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Pneumatic tubes, conveyors, three-wheelers speed parts through 14 acres in seconds. Excerpt of an interview given by Roland Sullivan, Technical Stores Supervisor to the 'Modern Purchasing' magazine in May 1968. |
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When Air Canada built its mammoth materials warehouse at its maintenance and overhaul base in Dorval, efficient materials handling had to be the crux of the architect's design.
For within ten to 60 minutes after receiving a requisition. the stockmen must deliver any one of the 145,000 parts valued at over $50 million to the worker's site - no matter where the worker is located on the base's 14 acres.
To accomplish this feat, Roland Sullivan, Technical Stores Supervisor, explained, "Machines had to do all the carrying; not men. This was the only way we could gain speed. Without machines, delivery would take three to four times as long." So machines were installed; machines that whisk a three-pound part one-quarter mile in 60 seconds; and, machines that hoist a 2 1/2 ton airplane engine skyward as if it were a balloon. And all these machines and their related systems, says Sullivan, are adaptable to general industry. While walking along a corridor outside the warehouse area, Sullivan suddenly stops and points to a blue bicycle and orange golf cart passing one another. When really caught tight for a part, departments can have light-weight items delivered via one of these vehicles. But the company's main mechanism for light items under three pounds is a $139,000 pneumatic tube system containing three miles of pipe and servicing 33 stations spread throughout the 14 acres. Sometimes modern equipment isn’t fast enough and a three-wheeler takes over. |
