How Transfer Carts Work With Multiple Equipment in Factory: Check the Route Planning and Process Design

In large and medium-sized manufacturing plants, material handling equipment such as electric transfer carts, forklifts, and overhead cranes are indispensable, each undertaking transfer tasks in different scenarios. However, if these devices operate independently in the same work area, it will not only reduce overall transfer efficiency but also easily lead to safety hazards such as equipment collisions and delayed personnel avoidance. Electric transfer carts, in particular, often travel along fixed routes on the ground, creating a three-dimensional work environment with the flexible forklifts and overhead cranes. To achieve efficient collaboration, careful planning of travel routes and work procedures is essential.

First, let's discuss travel route planning, which is the foundation of multi-equipment collaboration. The first step is to divide the functional areas. Based on the factory's production layout, the work area should be divided into ground transfer areas, overhead lifting areas, and loading/unloading areas. Electric transfer carts should have dedicated ground channels. The channel width should be determined based on the cart's body size and turning radius, usually leaving a safety margin of at least 0.8 meters. Conspicuous yellow markings should be painted on the ground to clearly indicate "Electric Transfer Cart Dedicated Lane," preventing forklifts and other equipment from occupying the lane. For flexible equipment like forklifts, dedicated bypass channels should be planned to minimize intersections with electric transfer cart routes. If intersections are unavoidable, dedicated intersection points should be established, equipped with audible and visual warning devices, and marked with stop lines. Forklifts must stop, observe, and confirm safety before proceeding, while electric transfer carts should slow down in advance and stop if necessary.

For the overhead work areas of cranes, corresponding "overhead work restricted zones" should be marked on the ground with red lines. When electric transfer carts and forklifts are operating below these areas, they must communicate with the crane operators in advance to confirm the lifting schedule. It is strictly prohibited to stop or pass directly under the crane while it is lifting materials. At the same time, a map showing the distribution of equipment work areas should be posted in a conspicuous location in the factory, so that all operators are aware of the working range of different equipment, thus reducing conflicts spatially.

Next, let's discuss the design of work procedures, which is crucial for ensuring collaborative efficiency. First, a unified scheduling mechanism should be established. Many factories use simple walkie-talkie groups or factory scheduling systems, with dedicated dispatchers coordinating the work tasks of all material handling equipment. For example, if a batch of heavy parts needs to be transported from the raw material warehouse to the processing workshop at 9:00 AM, the dispatcher will first confirm the crane's lifting plan, instructing the crane to lift the parts from the shelves to the loading and unloading area at the warehouse entrance in advance. Then, an electric flatbed truck will be arranged to wait in the loading area, and forklifts will be instructed to temporarily avoid the area. After the electric flatbed truck completes loading and departs, the forklifts can then enter the loading area to handle other materials, thus avoiding congestion of different equipment in the loading area.

Secondly, it's crucial to define operational priorities and connection points. For urgent production material transfer tasks, a higher priority can be set, and the dispatcher will coordinate other equipment to give way to the electric flatbed truck. At equipment connection points, for example, after the electric flatbed truck arrives at the unloading point in the processing workshop, the crane or forklift operators in the workshop should be notified in advance via walkie-talkie to prepare for receiving the materials. It should also be stipulated that the electric flatbed cart's stay time at the unloading point should not exceed 15 minutes to avoid blocking the passage and affecting the movement of subsequent equipment.

In addition, regular collaborative operation training is essential. Joint drills should be organized for all equipment operators, simulating scenarios such as route intersections and loading/unloading operations, allowing everyone to become familiar with the operating rhythm and avoidance rules of different equipment. For example, electric flatbed truck operators should understand the blind spots of forklifts during turns, and forklift operators should be aware of the braking distance of electric flatbed trucks. Through these drills, a sense of teamwork can be fostered, reducing errors in actual operations.