A Warehouse Owner's Guide To Boosting Production And Efficiency In Material Handling

Posted on: 14 May 2015

In a warehouse setting, there is little more important than making sure that the products and materials that are handled throughout the day are handled efficiently. Productivity levels directly impact profits and without a good system in place, you will definitely start to see your numbers suffer in comparison to what they could be. Whether you have been using the same system for years, or you are just starting out, it is crucial to take measures to boost the efficiency within the warehouse wherever you can. There are four facets of material handling that will need to be addressed.

Assessing Relevant Warehouse Data

Take an assessment of the numbers that are important in your business. You should take note of the primary production goals that you have and where you are now. What are the costs associated with daily production in comparison to the output? Take a look at your profits and where they may be lacking. Take note of all relevant data and use this to continue the evaluation.

Measure Your Warehousing "Touch" Numbers

From the time an item arrives at your facility, it becomes an item that has to be touched. One key factor in boosting productivity levels when it comes to material handling is to know your "touch" numbers. How many times is a particular product touched in it's trip through the warehouse before it is sent on its way to a customer? If you have several departments with different sizes of products, gather touch numbers for each area and document the information.

Evaluate Picking and Handling Methods

The evaluation of the material picking and handling methods will go hand-in-hand with measuring touch numbers. Consider the type of material handling equipment that is being used and whether it is the most efficient. Think about steps in handling that could be eliminated or enhanced. How could you boost production by lowering touch numbers and adding different types of handling equipment?

Address Warehouse Downtime

If there are times when employees are standing in wait due to not having the appropriate number of pallet jacks or conveyor tubs, these are both examples of problems that could be affecting your production. You should have enough warehouse material handling equipment available to ensure that production levels are never hindered by lack of necessary tools.

If you take some time to assess and address the issues within your warehouse facility that could be lowering production numbers, you will see that there is almost always room for improvement. Use this handy guide to help you do a comprehensive assessment of your warehouse and determine where you need to make some changes.

To learn more about warehouse material handling supplies, visit a company like Independent Lift Truck Of Alaska. 

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