Avoiding the buildup of dust in a warehouse is an important task, especially since dust can be a quick representation of warehouse efficiency needing improvement. So what is the secret to managing this unassuming, yet potentially explosive, contaminant? It's simple: Don’t let your inventory sit!
Dust is only a symptom. Dust is typically created by underlying issues within your warehouse; thus, dust is simply a tangible reflection of a need to address your warehouse efficiency. So, here are a few methods to help improve your warehouse efficiency and profitability.
Let's start dumping that dust!
- Enough is just enough.
Although the last-in-first-out inventory pattern may be helpful in unique situations, it is also notorious for causing inventory to sit... and sit... and sit at the back of the shelf. This is especially the case when the inventory is slow moving or if there is more product on the shelves than is actually needed. The price that that inventory came into the warehouse with will change over time, and generally, that value decreases the longer it sits. So, avoid storing more merchandise than is needed in order to maintain item value and make the best use of shelf space.
- Address inventory patterns.
In most cases, the first-in-first-out inventory pattern will be the most efficient way to rotate merchandise in the warehouse. Consider, for example, the rotation of milk in the grocer's fridge. The first carton, the one with the closest expiration date, is kept at the front of the shelf so that it is the first sold at its best value. The containers with later expiration dates are loaded into the back of the shelf for later sale, which better ensures that the grocer is not left with outdated, unusable, and profitless merchandise. This should be the aim of most warehouse managers – to ship the oldest inventory first so that the order being shipped is at the best price possible, resulting in the best profits and highest warehouse efficiency.
- Keep inventory mobile.
If you still struggle to move older inventory out the door towards a buyer, you’ll want to keep it mobile in the warehouse, stored on carousels. Not only do stationary pallets gather more dust, but they are also easier to ignore and avoid, as they become a part of the warehouse landscape. This can result in the product becoming forgotten and remaining unsold. Again, sitting merchandise equals sitting profits. However, by storing this inventory on carousels, the products can be easily relocated to more accessible locations, encouraging the sale of this merchandise, reclaiming at least a portion of its original value. and freeing up that space for new merchandise coming in.
- Organize warehouse space to make it easier to track inventory.
Managers should establish policies for keeping the warehouse organized and clean, with aisles clear and empty pallets stored away. Clarify what you expect from your workers in order to ensure completion of dust-busting inventory rotation tasks, and get everyone on-board with improving the efficiency of daily operations to increase your profits and decrease general work hazards.
- Use the right tools for the job.
There are countless software solutions designed to make it easier to manage your inventory and keep stock moving at peak efficiency – utilize one. No amount of careful thought can possibly match a system designed to maximize the productivity of your warehouse from the ground up, so take advantage of the solutions available to improve warehouse efficiency.
Ultimately, excess dust in the warehouse should be viewed as an inventory downtime problem and an issue to be resolved. By maintaining a focus on the goal of fast inventory turnover, you will see far less dust, far less wasted time, far greater warehouse efficiency, and long-term profitability.