If your warehouse operations are not up to par, this can result in utter chaos. The training of your employees to handle the goods as they are unloaded can mean the difference between a well organized warehouse and one that is totally disorganized. The training is essential to let employees know what they will be doing and how.
Part of the training requires management to communicate to the workers exactly what is expected of them. When they do not do this the warehouse can turn into a do-it-yourself situation. The right system makes everything run much smoother however, everyone needs to be on the same page and working towards the same goal. Most companies have a timeline for getting merchandise to the sales floor after the delivery has been made.
The tools that are essential to the performance of the job at hand must be kept in an area where they can be found when needed. Designate one area of your warehouse for pallet jacks, hand trucks, and flat bed carts. This will assure that everyone puts them in this area when they are finished using them and employees will not have to search for them. This can also apply to smaller supplies such as razor knives, defective merchandise sheets, tape, or anything else commonly used in the warehouse.
Keeping your warehouse as cool as possible in the warmer months will aid in production. If it is a sweltering 105 degrees in your warehouse, the employees are not going to be moving very fast. The use of ceiling fans and portable fans will help the temperature and hopefully the workers will feel the difference.
Set up areas for different departments of merchandise. The area should be large enough to handle what is coming in until it can be moved to the sales floor. If you will label the areas for new employees it will be easier for them to find where merchandise is supposed to be placed. This eliminates the need to ask every time they are unsure of where an item they pick up from the truck might go.
Have a place for the flatbed carts so they are easily pulled onto the floor to unload. The larger items that will go after the carts should be placed in area that is easily accessible yet out of the way of trying to unload all the other items.
Make sure the floor is kept free of debris. The strapping from boxes, any damaged items should have their own spot, empty boxes and pallets - all of this needs to be put in the proper place to ensure safety in the warehouse. Any spills should be cleaned up immediately so that the likelihood of slips and falls are eliminated. If you have a spill such as soap or something that is harder to clean up, try spreading cat litter over it to soak it up. Falls are one of the number one accidents that occur in warehouses that could be prevented by using a little common sense. It is not hard to optimise your warehouse operations; it just takes a little management.
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By: Reg Cotton
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