Materials handling is the function of moving the right materials to the right place in the right time, in the right amount, in sequence, and in the right condition to minimize production cost.
Materials handling covers virtually all aspects of all movements of raw materials, work -in-process or finished goods within a factory or warehouse. As mentioned before, IM is a process, which incorporates a wide range of manual, semi-automated and automated equipment and systems that support logistics and make the supply chain work.