How to Improve Warehouse Efficiency
Good news if you’re in the warehousing and storage industry: The global market is expected to grow by 9.4% in 2022. By the end of the year, it will be worth a cool $658 billion.
With numbers like these, it’s time to take a serious look at your warehouse operations. How can you boost your warehouse efficiency and ensure you get a slice of that 658-billion-dollar pie?
Here are four expert tips to improve efficiency in your warehouse.
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1. Focus on Cleanliness
If cleanliness is next to godliness, it also falls into the category of “good business sense.” A warehouse that’s clean and tidy is not only a safe workspace but a highly efficient one.
Dust and dirt can damage your products, while empty pallets can take up valuable storage space. Anything that isn’t neatly put away could become an obstacle or a potential safety hazard.
If you don’t already have one in place, implement an ongoing “clean routine” task list for your employees. This is sure to streamline traffic, protect your products, and keep your workers safe.
2. Use a Warehouse Management System
Are you still tracking inventory and placing orders the old-fashioned way? Toss that pen and paper aside and upgrade to cloud-based warehouse management software.
Say goodbye to lost stock with real-time barcode scanning. Automate all your invoicing so you have more time to focus on running your business. You can also easily cross-dock those short-term storage items to move products through your warehouse more quickly.
Click for more information about how software like this can revolutionize the way you run your warehouse.
3. Invest in Your Workers
Your warehouse is only as efficient as the people who operate it. While you’re making upgrades to your software and cleaning routine, make sure you’re investing just as much effort in your employees.
Conduct short, regular training sessions to keep everyone up-to-date. During busy times of the year, offer incentive pay to encourage employees to improve their productivity. Host monthly competitions, corporate parties, and other events that promote team spirit and a fun working environment.
4. Location, Location, Location
Every second someone wastes searching for a hard-to-find or hard-to-reach item reduces your warehouse efficiency.
Take a look at your most popular products that have the highest order volumes or seasonal spikes. Prioritize these popular items by placing them next to your packing area. While you’re there, don’t forget to use a larger bin size so you don’t run low on stock.
If you have single-item orders or backorders for certain products, skip the put-away process altogether. Instead, relabel them for shipping as soon as they hit the receiving dock and come off the truck. Then you can route them right out the door of your shipping dock and get them to your customers faster.
Improve Your Warehouse Efficiency in 2022
If you want to improve your overall business efficiency, it’s time to take a closer look at your warehouse productivity. Using the tips outlined above, you can streamline your warehouse operations and enjoy improved warehouse efficiency.
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