MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
The Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI) is preparing for a shifting warehouse landscape by providing education, standards and support.
Racks are a key component of a modern warehouse, designed to work with humans or autonomous tools. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEEL KING INDUSTRIES
WHILE RACKS HAVE not changed much over the years, the Rack Manufacturers Institute (RMI), an industry group within MHI, is not about to stand still. RMI sees its work rooted in engineering rigor, safety and member value, and continues to expand as automation, global participation and evolving regulatory demands reshape the landscape of material handling.
RMI is the standards‑setting authority for industrial steel storage racks in North America. As John Schmidt, CEO of MHI member Rack Builders Inc., and president of RMI, explains, much of this work falls to the RMI engineering committee, which develops, improves and updates technical standards for a variety of racks. “That’s a continual thing. The standards always need to be kept up with the current science.”
A GROWING, GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP
RMI now includes more than 40 companies, a number that continues to grow. Brian Pfannes, president of MHI member Steel King Industries and RMI secretary, emphasized the group’s expansion. “We really try to focus on member value and our reach. While based in North America, our reach is extending to member companies from all over the globe,” he said. “We’re finding ways to continue to deliver value to all of our membership, recognizing that they’re not just based in the U.S.”
Part of that effort includes streamlining the membership process. “We’ve enhanced our processes about how you can become a member of the RMI,” Pfannes said. “That’s a benefit both to existing membership and streamlining the process for new potential members.”
RMI also operates a monthly statistics program that provides participating companies with confidential market data. Schmidt calls it “a big reason a lot of members benefit,” adding that it helps companies understand their market share relative to peers.
BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION
One of RMI’s most significant recent initiatives is its new Education Summit, launched in 2025. Schmidt describes it as “a desire to provide more support, more value to our member companies. It was aimed at training staff primarily, but we had a second, non‑technical track.”
Held at MHI headquarters in Charlotte, the inaugural event drew about 50 attendees and featured instruction from seasoned engineers, including several retired experts who continue to support RMI’s technical work. “The feedback we received was terrific,” Schmidt said.
Pfannes highlights the broader purpose: strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline. “We face challenges in succession planning,” he explained. “All of us were blessed with having some senior, well-experienced engineers and position players in our companies, but how do we build that bench for the future? That was one of the core tenets for the education summit.”