The challenge of implementing material handling systems projects in the real world of time and cost constraints is growing. Hardware has got to work . . . and work with the companion software. People have got to know how their jobs have changed, and not only execute transactions, but also recognize when the system isn't working the way it was supposed to. And, as always, planning is of the essence.

We'd like to not believe it, but the sad truth is that implementing material handling systems is tough work. As with anything difficult, the chances for something important to go wrong are high. Too many cases are serious enough to wind up in court. But, it doesn't have to be that way.