation and we offer rental and ongoing service to continue to serve you and your budget as you grow. Just a few of our solutions for you: