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Simple Tricks to Increase Productivity In Your Warehouse

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Simple Tricks to Increase Productivity In Your Warehouse

The warehouse is the centrepiece of a company’s logistics planning. In order for the supply chain to work smoothly, you need to control stocks, organise the storage of products in accordance with the rules, and build processes for the timely transportation of goods to the end consumer. As you can see, the activity is built around storage. Even experienced logistics directors face challenges when organising warehouse logistics. For example, the lack of planning for the placement of cargo increases the time to find the right product, products unprepared for loading cause untimely transportation, and so on.

In this article, we will talk about warehouse optimisation methods that will help establish a supply chain at all stages.

Warehouse zoning

Each product category must belong to its own zone. Imagine that a warehouse is a country divided into regions. This means that the entire room must be divided into specific zones. For example, a long-term storage area, a waiting area for shipment, a picking up area. The convenience lies in the fact that when you need a specific object, you will always know where it is. It is also recommended to place more demanded goods that are less stored in order to reduce time costs closer to the shipping area, they should be easily accessible. Bulky cargo should be placed in the same place.

It is recommended to store the most fragile and valuable items in the depths of the warehouse. 

Storage system

A storage system is taking into account the process of cargo transportation (unloading, loading); its characteristics (storage conditions, dimensions, type); warehouse features (number of cells, zones). This is a long process, taking on average several months, but the result justifies all the efforts. Address storage is suitable for a wide range of goods, with different conditions and storage periods.

It is not difficult to organise a storage system in a warehouse. To do this, you need to divide the warehouse into three main areas: storage, commodity entrance and exit. And also two more types (already mentally): dynamic and static. The names speak for themselves. During static storage, the product occupies a certain, specific place in the warehouse, it is assigned to it. With dynamic, the load gets anywhere, to any free place, but is not lost, but gets a number to which it is assigned.

Further, each cell is assigned its own barcode. Each element (shipping, receiving, row, tier, rack) is given a sign (letter or number), and together this information forms a code. That is, for such optimisation, it will be necessary to purchase a label printer and a device similar to a gun – a data collection terminal. This mini-computer also reads codes from goods. All cargo data is entered into a single program. This is an archive that stores all information about a product, including its movement around the warehouse. The mechanisation of the workflow often scares people, but this innovation will greatly simplify the work, although some employees will have to improve the skills in order to skilfully handle the equipment.

Creation of a defective zone

This is such a special area where goods that do not meet the established requirements are placed. If a defect is found, an act is drawn up in which all defects of the goods are indicated, as well as complete information about it. The document is signed by the storekeeper, and then the goods are transported to a specially fenced area of the warehouse. The cargo is in this zone until its further fate is decided, and this is not always a return or disposal. Agree, it is much more convenient when the defective product is not confused with the one suitable for further use but is all in one place. 

Warehouse equipment

You should be more careful with technique. Make sure to determine the safety factor of equipment. That is, to calculate when the carts are most loaded, and empty equipment from a neighbouring department can come to the rescue.

Also, before each unloading, the machines should be checked for malfunctions, or even better, each piece of equipment should be assigned to a specific person in order to increase the degree of responsibility. In addition, if you buy from one supplier, and not from different ones, then the chance of getting a defective car or forklift is significantly reduced, plus parts from decommissioned equipment are suitable for repairing a new one. An even better solution would be to find equipment such as a hand truck or a good quality forklift for hire
. It is also recommended to periodically take exams or tests for employees working with equipment to be sure that their qualifications are sufficient.

Conclusion

When developing a competent warehouse optimisation project, the changes can be colossal, and for the better. This includes improving the efficiency of work and saving money, and simplified processes of delivery, unloading, and loading.

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