Managing a warehouse can be quite tricky at times. There are orders hauling in and a lot of things to manage at once. An improperly managed warehouse can become a mess in no time.
Warehouses differ a lot in their size and dimensions. Some can be of behemoth sizes comparable to a manufacturing plant, whereas some can be the size of an office.
Here are five things you must consider while making/operating your warehouse for streamlined and glitch free operations.
Use Standardized Containers With Proper Labels
Make sure you use containers and bins of standard sizes in your warehouse. This ensures that you don’t have to switch between different types of machinery for handling them. Moreover, this will also help you properly plan the space inside the warehouse.
Always make sure that the containers and the storage racks are properly labelled. Adding some barcodes to these labels with also help with efficient tracking. Thus preventing the problem of misplaced inventory.
Make the Best Out Of Available Space
Warehouse space can be expensive if your premises are leased. But anyways, you must always aim at squeezing out the maximum out of your available space. Consider using vertical racks for storing products, which will allow you to use the space efficiently.
Make sure there is proper gap between two racks so any equipment or vehicle can move freely.
Use Upgraded Software and Technology
Invest in a good warehouse management system. This will not only let you eliminate a lot of paperwork, but will also keep all the information on your fingertips. A good WMS software is the best investment you can make for your warehouse.
A WMS using wireless connectivity and real-time update and messaging system will help you with organizing your workforce in a more efficient manner. Invest in latest robotic systems and machinery for streamlining the processes.
Use Forecasting Models
To make the most out of your warehouse logistics, you’ll have to predict or at least estimate the amount of goods you need in your inventory. Take into consideration the use of models like Economic Order Quantity to analyze the optimal inventory levels.
Additionally, you can make track of your monthly demand and supply volume, and make sure you maintain a proper influx and outflow of goods on a regular basis.
Invest In Your Employees
Eventually it is your employees who will be running the show for you. They are the ones who operate the software and the machinery and keep track of everything that automated systems cannot control. So it is always a good idea to train your employees beforehand.
Conducting regular training sessions for warehouse employees is a great idea. Everytime a new tech is applied, each and every person working in the warehouse storage must be aware about it. Moreover, you should consider taking inputs and feedbacks from your employees about what can be improved.
Another good practice is to set up incentivization programs for your employees, so they can be rewarded for better performance. Since eventually, monetized rewards are the most motivating factor for employees.
Although warehouse management techniques are not limited to these five tips. These are the most crucial and basic things you can do for a streamlined warehouse.Â
AAJ Supply Chain Management
