What does your warehouse crew do at the end of a shift?
Stop the forklift, clock out, and just go home?
If this is the case, perhaps you aren't maximizing your warehouse efficiency to its fullest potential. Completing certain tasks at the end of each shift can make the next shift or the next day's work go much smoother, so here are four tips for end-of-shift tasks that will improve your warehouse efficiency.
- Pick orders completely through from start to finish.
The goal of starting to pick a new order should be to finish picking that order – even if that means finding a stopping point with a few minutes left in a shift, or staying a few minutes past the end of a shift to finish. The inefficiency and potential confusion created by partially filled lists will slow down the entire process and risk creating errors that will affect the accuracy of your customers' orders. - Inspect workplace for debris and safety issues.
Picking up debris and addressing safety issues are ongoing tasks that everyone in the warehouse should be doing on a regular basis. However, doing an intentional quick area inspection at the end of every shift will ensure that nothing has been forgotten as well as set the next shift up for success.
You may have dedicated janitorial staff to sweep high traffic areas, or you may rely on your staff to handle this task – but in either case, someone needs to ensure the warehouse is clean and safe at the end of the day. - Loose items should be removed from the receiving, packing, and shipping areas.
On a related note to the previous tip, every item in the receiving, packing, and shipping areas should have a reason for being there at the end of a shift. Trash or any other items that have no clear reason for being in that area should be returned to the shelf, entered into stock, or disposed of as needed. Leaving only what is necessary in each area makes the start of next shift go smoother and prevents items from going missing, being overlooked, or getting in the way. - Complete all daily paperwork and computer transactions.
As orders are picked and inventory is received, there are certain pieces of related paperwork or software transactions that need to occur. As much as possible, all of the open processes for each shift should be closed out at the end of that shift. This prevents issues with inventory and order accuracy and makes work for the next shift easier to initiate. Although it requires extra discipline and organization to achieve, it aids in improving warehouse efficiency throughout the remainder of the day.
By tying up loose ends at the end of a shift, the process for starting the next shift will go smoother. This aids in improving warehouse efficiency whether you are running a single shift operation or a multiple shift workday.
Begin by implementing one of these four tips, and build towards establishing a routine of utilizing all four to make the most of your warehouse efficiency.
