# Material flow

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> A freight carrier delivers components, a forklift picks them up, a conveyor carries them to the production line – taken together, that is material flow.

A freight carrier delivers components, a forklift picks them up, a conveyor carries them to the production line – taken together, that is material flow. The term refers to the actual, measurable movement of raw materials, consumables, semi-finished goods, and finished parts through every stage of a supply chain: from goods receipt through storage and order picking to handover at the production line or dispatch area. Material flow can be quantified in units per hour, throughput rates, and cycle times. It should not be confused with information flow, which accompanies the same goods as data and instructions but operates on a separate control layer. In logistics planning, smooth material flow and short transport distances are primary design objectives for warehouse and production layouts.

**Source:** [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialfluss](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialfluss)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Material flow |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 123 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materialfluss |

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