Well-run warehousing and storage facilities are the beating heart of any supply chain. For this reason, strategic warehousing should be a priority for any business that handles goods or materials.
The challenge that your business will face when it comes to organizing a warehouse is handling the hundreds or thousands of different products that your company may sell as well as safely managing the team that will handle these goods.
So, what can you do to make to improve your warehousing and storage facilities?
In this guide, we’ll share some of the top industry secrets that will help you manage your inventory in a safe and efficient manner.
Safety Should Be Your Number One Priority
Above all else in warehouse logistics management, you need to always consider the safety of your team and any visitors to your facilities.
Firstly, ensure that all items of stock are safely stowed on their racks at all times and are not likely to fall. Place heavier items in positions where team members won’t have to bed to pick them up and where possible, use lifting equipment such as trolleys and forklift trucks.
Regularly carry out storage maintenance and enlist the help of a rack repair company whenever your racking becomes damaged in any way. Broken racking could cost you valuable stock and it could seriously injure or even kill an employee.
It’s important that you keep clear walkways between racks. You should use markings on the floor to denote areas where no stock should be kept. This will prevent any trip hazards.
Carry out regular manual handling training with all of your team members to ensure they know how to safely lift and carry stock.
Maximize Your Operational Space
When it comes to storage, you’ll need as much space as possible. This means using your vertical space as well as your floor space. As long as you use the right equipment to help you access this stock, you can store quite a lot up high.
Plan Your Warehousing and Storage Facility Layout
Having a well-designed floor plan that specifies exactly where each item of stock will be stored is important. You may wish to organize your stock by category or by SKU number. Having a regimented place for each item of stock will help maintain efficiency.
One common method for organizing a warehouse is to arrange SKUs in the picking order. If your team may work through a pick sheet that is generated with SKUs in a specific order. Having everything laid out to match this will make life easier for everyone.
Manage Your Receiving Area Well
It’s important that you have clearly defined areas for ‘goods in’ and’ goods out.’ Your goods receiving area needs to be well-managed and big enough to safely accommodate any big deliveries you may receive.
If stock is allowed to accumulate in either the ‘goods in’, or the ‘goods out’ areas it could slow your supply chain and cause a potential hazard.
Ensure Warehousing Is Not Just an Afterthought
Make sure that your warehousing and storage are not an afterthought in your company. Prioritize perfecting the running of this facility, and you’ll be able to drive your business forwards.
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