Material and information flows pertaining to aluminum alloy pipe distribution

Abstract

This paper discusses the distribution flow of aluminum (Al) alloy pipes, starting with the completion of the manufacturing process and final inspection. The proposed solution considers the use of bar-coded caps produced from recycled polymer materials that are placed on the ends of the tubes in order to achieve protection against potential changes in material properties and preserve the product quality. For the preparation of capped tube bundles for shipment from the manufacturer output storage to the customer input warehouse, a technical solution that enables correct and efficient Al alloy pipe handling is proposed, in terms of safety, security, reliability, financial feasibility and ecological viability, with optimal utilization of transport and storage.