Every time, when order is rolled out from a warehouse, it brings something or the other for both the customers and company. The customers get their product on time, and the company increases its credibility among its customer base.
Hence, it becomes very important for every business owner to ensure their warehouse efficiency, as it can make a big difference and a positive impact on the organization.
Warehouse efficiency is the most important method for your company’s success. It is the topmost priority of warehouse managers to regularize the process and reduce cost. However, one thing that every business person needs to understand is that a good warehouse efficiency is not just putting everything in place and providing products on time, but it should also maximize productivity. In order to save money and time, some practices, like labelling, using scanners, allowing Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system in your warehouse, and a proper inventory management system should be completed in a systematic way.
Whether you have a small warehouse or a multi-channel warehouse, some changes are necessary to improve the performance. So, here are the top 5 tips that will help you increase warehouse efficiency and reduce cost.
Optimize Available Space: Rather than expanding the space, make organized use of vertical space in your warehouse. Adding taller storage units and storing equipment and material efficiently can help in utilizing the capacity of your warehouse. Using the same shelving for different materials can waste space and expand costs. So, use the shelves according to the item and also try to standardize the shelves for the same material and equipment.
Lean Inventory: A lean inventory is as important as manufacturing. Overstocking is the common mistake that most of the companies do and then they end up with large amounts of unsold or expired stock. Make a system that can show the stock in real-time. Automated identification of the inventory is also helpful for managers in eliminating useless stock, and trying to get suppliers to deliver smaller quantities more frequently.
Organize your warehouse: A disorganized warehouse can increase time in the shipping, as it makes it hard for the workers to search for the required tools and equipment. Thus, a well-organized warehouse can help the workers to work efficiently and improve their productivity. It is suggested to use the 5S method that consists – Sort; Set in order; Shine; Standardize; and Sustain. This technique is very popular, reduces errors and provides safety of the organization too.
Train your Staff: Train your managers and educate them about the trigger points for efficiency. Take follow-ups, update the technologies used, and be ready for the feedback in order to address problems swiftly and effectively. It reduces risk and increases efficiency and inclusion.
Review Effectiveness: Improvement can not be recognized without analyzing the current situation. Check if you are using the resources correctly, analyze the flow of goods, and more. Any inefficiency within the chain can cause the failure of the entire process. Thus, review the system and if the current one is not working well, re-enforce a new system for better results.
Now, after reading these points, you have understood that warehouse efficiency is very necessary. Thus, follow these points, watch your efficiency bar and also reduce the cost of its maintenance.
