Material Handling in Mass Production at the General Electric Plant

In this paper the author describes the conveyor system used throughout the various buildings where refrigerators are made at the General Electric Company. Before this installation material was handled by tractor-and-trailer trains, lift trucks, and gas and electric trucks. The new system has eliminated congestion, retracing of material routes, delays in schedule, spoilage of material, and maintenance and replacement of the industrial trucks. The conveyor serves as a traveling stockroom, thus releasing floor space for use in manufacturing operations. The conveyor system has linked together four different sections located in 12 separate buildings and maintains a uniform flow of material.