christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Tips to Managing Your Warehouse Labor with an Eye on Retention

Expenses for material handling equipment and other fixed assets are relatively easy to control, but managing labor costs presents a unique challenge. The optimum balance between low cost and high productivity is frequently a moving target.

In addition, today’s shrinking labor pool makes it difficult to retain good workers. Use these tips to manage warehouse labor efficiently while boosting engagement and loyalty.

Automate Repetitive Tasks

While we’re a long way from fully robotic warehouses, there are a number of automated solutions available to handle many repetitive tasks. Automated conveyors, voice-directed picking and connected glasses are just a few of the options that can free employees up for higher-value jobs.

Implement Labor Management Software (LMS)

You probably already use a warehouse management system (WMS), which collects a wide range of data and compiles it in convenient formats. Integrating LMS with WMS offers more robust analysis to make planning and scheduling more accurate.

Establish Incentive Programs

Workers will be more motivated to increase productivity when there are individual benefits at stake. The incentive costs will be more than offset by the positive results.

Conduct Cross-Training

Fluctuating workloads add to the difficulty of managing staffing levels. When employees can move easily between tasks, you’re able to handle ebbs and flows with fewer workers and the variety of tasks will prevent boredom.

Make Safety a Priority

Maintaining a culture of safety demonstrates concern for employee welfare. Make sure workers have high-quality material handling equipment and conduct ongoing training to instill proper procedures.

Material Handling Equipment Designed for Safety

Battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers from DJ Products are designed to reduce the risk of most common workplace injuries. Their efficiency also frees up employees to focus on more important tasks. Contact us to learn more.

Beyond the Dumpster: Could We See a End to Plastic Waste in Our Lifetimes?

Could your dumpster moving equipment soon be pulling less plastic waste? With plastics rapidly accumulating, littering our green spaces and waterways, materials scientists and designers are looking to reinvent the plastics regime.

They’re striving to put an end to plastics problems such as unrecyclable products, confusing recycling symbols, and a lack of compatible recycling facilities worldwide. Their innovations, if adopted and integrated into the plastics industry, could put an end to the pileup.

What New Technologies Could Put an End to Plastic Waste?

1. New recyclable films

Plastic films, comprised of an assortment of polymers and used in paper and plastic packaging, make materials unrecyclable. Swapping these films for nature-inspired, nano-engineered recycled materials mimicking a few of nature’s molecular building blocks can provide a wider variety of new materials – those that are water-resistant, airtight, or printable.

2. Magnetic additives

Magnetic additives can improve the ability of plastics to block oxygen in sensitive products like coffee and medicines, while upholding their recyclability.

3. Wood ‘plastics’

The cellulose in renewable agricultural/forestry wood byproducts, formed into a compostable multilayered material, can be used for stand-up food pouches such as those used for dried cereal, nuts, and fruits.

4. Plastics from recycled food waste

Agricultural byproducts and food waste can be used to create compostable plastics for packaging in a broad range of products, from cereal bars to detergents.

5. Compostable coatings

Silicate and biopolymer compostable coatings could improve the performance of biodegradable packaging, which by itself cannot uphold the required minimum shelf-life of products.

Are your waste management practices falling behind the times? As the industry enters a a new era, ensure a safer, more efficient waste management system. Learn more about dumpster moving equipment from DJ Products today.

Driverless Trucks – Did They Change the Supply Chain as Expected?

It seems surreal to think that we’ve been talking so much about driverless trucks. Most of us probably never thought this could happen. But here we are, in a new day and age, and it is certainly happening whether we like it or not.

But, the question is, what changes have taken place since driverless trucks started being used more often? Has the supply chain been altered at all? These are the questions we’re here to answer today.

Why are Driverless Trucks Necessary?

The reality is that most accidents are caused by human negligence or errors. If you think about it, the number one problem today is distracted driving. When humans are removed from the equation, the number of accidents should go way down.

In addition, our country is facing a truck driver shortage that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. The drivers we do have tend to maintain about a 40% utilization factor within 24 hours. They are not able to drive as long as companies wish they could.

How Will the Supply Chain be Impacted?

Experts believe that the supply chain will be affected in three key areas:

*A Decrease in Distribution Centers – With so many trucks being able to travel much longer miles each day, fewer distribution centers will be necessary. The ones that remain may be further apart and much larger.

