The MHEDA Journal Finds Out What End-Users are Looking For


An end-user describes his relationship with his material handling distributor.

Dewitt, NY: The MHEDA Journal Online (http://www.TheMhedaJournal.org), is the leading online magazine for the forklift, conveyor, storage & handling, and general material handling equipment industries. The 3rd Quarter issue of the magazine is online now and features an interview with Maurice Carter, transportation manager at Ole Mexican Foods, a Norcross, Virginia-based producer and distributor of Mexican tortillas, tostadas, tortilla chips, chicharrones and much more. Carter discussed his relationship with his material handling distributor and the attributes that he looks for in a successful distributor.

"We run three shifts in our warehouse, so if our material handling equipment ever breaks down, we need it to be fixed or replaced as quickly as possible in order for us to operate," says Carter. "We can't be hindered by broken equipment; we need to be constantly performing at full capacity."

In the article, Carter discusses several key factors that he looks for when doing business with a material handling distributor. Timely repairs, effective communication, competitive pricing, knowledge of Ole Mexican's operation and quality equipment are among the most important things that he looks for when evaluating the distributor-customer relationship. "We have been using the same brands of forklifts for a long time, and their excellent reputations are very important to us. Because our equipment plays such a major role in our operation, we have to know going in that it will be able to hold up. Having a product that we can depend on makes life much easier," says Carter.

"Besides our more-than-200,000 sq. ft. warehouse, we also have a production area that is not as conducive to operating large machinery," Carter says. "Our material handling distributor comes in and actually scopes out our area before making equipment recommendations. It helps us determine what equipment can maneuver in each area so that our workers can use it safely and properly."

To learn more about what the end-user looks for in a material handling distributor, read the entire article on The MHEDA Journal Online.

http://www.themhedajournal.org/index.php/2011/07/what-the-end-user-is-looking-for-2/. The MHEDA Journal is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. For more information, contact Steve Guglielmo, content editor of The MHEDA Journal, (315) 445-2347, email: steve@datakey.org.

About MHEDA
Founded in 1954, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (www.TheMhedaJournal.org), e magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (www.wikimheda.org), MHEDA connects the manufacturers of storage & handling, lift trucks and conveyor equipment and distribution leaders for the purpose of delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. MHEDA publications are the industry's voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning the movement and storage of all materials. A 501(c)3 organization, MHEDA members span all of North America.

All Topics