Need to know more about material handling, but can't get away to school? The Material Handling Institute and the Material Handling Industry of America and its product section subgroups have begun creating self-paced electronic lessons (elessons). The lessons and materials are designed for both professionals already working in the field and for newcomers. Although the lessons stand on their own, collectively they help prepare students for a national certification exam administered by the Material Handling Institute. (Those interested in certification should direct their inquiries to certification@mhia.org.)

The online lessons each take 20 to 25 minutes to complete, according to instructions on the MHIA Web site, www.mhia.org. The newest courses available are "Order Picking Concepts," "Designing Balanced Assembly Lines: A Lesson in Two Parts," and "Manufacturing Device Networks." Other lessons available include "Introductory Concepts in Material Handling, An Introduction to Basic Material Handling Equipment" and a two-lesson package on "The Fundamentals of Justifying Capital Investments in Material Handling."