Whatever role you have in a business, it’s likely that you’re always looking for ways to improve warehouse efficiency. You want to be able to get things in and out of it as quickly as possible, especially if you have a huge order on its way.
However, while hunting for the next best thing, you could be neglecting super-simple changes that will make a huge difference to how your warehouse operates. By fixing the little things, you’ll find that you’ll save time and money while simultaneously streamlining your operations.
With that in mind, it’s important to go back-to-basics to make some super simple but effective changes to improve the efficiency of your warehouse.
Use All of Your Available Space
You’d be amazed how many nooks and crannies there are in the common warehouse, resulting in a big old gaping hole that can be utilised when you organise your shelves correctly! Using different types of shelving and packaging to match the needs of certain items will ensure that you’re optimising your space. For instance, using shrink wrapping equipment for small items will ensure that they are optimised for storing.
Furthermore, make sure that your stock is spread out evenly across the shelves to prevent the need to increase the size of your operations when it isn’t required. If you do find yourself needing more space, consider increasing your shelving vertically before investing in a larger warehouse.
Only Order What You Need
One of the biggest issues that a warehouse can face is ordering too much stock; wasting space and money. The problems that can arise from this include health and safety issues, as well as taking more time to reach an item that is buried underneath large and unnecessary stock.
If you’re worried about not being able to meet the demands of a big order that suddenly arises, eliminate your safety stocks and negotiate with your supplier to deliver less stock but on a more frequent basis.
Keep Organised
Alongside the general organisation of your warehouse, you should also ensure that your staff has an organised workstation – that stays organised! If your workforce is constantly spending time looking for tools and equipment, it will detract from time that they could be working on the operations that actually bring in money.
Furthermore, keep items that are frequently bought together close together. This will save you time accessing different parts of the warehouse for a common order.
Reduce Waste
Keeping your stock secure, safe and protected from the elements using shrink wrap is another great way to improve efficiency and prevent loss of time and money. For more information about the services and machines that we offer at Kempner, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
