Okay, we have to ask: What’s so great about MHE like forklifts and pallet jacks? And why do so many supply chain experts say that our organization should consider using more of them?
There’s a reason that forklifts and pallet jacks are ubiquitous sights at warehouses, loading docks and other supply chain operations across the world: They don’t just make logistics tasks easier. They make them faster and more efficient.
Even the most basic of them can safely lift thousands of pounds. And the ones that have more bells and whistles can travel much farther and lift higher than a worker on foot.
Obviously those traits can really come in handy at disaster sites, when everything from time to manpower is usually in short supply. But they’re also assets in non-profit distribution centers, because they can help you accomplish a lot more without adding employees, volunteers or additional space.
Suffice it to say that while some humanitarian logistics activities can happen without the use of MHE, it’s a lot easier to get the job done and serve more people in need more quickly when you use these hard-working devices. Plus you can acquire some of them for less than you think – and choose from a variety of commitment levels – so keep reading!
We’re trying to decide between whether we should use manual or electric pallet jacks. Is one option better than the other?
Allow us to answer that question with three of our own: What’s your budget? What kinds of productivity or service improvements do you want to achieve? And what kind of shape are your employees or volunteers in?
With purchase prices that start in the low hundreds of dollars, manual pallet jacks are the least expensive to acquire. They provide logistics professionals with a huge amount of additional lifting capacity (in many cases, up to 5,500 pounds) and the ability to move more supplies faster and more safely. However they can only move as quickly as whoever is pushing them, and they need humans to supply the mojo – aka pumping a handle up and down – that’s required to lift the forks.
Electric pallet jacks require a bigger investment (their prices that start around $1,500). However, they also offer bigger efficiencies thanks to higher lifting capacities and (if they’re a ride-on version) the ability to travel several miles per hour faster than people on foot. In addition, they place less wear and tear on employees and volunteers, because unlike their manual counterparts, they have motors that lift their forks.
Based on these factors, some experts recommend going with manual pallet jacks if your supply chain involves light volumes, small distances and/or tight funding – and opting for electric pallet jacks if your supply chain is characterized by higher volumes, larger facilities or employees and volunteers that have already incurred more than their fair share of ergonomic injuries during their shifts.
Still on the fence? Check out this article, which offers a deeper dive into the pros and cons of each of these options.
We’d like to get a forklift. In light of the fact that we don’t have money to burn, which option would you recommend: buying, renting or leasing?
We’re super glad you asked, because even though a forklift is a huge force multiplier, it’s also a significant investment, and each option for acquiring one offers different financial and operational advantages.
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, a good rule of thumb is that you should:
- Consider buying a forklift if you think you’ll use it less than 1,000 hours per year, there’s ample money in your budget to purchase it, and you feel relatively confident that you’ll be able to pay for the cost of its maintenance and replacement parts over the course of its useful life.
- Consider leasing a forklift if you anticipate using it more than 2,000 hours per year, you don’t want to put down a large down payment up front, and you prefer to have a predictable, monthly fixed cost that covers all maintenance and replacement parts.
- Consider renting a forklift if you’ll only need it for a short period of time (like during a disaster mobilization) – or if you’re uncertain about how much you’ll use it each year and would prefer to get a better bead on that before deciding whether to buy or lease.
In addition, don’t forget that you also have a completely different option: Checking in with ALAN. We arrange dozens of MHE donations and no-cost loans per year, and we’d be happy to see if we can help match you and your organization with the same.
