The average cost of a workplace accident is $150,000 per accident, excluding OSHA fines. Warehouses can be dangerous places, with heavy-duty equipment and machinery use, if not managed properly.
Managing warehouse operations is a full-time juggling act. From inventory to invoicing and stock management, there are a lot of moving parts that you need to stay on top of to ensure productivity and safety.
If you’re looking for ways to improve warehouse management, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for 5 fail-proof tips to optimize operations and ensure that your warehouse is a safe place to work.
1. Optimize Your Warehouse Layout
Planning an optimized warehouse layout is one of the best warehouse management tips to set you up for success. Hopefully, you have a blank canvas to work with so that you can personally oversee the layout of every inch of the warehouse.
If you’re managing a warehouse that’s already set up, all is not lost, though. Consider the different ways in which you can maximize the space that you have to facilitate warehouse productivity.
Plan exit and enter pathways for goods so that there is a smooth flow of products. Use vertical shelving to increase space and ensure that each shelf is properly marked to make stocking easier.
2. Provide Adequate Staff Training
Knowing how to manage a warehouse effectively depends a lot on your team. Ensure that you’re working with the best of the best by providing proper training for your staff.
Each staff member should undergo safety training and relevant equipment training. This will reduce human errors and emergencies, making your job a whole lot easier.
3. Stay On Top of Warehouse Organization
A disorganized and chaotic warehouse not only affects business productivity, but it’s dangerous too. Slip and fall accidents are the most common workplace accidents and are a huge liability to the business.
Implement processes to ensure that the warehouse is always organized. This includes adequate labeling, rules around storage, and regular checks by the supervisor and floor manager.
4. Control Warehouse Access
Keep inventory safe by implementing strict access protocols. Only warehouse staff should be able to access the warehouse freely.
You can do this by providing eligible staff members with access cards, using password-protected doors, and introducing uniforms.
Only warehouse staff, not all business staff, need to be in the warehouse and these are the only people that should have access.
5. Use a Warehouse Management System
Ensuring that warehouse production runs smoothly is a lot of work. There are plenty of moving parts that you have to manage. A warehouse management system can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
These software solutions help manage inventory, automate invoicing and reporting, and support end-to-end freight management.
Integrating a warehouse management system can take some time, but it’s completely worth it. Want to know more? See more information here.
Improve Warehouse Management Today
Armed with these five tips for warehouse management you’ll be able to optimize systems to make your job easier and boost productivity. Ensure that you’re working with the best team to support you!
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