Managing a warehouse goes beyond reducing the risk of injuries among employees. It also includes increasing or improving efficiency and productivity. When a business achieves that, then it maximizes working capital, protects cash flow, and boosts both revenue and savings.
In this article, business owners learn four tips to enhance warehouse efficiency:
1. Control Heating
Heating is just as essential as ventilation and air-conditioning. During winters, it keeps the workers comfortable and even reduces the risk of ice dams on the roofs that can lead to high levels of moisture. It can also be a central element in many processes, including maintaining the quality of inventory.
While heating is essential, generating it can be expensive for those who are not careful and strategic. To avoid this problem, here are two ways to manage heating:
- Use solid-state relays. These devices can automate the on-off switching of heating systems. This way, heaters deliver the right amount of heat at a precise time. Warehouse owners can work with a solid-state replay supplier who can help determine the best designs and volume according to their budget and needs.
- Consider radiant heating. There are many ways to generate and deliver heat, and one of these is radiant heating, which uses infrared rays. It promotes targeted heating, meaning it heats objects and people directly instead of redirecting heat through the air.
2. Identify the Best Flow Layout
The warehouse is one of the busiest places with goods and people moving in and out regularly. Movement, though, costs both time and money. The longer materials stay in the dock, the higher the production costs can be since time is running.
One way to be efficient is to know the best flow layout for the warehouse. The most popular option is the U flow, where the same facility takes care of both shipping and receiving. The area also includes dynamic and static storage for better organization. It is especially helpful for warehouses that use the same trailer or vehicle for pickup of raw materials and shipping of products and services.
However, their ideal workflow layout should also depend on the following factors:
- Size of the warehouse
- Materials used and products created
- Number of people
- Volume of trucks or other vehicles
- Space for transport and movement
3. Use Tools for Automation and Preciseness
Automation can be any warehouse’s best friend. It allows the business to operate at a more extended period without increasing the cost of human labor. It permits the company to redirect the workforce for other critical areas of warehousing.
One can adopt automation in different processes, such as material handling. Business owners can fit trailers or vehicles with automated truck-loading systems (ALTS) to minimize the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and improve utilization of the fleet.
Warehouses can also benefit from using inventory management software. It can:
- Monitor the movement of goods at various stages of the supply chain
- Increase accountability and reduce the risk of fraud or theft
- Promote better forecasting of revenues
- Ensure the production of goods at the right time and volume (or amount)
- Decrease the risk of human errors
4. Audit the Processes
Sometimes efficient strategies stop being one. This is because business processes are also dynamic. To cope, warehouse management should also adapt to the times and embracing innovation. They can begin doing that by continually auditing and then updating their policies, training, and functions.
With warehouse efficiency, businesses can save money, maximize their resources, and even decrease the odds of workplace injuries.
