How to manage your warehouse if you handle industrial supplies

Are you a novice to managing warehouses that handle industrial supplies or just a novice in general? Do you want to learn the tips and tricks that will ensure your warehouse runs like a well-oiled machine? Well, look no further. You are about to read the top tips that will teach you everything that you need to know.

Are you an industrial supply manufacturer?
Learn how to beat the competition: download our FREE EBOOK

Organisation is king

This may sound rather obvious, but it must be said that in order to run a successful, productive warehouse, you must ensure that everything is expertly organised. There are several ways that you can do this.

• Organise your materials in a logical and defined order (a top tip is to keep the fastest moving materials front and centre in your warehouse)
• Analyse your inventory and storage methods periodically
• Organise pick lists to maximise productivity

Now, one thing that is very important to remember is that what works for your warehouse today, may not work for you six months (or even six weeks) from now. So, don’t be afraid to re-evaluate and re-organise when needed. This will really help to maximise your productivity and ensure that your warehouse always runs smoothly.

Keep your warehouse safe

Keeping your warehouse safe is imperative to running a successful warehouse. Not only do you have to meet certain requirements and standards, but you must also protect your employees from injury. Accidents can cost you the skilled labour that you need to keep your warehouse up-and-running. One area that you should pay extra attention to is forklift operations. You must ensure that your operators are well-trained and that your warehouse has designated lanes for them to operate in. This will not only ensure the safety of everyone in the warehouse, but also increase efficiency. You also must ensure that you have appropriate lighting in your warehouse. A brighter warehouse is not only a safer work environment, but can also improve your employees’ ability to do their jobs.

Engage with your workforce

One thing that you cannot underestimate is the role that your employees will play in the success of your warehouse. Their productivity and dedication to the job could be the difference between success and failure. That is why you must engage with them. Ask them for feedback and input on how you could improve the warehouse, how you could improve the operations that you run, how you could make their jobs better. Keeping open and healthy lines of communication between you and your employees will really help you to run a successful warehouse especially as many will have had a lot of experience working in this environment before and you could benefit greatly from their first-hand knowledge.

Train your staff

As processes often change, training employees (whether seasoned or new) will always be required. You should schedule time for training and retraining when needed. This will not only help to ensure a safe work environment, but you may also be able to incorporate cross-training. This is where your employees learn the skills to handle more than one type of job and therefore, if someone is ill or on holiday, you have someone else to rely on. This will maximise your efficiency beyond belief!

Use the right software

You have a vast number of choices in software for material handling and warehouse management. Programs can be used for a range of tasks: inventory control, labour, equipment maintenance, shipping and more. At first, you may not even need a full package, in that case, just choose the individual programs that provide the right solution for your company. Many providers offer free trials, so take your time and test them out to see what will work for you.

Ensure prompt delivery and customer service

Whether you run your own transportation or use an outside carrier, you should use a shipment-tracking program. You need to know where your products are, and so do your customers. Being able to provide real time information will only enhance the customer service you provide and will help to gain you a reliable reputation.

{{cta('03e8df7d-e399-4cce-b72f-2a50b74b6491','justifycenter')}}