The Impact of Introducing 48- by 45-Inch Two-Way Pallets for General-Purpose Worldwide Military Use.

摘要

This study describes and evaluates the impact of introducing a two-way 48- by 45-inch material-handling pallet for general military use worldwide. Comparisons are made between the standard general-use 40- by 48-inch four-way entry pallet and a 48- by 45-inch two-way entry pallet. The study considers compatibility of each type of pallet with all transportation modes, storage and handling facilities, and equipment. It considers floor utilization in containers, trucks, and railcars. Economic analysis of total DOD pallet usage, including pallet manufacture and distribution costs, pallet space utilization, and average life of a pallet are presented. The study investigates pallet preferences of the various armed services and the impact of pallet size on NATO agreements and on long-range DOD planning, including automated terminals and depots. The study concludes that the standard pallet configuration should be maintained, especially for Naval operations, handling of ammunition, and interfacing with NATO countries. It also indicates that other configurations may be preferable in some operations. (Author)