Warehouse Dispatch

A study sponsored by Intermec back in late 2012 found that, on average, warehouse workers lose 15 minutes per day due to process inefficiencies. That may not seem like much, but it adds up quickly if you look at the bigger picture. Multiply that 15 minutes by all the days worked by the number of employees working and the result is staggering.

What does your warehouse crew do at the end of a shift?

Stop the forklift, clock out, and just go home?

Have you ever heard of the Pareto principle? You might know it better as the 80-20 rule. In terms of warehouse management, the rule says that 80% of your business comes from only 20% of your stocked products. While the exact percentages may vary a bit, the core of this principle is something you need to follow for maximum warehouse efficiency.

A warehouse is a physical space where a company stores product, raw materials, and other items necessary for doing business. However, that space does not only accommodate physical inventory. It also has to accommodate warehouse personnel and equipment. When there is room for everything to co-exist comfortably, warehouse efficiency increases. If there is not enough elbow room, problems ensue.

Taking physical inventory is an event most warehouse workers dread. Having to address inaccuracies in inventory counts creates the need to redo the process, and these excessive physical inventory counts are guaranteed to make an already painful process excruciating. Is it possible to put a stop to excessive physical inventory counts while improving warehouse efficiency?

Cycle counting inventory via an automated warehouse management system has become a critical component for efficient modern warehouses. And yet, many companies today are still attempting to manually manage their warehouses using physical inventories, which begs the question, "Is cycle counting really so much better than physical inventories that I should consider using a warehouse management system?"

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!

Never underestimate the power of a sign. With a few words, an image, and the proper placement, a single sign can quickly communicate a directive, direction, or desired action. It can intuitively educate the uninformed. It can quickly convey a complicated message in a simple way.

When determining who your priority customers are, there are a number of unique factors to consider:

• Are they the customers who have been with you the longest?
• Are they the customers who rely on you as their primary supplier?
• Are they the customers who are the heart of your business?

Most companies understand that getting a handle on their inventory can mean the difference between making a profit or writing down a loss for the year. For those looking to improve the efficiency of their inventory and warehouse, the solution may be something as simple as improving housekeeping practices inside the warehouse.