July 29, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

My favorite movie is Frankenstein. You got this poor, big, dumb, ugly ox who nobody understands and everyone tries to avoid because he’s an unpredictable monstrosity. I can relate to this guy. He and I even share the same first name—well, technically it’s my first name and part of his last. But who cares? We’re like twins—except as far as I know, my parts are single-sourced (only my cartoonist knows for sure).

There are plenty of Frankensteinish material handling systems out there—and Imperfectly Franks working with them. Being Frankensteinish ain’t necessarily a bad thing. In this economy, plenty of systems managers are repurposing equipment. This can even be a ...Read More

July 11, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

You might ask how a dumb guy like me, who gets into all kindsa trouble on the job, keeps his job. How ‘bout comedy relief?

There ain't many jobs available for a “comedy relief,” and I guess there’s some level of skill required to be such an artful screw-up. I wouldn’t recommend you copy me, though. Like I said, I think me and maybe Dagwood Bumstead and the “Born Loser” hold the only jobs left that call for comedy relief.

There’s more of a future in being a healthy, capable person. And believe me, you live longer going in that direct...Read More

July 1, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Hollywood has done it again! Another big box office blockbuster features materials handling in several key scenes. Actually, you could say the star is a materials handler himself. The movie is Wall-E and this time the spotlight falls on robotics and vertical carousels.

Wall-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) is a kind of trash compactor robot that makes nice neat trash cubes out of – well, messy, strewn-about trash. He’s also a romantic scavenger at heart, and when he sees something he doesn’t think is trash, he stores it away in his own vertical carousel. This movie’s a great example of recycling and lean operations. In Wall-E’s world, everything has a place t...Read More

June 26, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

The reason I have a part time job here blogging for Modern is I have a full-time materials handling day job. The editors wanted me because I set a good example. The magazine shows the kind of stuff I do and you people are supposed to do the opposite. The thing is, I do mean well.

A lot of you guys are like me. We try to do the right thing the wrong way. I’ve made that work for me. I’ve been told I’m both entertaining and provide good teaching moments. That’s why I’m a kinda like a franchise for Modern. Everyone else learns except me. If I start getting smart, Modern won’t want me no more.

My goofs tend to be monument...Read More

June 19, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (1)

Sometimes I think I’m not important enough to get arrested. If I were, though, I’d want to be arrested in the United Kingdom. Maybe then I’d become a better forklift operator.

There’s a place in the U.K. called The Glen Parva Young Offenders Institute. It’s an enlightened place where they give inmates a reason to live. Who woulda’ thought that forklifts would offer that hope?

They have a two-week forklift course that gives these people a chance to work towards...Read More