Running a successful warehouse doesn’t have to be complicated. By investing in the right tools and methods, you can make life easier for you and your staff – speeding up work and reducing errors. Here are just 5 tips worth following to make your warehouse a success.
Choose the right pallet racks
Pallet racks come in many different styles. It’s important to find the most suitable style of pallet rack for your business. Start by considering what items you are going to be storing in your warehouse. Strong and sturdy racks as supplied by companies like Tufferman could be essential for the storage of heavy items. For large items, it’s important to choose racks with enough space between shelves and enough depth. Optimising the space you have is important too. Use all the vertical space you have and consider options like push-back and drive-in racks if you don’t want too much space wasted by aisles.
Use RFID technology
RFID technology involves using radio waves to identify items and store digital information on them. Each item is tagged as it enters the warehouse. You can then keep track of it remotely instead of having to manually scan it as you would with a barcode. Data that you can track includes location, product information, price, inventory levels, the warehouse entry date and the expiry date.
Choose the right WMS
In order to access all this data, you need the right WMS (warehouse management system) software. On top of choosing affordable software, make sure that the software has all the features you need such as warehouse mapping, order tracking and automated alert features. You should also consider whether you need scalable software in case your company grows. Some applications may be specialised to certain industries. This site Supply Chain Digital compares some of the top software options.
Optimize picking paths
Encourage speedy picking by finding a warehouse layout system that reduces time. Traditional systems like alphabetical systems aren’t always efficient. Instead, consider locating items by demand – store items together that are often picked together and consider putting the most in-demand items near the front. Some WMS software applications can help you create a layout. Make sure to reassess your warehouse regularly if demand changes or you start stocking different items.
Invest in staff training
A warehouse is only as efficient as its staff. Make sure to invest time into training staff so that they understand all the protocols. This could include in-person training and e-learning. You could also consider creating a digital handbook that new staff can easily reference to help them with various processes. While it’s important to train staff to be efficient, health and safety training should be prioritised. People are more likely to injure themselves when trying to work speedily – they may cut corners that put them at risk. Emphasise the importance of following health and safety protocol and try to teach speed afterwards. When it comes to health and safety training, focus not just on immediate injury risks but long-term injury risks – teaching things like how to carry a box can protect against long-term back injuries as well as immediate ones.
