Warehouses are commonly used for storing, handling and packing of products. Typically, when an order comes in, you forward it to the warehousing team, who acknowledge it and pick the product. Once it’s packed, they send it out for delivery. The process can be simple or complex, depending on the organization scale.
In this blog post, we outline 5 tips that you can use to streamline your warehouse management :
- Consider using RFID to scan and manage your inventory in the warehouse instead of barcode. Given that it may be expensive to implement, but the benefits outweigh costs in the long run. For example, you can scan up to 40 items at a given time, from a longer distance , re-use RFID tags and more. You can even use the technology to streamline your receiving, putting-away and cycle counting functions.
- Data emerging from your warehouse is invaluable. There will be many data generating points in your operations such as order inflow, pick and pack time, stock out inventory and shelf life of products. It is important that you capture it and use it to your advantage to gain valuable insights. This knowledge will help you devise strategies to improve.
- Paperless picking and packing should become a regular warehouse practice. Not only will it save time and money, but also lead reduce the number of errors. Your warehouse management system should let you generate, view and print (pick and pack) lists when necessary. Upload them to your scanning devices and you can easily access the details of the orders.
- Integrating with your suppliers and shippers will allow you to collaborate with them and gain full visibility of your supply chain. If you know when your products are arriving or where they are in the delivery phase in real-time, you have the ability to use that information and apply it internally. Plan and schedule your operations to provide the best customer service.
- Obtain regular feedback from your employees. At first thought, this may not seem to be the most natural thing to do. However, remember that your employees are the ones working on the floor on a regular basis. They know the processes inside out – use their expertise to identify areas of weakness and prioritize working on them.
In conclusion, warehouses are an important part of any supply chain. If your they run smoothly, this component of the supply chain has the potential to provide your business the competitive edge it needs. It’s never too late to examine your current practices, identify improvements and implement any changes required.
