Did you know that businesses lose up to 5% of their annual profits due to shrinkage and waste?
Do you want to prevent profit loss, improve the work environment, and boost productivity?
Efficient warehouse storage methods can also lead to improved safety and orderliness.
Are you interested in improving your warehouse storage solutions? If so, look no further than right here. This guide outlines some common warehouse storage mistakes and how to avoid them.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Not Enough Space for the Season
Warehouses often need to prepare for the summer or winter weather. Some warehouses encounter shortage of space these seasons.
This can be addressed by implementing a warehouse management plans like inventory forecasting. Doing inventory forecasting is the process of predicting how much inventory a company can accommodate for the season. This will ensure that you have enough space in your warehouse. Or you can store some of your inventory elsewhere.
Another space saving storage solution is the use of a warehouse storage equipment like drive in racking. Drive in racking maximizes the vertical and horizontal spaces of your warehouse.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Not Paying Attention to Inventory Management Systems
It is common to lose track of your inventory levels and order placement during peak seasons. This issue results in overstocking inventory or product misplacement along the road.
Products that are still in the production process are also referred to as works in progress (WIP). WIPs are usually mixed up with finished goods on the racks creating chaos in the operations.
An efficient warehouse will always be well-ordered and structured. Warehouses can become highly disorganized while getting busier. As a result, products needed by the customers become mixed with WIPs. Warehouse workers become slower and less productive when searching for missing products.
Customers may become irritated by this kind of delay.
If you have limited space, track your products efficiently. Assign a separate staff in differentiating WIPs and products for dispatch. Avoid spoilage of stocks that are usually lost in the mix.
Physical records may are oftentimes misplaced also as they move across departments for dispatch. This can result to more ordering errors. Loss of documentation could slow down your process.
Start automating using an inventory management program. Track your products efficiently. Avoid spoilage of stocks.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Parking and Loading Dock Spaces That Are Not Large Enough
This is a problem because new warehouses are often located in areas where there is no parking space for employees or customers. This causes a lot of inconvenience to people who need to visit the warehouse on a daily basis.
You’ll want to make sure that you have enough loading, unloading and parking spaces for your warehouse needs. Consider the dimension of equipment to meet the proper sizing of the loading dock.
This is vital also when you are storing large items in the warehouse facility.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Warehouse Flooring That Is Uneven And/ Or Slippery
If your warehouse floor is uneven or non-level, it can be difficult to lift and move heavy items without the help of an employee. The best solution would be to use a warehouse leveling system or hire someone to come in and level the space for you.
Slippery floors can be dangerous for the warehouse employees and their customers. A plush rug or a tarp would be ideal.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Not Using a Pallet Jack
Pallet jacks are an essential tool for warehouse workers. These things help to move heavy loads quickly, but some companies don’t use them when moving goods.
A pallet jack can cost up to $1000, but it’s worth the expense because it will save time and increase productivity. Some companies think that using a pallet jack is an unnecessary expense and a waste of time. So, they use a hand truck to move goods instead.
There are several drawbacks to this option. One of which is the inability to work safely on uneven surfaces. This cannot avoid damaging the goods themselves because they are not secured.
Additionally, a hand truck is slow and inefficient because of the ergonomics involved. Specifically, one must lift and push the hand truck instead of pulling it.
Pallets come in different sizes. So it is fairly important that you know what size you need before purchasing new ones. If you’re not sure which size you need, consult your supplier. Contact them for professional assistance in determining which size is best for your needs.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Poor Lighting
When the light is not sufficient, the productivity decreases. It becomes harder for workers to focus on their tasks. Most companies use fluorescent lights that are low quality and can be very dangerous.
Poor lighting is a leading cause of warehouse accidents and injuries. Companies should invest in high-quality lighting fixtures to prevent these accidents.
According to codes, working areas in warehouses should have at least 150 lux at floor surface.
Common Warehouse Storage Mistakes: Not Having Proper Temperature and Dust Control Systems
Warehouses need control systems to maintain proper temperatures for regular operations. The purpose of these systems is to regulate the temperature of the warehouse. This vary depending on how many products kept in a warehouse at one time and how much sunlight there is.
The dust in warehouses is a big issue that also needs to be addressed. It can cause health issues and it can also reduce the efficiency of the warehouse. There are many dust control techniques that can be used to solve this problem.
Managers should not disregard dust control techniques for warehouses. These have a significant impact on both the environment and the warehouse safety management.
The following are some of the most common dust control techniques:
- Air curtains
- Ventilation
- Vacuum cleaners
- Dust collectors
- Dust suppression
Air curtains are used in warehouses because they force fresh air into the building. The air circulates around the building, removing any dust particles.
This technique is not recommended for low ceilings or with production lines that require fresh air to be drawn through them as this will disrupt the production line.
Avoid These 7 Common Mistakes
One of the most important aspects of optimizing your company is avoiding these common warehouse storage mistakes. Keep your warehouse safe, organized and productive by taking the time to assess your inventory levels and storage needs.
By doing so, you can keep your warehouse running efficiently and avoid potential issues down the road.
If you enjoyed this article, check out the other blog posts in our business section.
