Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Warehouse?

Every business is different. Each and every business requires a specific and individual touch in order to succeed and trying to take too general an approach to everything that you do is almost certainly going to cause problems in the long run for your it. However, it can’t be denied that there are certain things that hold true for just about every business. After all, you always need to keep your accounts in order, you always need to tailor your marketing towards your specific demographic, and you always need to make sure that you have the resources that you need at any given time. One of the most common things that many businesses need that they too often go without is an organised and well-run warehouse. Here are a few simple tips to help you achieve just that.

Find the right equipment

There’s plenty of equipment that a warehouse cannot function without. Fork-lifts and pallets are all incredibly important. But you should also be aware of some of the more recent technological developments that can make a lot of difference to the efficiency of your warehouse. Things like dimensioning systems can be incredibly useful when it comes to speeding up a lot of the aspects of your warehouse. Dimensioning boxes and pallets can be incredibly time-consuming and having a piece of equipment that speeds up that process can be invaluable. Likewise, there is plenty of mobile technology that allows your workers to avoid going back and forth from a fixed station multiple times throughout the day, instead of being able to do many of the things that they used to need a desktop computer from the palm of their hand. For example, barcode readers for sale from Code Corp allow you to check stock from your device, which speeds up locating items.

Keep your equipment maintained

Equipment maintenance is something that is important for just about every business in the world, but there’s no denying that it is especially crucial for your warehouse. After all, not only does is the equipment in your warehouse important for keeping things running smoothly at all times but it’s also a serious safety concern. Even something incredibly minor like a loose caster or a moving part that isn’t properly secured can not only cause problems in terms of productivity, but it can also put your employees at risk. Taking the time to maintain your equipment is something that you should never neglect.

Embrace new technology

As with just about any part of modern business, there have been some amazing technological innovations over the last couple of years that have made life a whole lot easier for many warehouse workers. Something like digital inventory management might seem as though it wouldn’t make that much of a difference but the impact that it can have on the day to day running of your warehouse is truly staggering.

Outsource

Outsourcing is a useful thing for any aspect of your business and your warehouse is no exception. Everything from shipping container transport to the training of your employees can be handled by outside companies. That way you are able to have the most well-organised warehouse possible, without dedicating too much of your time to it. Sure, it may end up being somewhat expensive, but 3pl warehousing for example can provide expertise and help streamline supply chains, allowing you to focus on other areas of the business. You will probably find that it’s a worthwhile investment.

An intelligent use of space

One of the main ways in which many businesses fail to use their warehouse properly is that they simply don’t understand how to use the space effectively. Make sure that you’re carefully considering every aspect of your warehouse and how you can organize it to be more efficient. Think about which items are required the most often; it makes sense not to put them somewhere that’s difficult or time consuming to reach. Likewise, you don’t want to clutter up high-traffic areas with things that are going just to end up sitting around for long periods of time. By adjusting the way in which you’re using the space in your warehouse you’ll be able to create a space that’s simpler, more efficient, not to mention safer. In case you still find the need for more space in your warehouse, you could have an extension constructed with the help of local metal building contractors who can understand your requirements thoroughly and build accordingly.

Health and safety procedures

Speaking of safety, it’s one thing that you simply can’t afford to ignore. Every aspect of your business needs health and safety procedures in place, but your warehouse involved higher levels of risk than many others. From the use of large equipment to the amount of physical labour involved, if you’re not using correct health and safety procedures then you’re putting your employees at risk. Not only can an accident both harm your employees and slow down the productivity of your warehouse, but it can also put you in a dangerous legal position. If something happens and you didn’t have the correct procedures in place to prevent it, then you’re going to be liable. For example, dangerous chemicals should be stored in bunded storage, like you can see here. If dangerous chemicals are stored incorrectly, it may put you at odds with the law. Health and safety not only protects your employees but protects your business in the event that something does happen.

Hire a dedicated manager

When you have an aspect of your business that is as complex and crucial as a warehouse, you simply can’t afford not to pay it the right amount of attention. Of course, it’s pretty fair to say that trying to spread yourself thin enough to focus on everything at once is a risky move for both yourself and your business. Because of that, consider hiring a warehouse manager to focus on the nuts and bolts of day to day warehouse life for you so that you can get back to taking a broader, bird’s eye view of the business as a whole. Hiring the right person for this job can be tough, but it’s always worth putting in the time and effort to find them.

Sure, it’s true that not every business is going to need a warehouse in order to succeed, but the reality is that if your business does call for it, you need to make sure that you’re putting just as much effort into keeping it running smoothly as the rest of your business. It might present something of a challenge, but your warehouse is simply too important not to give your full attention to as often as possible.