There are many ways to improve the warehouse operations that affect your products and customers. When the warehouse runs more efficiently, you save money to invest in all departments of your business. Start by reviewing 5 ways to improve the functions of your warehouse.
1. Invest in Technology
Look into every area of your warehouse and see where you can incorporate technology. Less work is involved in using mobile devices to scan inventory instead of write the details down by hand. Also, choose from a variety of machines to lift heavy loads weighing up to several tons.
Dock levelers are used to load and unload inventory from trucks. In-plant scissor lifts are designed with solid steel legs to reduce the risks of manual lifting. Look for equipment from companies like Heavy Lift Forklifts, but also look for new, innovative technologies to make the work easier and faster.
2. Use Inventory Management Software
Accountants, writers and business managers use software to perform their work more easily. Save the time and effort of counting inventory by hand when you use inventory management software. Update the data in real time whenever products are added or removed from the collection. Also, use your smartphone or tablet to manage the business from a remote location.
3. Look Into Expansions
Decide if the main problem is a lack of space for storage or deliveries. If insufficient space interferes with the way that you conduct business, consider adding a new area to the warehouse. You have space to store more items and make use of more equipment.
4. Hire a Supervisor for Each Project
Have senior-level workers walk the warehouse floor and look for inefficient results. Get a supervisor to review the daily warehouse operations and look for repeated mistakes that have become part of normal routines.
5. Hire a Checker
Hire one person to do the work and then hire a checker to review the work for errors. Whether the work is done manually or using automatic machines, it's easy for anyone to make mistakes. Some people come up with the wrong number when counting inventory products by hand. There are either too few or too many products to ship when orders are made, so companies waste money either way.
Investing in the warehouse means investing in the customers and the business as a whole. Even if you have the best equipment, you could have an inefficient inventory management team. Continue to look for ways to make improvements to your business.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.