Material Handling, Weighing, and Inventory Control
Handling and weighing
Scrap is bought and sold by weight, so accuracy is commercial. Candidates should understand scale types (truck scales, platform scales, crane scales), calibration and certification, tare weight, and the difference between gross, tare, and net weight. Know the role of weigh tickets and documentation in settling transactions. Material handling covers loaders, forklifts, magnets, grapples, and conveyors, plus safe load limits and load securement.
Inventory control
Inventory in scrap is dynamic: material arrives, is processed, and ships. Understand stockpiling practices, segregation of grades, first-in-first-out for quality, and periodic physical counts reconciled to records. Track inbound and outbound weights, shrinkage, and processing yield - the ratio of saleable output to input. Moisture and contamination affect weight and yield.
Traps to watch
- Confusing gross and net weight; forgetting tare.
- Assuming scales never drift; calibration and certification matter.
- Blending stockpiles and losing grade segregation.
- Ignoring yield loss between receipt and shipment.
Worked example
A truck weighs 60,000 lb loaded and 22,000 lb empty. Net = 60,000 − 22,000 = 38,000 lb. If the load is contaminated and only 34,200 lb is saleable, yield is 34,200 ÷ 38,000 = 90%. Rule of thumb: always compute net first, then yield, then price.