As a business expands, its infrastructure becomes increasingly essential. Having an organised and efficient warehouse is vital for companies moving large amounts of products in a short amount of time. The following tips can get you thinking about where your organisation is lacking and what new methods and technologies you should consider adopting.
Organization
Before adopting any new methods or equipment, you should make sure the organisation system of your warehouse is sufficient and enforced. Even the most state-of-the-art manifest tracker is useless if no one is keeping it up to date. Hold a series of meetings to determine the most reasonable and efficient sorting system for the warehouse, then put everything in its place.
Tracking your inventory and understanding where it’s going next goes a long way in streamlining your processes. Obvious considerations such as storing finished products close to their eventual shipping dock should lead you to more nuanced insights such as how much space needs to be allocated for a different good or how often a component needs to be ordered.
Employees
Make sure your staff is suited to the work that needs to be done in the warehouse. Aside from their aptitude for the job, you should also consider if they’re being given the tools to succeed along with sufficient support to accomplish their tasks. Optimal work cannot be done if you’re throwing more at your staff than they can handle or not compensating them sufficiently for what they do. Investing in your team is the best way to secure everyone’s commitment to efficiency.
Your team’s safety should also be prioritised. An increase in efficiency is not worth putting an employee in harm’s way. Whenever any new processes are introduced, make sure to conduct supplementary safety courses from AK Logistics and Supply Chain to alert your staff of any new potential hazards. Warehouses can be treacherous places, especially if there’s forklift traffic.
Robotics
Investing in robotics technology can make your warehouse safer and more efficient. Robots can work tirelessly and autonomously on a variety of tasks, usually with only the occasional input of an operator. Robots can sort products by type, automatically stack pallets, and perform quality checks during production, to name a few functions.
Don’t commit to the first robotics agency you make contact with. If you’re looking for robotics companies, be sure to check every notable service in your market first, reading reviews from past customers and conducting research to determine their skill, reputation, and licenses. Remember that the most affordable solution is rarely the most effective.
Innovation
In the interests of safety and efficiency, you should be investing in reliable modern technology for your warehouse. Cloud-based software is available to manage your projects and inventory from anywhere. Your cybersecurity will need to be kept up to date as well to ensure these new systems are safe from tampering, vandalism, or accidents.
Be sure to regularly reassess your warehouse’s efficiency. Quarterly staff meetings can serve as brainstorming sessions regarding ways to further improve your processes. Take the advice and opinions of your team seriously; the ones performing the job every day will have the most useful insight into how it can be improved.
Investment in your team, adopting modern technologies, and seeking constant opportunities for improvement are great ways to optimise your warehouse. Collaboration and respect for each other’s ideas will encourage your team to find the best solutions for your business’s needs.
Photo by Tiger Lily
AK Logistics and Supply Chain 