Pallet Meeting
DATE: Monday, Nov. 9
TIME: 12:30pm to 6:00pm.
PLACE: Meeting Room # 2710
IBM CHICAGO CUSTOMER CENTER
312-245 2212
27TH FLOOR- ONE IBM PLAZA
330 N. WABASH AVENUE
CHICAGO , IL 60611
Proposal for Worldwide
Computer/ Electronics
Industry Pallet Standard
Bob Sanders
The Case for a Computer / Electronics Industry Pallet Standard
Related Efforts
Chemical Industry Std: Various metric winged block styles Grocery Industry Std: 48x40" GMA Pallet Automotive Industry Std (45x48") to fit intermodal containers
Global Inter-dependency of Computer Industry
Time is Right: We are customers I suppliers of each other Many are shipping to the same channel "business partners" Inefficiencies due to conflict of US stringer vs. European block style Common concerns about quality, product protection, logistics
Proposal: W W computer industry pallet Standard
Document approved sizes, styles, and construction quality Assistance from VTU to develop suitable designs for our industry Metric Block Style (1.2m x 1.0m) Seems like best possible fit
Project Considerations
Project Team Membership., Volunteers History: "Idea has been talked about for decades" Charter: Task Group of P2E2 Subcommittee of loPP Industry Scope: Computer, Electronics, Both? Reach: Global within agreed industry segment Survey: Affected Parties (Suppliers, Users, Customers) Enforcement: Compliance, Ownership (pool), etc. Documentation: ASTM, ANSI, EIA, ISO, others? Funding: Prototypes, Testing, Meetings Consensus: Voluntary Std vs. Mandatory Std.
Design Considerations
Tooling: US is tooled for stringer style, Europe for block -4 Size: 1.2m x 1 .0m is common in Europe, close to US size19mm x 16mm Style: Stringer strongest, Block style most versatile Bottom Decks: Access Reqmts vs. Load Bearing (stacked) Variety: Full size only vs. Full plus Half vs. Full plus Euro Price / Performance: 1 way type vs. higher quality "pool" Handling Realities: Sliding, pushing, and spinning with forks Environmental: Recycled content, reuse life, disposal Alternatives: Wood, Plastics, Corrugated, Hybrids Material Handling: Forks, pallet jacks. clamps, push/pull Rack Storage: Unsupported vs. supported, rack dims. Warehousing: Rack Storage, vs.Floor Stacking (5m high) Transportation Dims: Air cargo vs. Intermodal vs. Surface
IBM Dealer Survey ...
IBM Pallet Questionnaire sent to Dealers. Ten total responses.
May MSI Contact you regarding the pallet remediation program described in the cover letter? Yes (8), No (2)
1. What percentage of all inbound palletized shipments are from IBM?* Avg (37%), Min. (5%), Max. (100%)
2. What becomes of the pallets that are received?
| Type | Avg. | Min. | Max. |
| Reused | 56% | 20% | 100% |
| Refurbished | 6% | 0% | 60% |
| Recycled | 8% | 0% | 50% |
| Discarded | 14% | 0% | 80% |
| Sold as is | 8% | 0% | 60% |
| Don't Know | 7% | 0% | 50% |
3. Approx. how many pallet loads do you receive monthly from IBM?* Avg, (900), Min (320). Max (3200)
4. How many DAYS will a pallet stay in your system? Avg (52), Min. (1), Max. (365)
5. What pallet dimensions (Length x Width) can you accept (list all): 40x48 (10), 48x4O (10), 42x48 (2), 45x48(1)
6. The IBM Std pallet is 40x48', is this the best size for you?* Yes (7), No (3), if not, what is? 48x40(3)
7. Can you accept metric (EURO) pallets (1000x1200mm)? Yes (7), No (3)
8. Do you have tolerance requirements on pallet load size (for automated processes)? Yes (3), No (7)
9. Do you use dedicated slave pallets? Yes (0), No (10)
10. What is your maximum height limit for a single palletized load? Low (48'), High (120'), n/a (2)
11. What percentage of IBM pallet loads are you forced to repalletize for any reason?* Weighted Avg (20%), Low (0%), High (60%)
12. Which pallet material do you prefer? Wood (10), Plastic (1), Corrugated (0), Other (0)
13. Which pallet materials are not acceptable? Wood (0), Plastic (6, depends), Corrugated (10), Slipsheets (10)
14. Which pallet styles do you prefer? Block (8), Stringer (8), Slipsheets (0), 2-way entry (1), 4-way entry (10)
15. Which styles are not acceptable? Block (2), Stringer (0), Slipsheets (8), 2-way entry (6), 4-way entry (0)
16. Storage: Floor (10), Open Rack no center support (6), Rack with center supports (7), Rack w/full support (6), Automated (2)
17. Handling Equipment: Pallet Jacks (9), Fork Lifts (10), Squeeze Lifts (0), Push/pull (1)
18. Do you slide rows of pallets (with product) across the floor with fork lifts? Yes (5), No (5)
19. What is your single biggest problem regarding pallets in general? Quality (4), Broken (5), Wrong Size (4)
20. Please rate IBM PALLET quality: Clearly the best (1), One of the best (6), Average (2), One of the worst (1), Clearly the worst (0).
21. Please rate IBM PACKAGING quality: Clearly the best (2), One of the best (7), Average (1), One of the worst (0), Clearly the worst (0)
22. Are you interested in teaming with IBM to influence pallet, packaging, or logistics? Yes (8), No (0), n/a (2)
23. Misc. Comments:
- Don't use half pallets, etc. - Need Better
Pkg on Larger Machines
- Do not mix pallets (?)
-
Don't use non-std pallets (ie 42x44")
- No Std in this industry
-
48x40 preferred vs. 40x48 (IBM Std)
- Others went to tall loads (>48") - Poor
condition of pallets overall
Note: * Responses may be flawed due to misunderstanding of question
