Modern Materials Handling - December 2011

VOL. 66, NO. 12®PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION,WAREHOUSING AND MANUFACTURINGPaul Galliher, senior vicepresident of global distribution,SkechersCOVER STORYSYSTEM REPORT14 Skechers tones up its DCAS/RS and cross-belt sortation are speeding cartons through Skechers’new 1.8-million-square-foot DC and setting the stage for growth.18 Optimized case handlingSkechers’ new facility brings together automated storage, cross-beltsortation and conveyor to handle multi-channel order fulfillmentfrom one system.FEATURESBIG PICTURE24 Voices of the supply chainMore than ever, what happens outside the four walls determines whathappens inside the four walls. Six supply chain experts look at themost important factors shaping the future of the supply chain.EQUIPMENT REPORT30 Overhead handling equipment basicsOverhead handling equipment like cranes, hoists and monorailscan increase productivity, enhance safety, improve ergonomics andmaximize floor space.SPECIAL REPORT36 Top 20 3PL warehousesVacant North American warehouse space has been filling up and theoverall outlook for the future of 3PLs remains bright.PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTION46 Automated system cures storage problemChildren’s Hospital Colorado installs horizontal carousels to easegrowing pain in its stockroom.47 Automated storage plugs intoproductivityOnline electronics retailer upgrades its DC with automated storagesystem to keep up with increase in sales.COVER PHOTO: DAN ESGRO/GETTY IMAGESWSPECIAL REPORT48 Wireless updateSupply chain professionals are certainly movingtoward mobile applications to improve overalloperations, but just how fast is it happening?DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS3/ Upfront7/ This month in Modern12/ Lift Truck Tips: Safety40/ Special Report: Modex 2012 Preview51/ Focus On: Casters/tuggers/carts55/ Product Showcase58/ 60 seconds with...NEWS8/ Georgia Tech receives $1 million donationto advance robotics research9/ Intelligrated announces hundreds of newjobs and headquarters expansion in Ohio9/ Costco says a better pallet reallyis, well, better11/ ProMat 2013 Spacedraw breaksthe recordModern Materials Handling ® (ISSN 0026-8038) is published monthly byPeerless Media, LLC, a Division of EH Publishing, Inc., 111 Speen St, Suite200, Framingham, MA 01701. Annual subscription rates for non-qualifiedsubscribers: USA $119, Canada $159, Other International $249. Singlecopies are available for $20.00. Send all subscription inquiries to ModernMaterials Handling, 111 Speen Street, Suite 200, Framingham, MA 01701USA. Periodicals postage paid at Framingham, MA and additional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: ModernMaterials Handling, PO Box 1496 Framingham MA 01701-1496.Reproduction of this magazine inwhole or part without written permissionof the publisher is prohibited.All rights reserved. © 2011 PeerlessMedia, LLC.mmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 5