A warehouse is all about efficiency, accessibility, and of course, safety as well.
To get those three things to work in harmony can seem a little tricky at times, but it’s important that you make it happen. Efficiency, accessibility, and safety all lead to lower costs/ higher profits, allowing you do to more with your business.
It starts with the setup. We’ve put together a few tips concerning best warehouse practices. It’s by no means an all inclusive list, but hopefully it gives you some ideas of what you can do to get your warehouse operating at it’s best.
Warehouse Operations Best Practices:
Check Clearance and Spacing
You always want to make sure you have enough room, whether you’re working vertically or horizantally. Make sure your isles are wide enough to get vehicles through, to turn corners around, and to safely access your stock.
Also make sure to leave room up top.
Get a Great Warehouse Manager
Even the world’s most advanced warehouse is only as good as the person managing it. With a warehouse manager that is passionate, organized, and driven, you rest assured that your warehouse will run great.
A warehouse manager not only oversees where items are being stored and retrieved from, but also acts as a couch to the warehouse workers. A great warehouse manager is also thinking of ways to improve the system. Speaking of…
Always be Looking for Ways to Improve
While you shouldn’t change or adjust a warehouse system simply for the sake of changing it, always keep an eye open for areas of improvement. Are there potential dangers? Are operations being slowed down in a specific area? Has a certain type of accident occurred multiple times?
Work with the idea that there’s always a better way to do the things you’re doing. You just might have a breakthrough.
Clear and Concise Training
There are certain jobs where a “figure it out as you go” mentality can work quite well. The warehouse is not one of those places. Make sure your staff is properly trained. That includes knowing the layout, knowing your processes, knowing the safety procedures, etc.
Basically, proper training means not making sure they know they’re doing, but making sure that they’re doing it the correct way.
Have the Right Supplies
Obviously you can’t have much of a warehouse without the right equipment. Make sure you have what you’re need, whether it’s pallet racking or dock boards. Also make sure your equipment is in good condition.
Worn or faulty equipment can lead to very bad things in a warehouse.
Some of the information in this post may seem obvious, but it’s often the obvious advice that gets ignored first. Start with the basics and build from there. Do that and you will have a great warehouse.
Any warehouse tips you would like to share? Say them below!
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