Regardless of the industry, warehouses receive, store, and dispense goods. These facilities may use wire shelving, wooden pallets, cantilever racking, or a high-tech system like vertical lift modules in their everyday operations.
Whatever type of warehouse you manage, keeping it clean and organized is a challenge. This fall use these seven tips to incorporate changes to make your storage facility operate more efficiently.
#1 – Review Your Warehouse Management Software Program
Using the right warehouse management software has a direct and measurable effect on profit and loss. Ask yourself if the software you use matches your current operational requirements. Perhaps you have been using the same software for years, but your products and inventory infrastructure have changed. You may find that your software should have changed with them.
Consider cloud-based inventory management, especially if you manage more than one warehouse. This way, you can access each from wherever you may be located.
#2 – Review Your Floor Plan
Review the entire layout of your warehouse. Consider your warehouse as new space, with no racks or aisles or offices installed.
Ask yourself how you might organize the space better. For example, perhaps you need a different type of pallet rack or storage system. Maybe the loading dock location is in an awkward spot. You may find that you have a lot of unused vertical space that perhaps a vertical lift module would allow you to store more product.
Maybe relocating your main office to a mezzanine, for example, can free up valuable storage space.
#3 – Product Location
Consider which product moves quickly and which product tends to remain in stock for extended periods.
Perhaps moving a particular product, something that leaves or enters the warehouse daily, closer to the loading area can save pickers steps and improve the speed and efficiency of receipt and delivery.
#4 – Cleaning
Review your cleaning plans. Cluttered and dirty warehouses not only give a wrong impression to clients but can also become a safety hazard for employees.
Review where clutter accumulates. If you can’t afford a cleaning service, consider keeping certain areas clean and clutter free as a part of the job description of the employees working in that area.
Give incentives to those employees that maintain clean work areas. Make it easy for employees to comply by stationing cleaning products in easily accessible areas.
#5 – Racking
Ensure your facility has the right kinds of racks. Think long term.
Do a cost benefit analysis of spending the capital to invest in longer-lasting stainless-steel racking, for example.
Perhaps your operation would work more efficiently if you used cantilever racking, or maybe an automated system instead of one that uses human pickers.
#6 – Labeling
Review your labeling setup. Consider the different types of labeling and determine if a different type would work with your operations better.
For example, maybe you rely on signage, but bar codes may be more efficient based on the product you move.
Also label work areas, safety hazards, and work zones for better communication, safety and efficiency.
#7 – Technology
There may be simple technology changes that can radically improve your operations.
For example, installing Wi-Fi could improve your efficiencies. Perhaps instead of tracking inventory manually, equipping your employees with mobile devices like hand-held RF readers or voice picking systems is more cost effective.
Contact Us
At Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc., we carry more than 50,000 square feet of new and used inventory to help you update and organize your warehouse. Call a member of our team at 1-800-589-7225 (RACK) to discuss your warehouse needs, or complete our online contact form if you have any questions.
