Development of Forklift Protectors : Reducing damages to goods in a warehouse setting

Sammanfattning: Warehouses are essential for any logistical operation, and Forklifts are efficient tools for moving products and pallets inside warehouses. Forklifts are also heavy machines that are prone to inflict damage on pallets and goods. The demand for forklift operators increases with the demand for forklifts. Inexperienced forklift operators must be equipped with the right tools to carry out everyday tasks with minimum damage. This thesis focuses on investigating the damages that occur by forklifts in warehouse settings, and what measures that can be taken to reduce the damages. Contrary to existing literature that explores damages from the perspective of packaging technology, this study explores how damages happen and how they can be mitigated from the forklift's point of view. The investigation took part in a warehouse that carry out operations for a large furniture manufacturer. A case study was conducted and two major damage types were identified: puncture damages and impact damages, and the most common cause for the occurrence of these damages is the lack of visibility. The case study was followed by a design process to find a solution that fits the end users. The final concept takes form as a system solution, consisting of a sensor-based system that assists the forklift operator during loading and unloading. Along with this, a bumper was developed to mitigate the damage inflicted on goods during handling of goods.