*Delivery Speed – Customers will be able to get their orders much faster than they did previously.

*Product Costs – Costs are expected to go down significantly, which is great for the market as a whole.

At DJ Products, we offer the best in terminal tractors and other products to help your company function at its best. If you have questions about our terminal tractors, contact us!

Five Considerations for Managing Your Semi Truck Fleet Maintenance

Managing Your Semi Truck Fleet Maintenance

Preventive maintenance for truck fleets has gotten easier thanks to smart apps that monitor and alert you to service needs. Yet managers still need to be vigilant. We’ve rounded up some fleet maintenance tips that will help with costs and efficiency.

One overlooked area is the option to reduce the stress on your fleet vehicles by using electric yard trucks to shunt trailers to and from the dock.

Top 5 Tips for Semi Truck Maintenance

Keep those wheels rolling, and consider these tips:

Pay now, or pay more later: The cost of preventive maintenance will always be less compared to emergency repairs and towing for broken-down trucks.

Turn oil changes into full inspections: When it’s time for an oil change or a tire rotation, make more efficient use of the downtime by getting the fluids, air pressure, and other things inspected.

Monitor warranties: Some fleet managers prefer to run each vehicle to death to squeeze maximum life out of a paid-off asset. Others choose to sell off vehicles that are out of warranty. Do the math on cost of ownership.

Train drivers on what to look for: Create a system for drivers to report vehicle problems and make sure they adhere to the preventive maintenance schedule.

Get the right trucks and equipment: For your round of purchasing, find fleet vehicles that meet your specs. If it’s a stretch, work will be harder on the vehicle. Also look for material handling equipment and shunt yard trucks that make it easier to operate your fleet.

Reduce Fleet Maintenance Costs

At DJ Products, we’ve designed our Trailer Caddy Electric Yard Trucks for easy control and safety. They also aid with operations efficiency and reduce fleet maintenance costs. For more info, call 1.800.686.2651 or contact us.

Truck Driving Tips to Stay Safe on Long Hauls

Coming in at #8 on Time magazine’s 2014 list of ‘10 Most Dangerous Jobs,’ your semi trailer movers are toting goods destined for a dangerous journey. How can you ensure your long-haul truck drivers stay safe as they facilitate the timely delivery of essential goods across the U.S.?

Seven Truck Driving Safety Tips for New Drivers & Seasoned Pros

1. Don’t neglect routine maintenance.

Check your hauler daily, including tires, brakes, fluids, mirrors, horn, and other integral safety components. Report any issues before driving off.

2. Load cargo carefully.

Spreading cargo into lower stacks across the entire area of your truck allows for better handling and fuel economy.

3. Beware of blind spots.

Most passenger car drivers are frustratingly unaware of ‘no zones.’ (Directly behind the truck, behind side mirrors, and just to the side of cab fronts.) To avoid an accident, stay aware of surrounding vehicles, maintaining a safe distance and carefully checking these zones before turning/lane changes.

4. Go slower on curves than speed limits suggest.

Posted speed limit signs are typically geared toward lighter, low-profile cars and are too fast for trucks. Avoid tipping over by going far slower than posted limits around curves.

5. Be extra-cautious in construction zones.

Don’t put the lives of interstate construction workers at risk. About one-third of work-zone fatalities involve large trucks.

6. Make necessary driving adjustments in inclement weather.

Bad weather causes one-quarter of speeding-related accidents. In wet conditions, be sure to slow speeds by one-third. In icy/snowy conditions, cut them by half.

7. Take care of yourself as you do your truck.

Truck driving safety has as much to do with your vehicle’s health as yours.

Start off the journey safely. Learn more about semi trailer movers from DJ Productstoday.

Be On the Lookout for These New Emerging Supply Chain Technologies and Trends

Whether it’s automated warehouse equipment or integrated software systems, there’s a constant stream of trends affecting supply chain management today. Keeping up with these changes is essential in order to meet increasing customer demands.

What’s on the horizon for 2019? Here are some supply chain trends to focus on over the next twelve months.

Emerging Technologies

High-tech innovations continue to reshape every facet of the supply chain industry. Drones, artificial intelligence and highly developed robots are part of the next wave of technology making its way into warehouses and transportation.

Supply Chain Visibility

Ebbs and flows such as seasonal business have traditionally made it difficult to forecast supply chain workloads. Features such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data give managers real-time information they can use to accurately predict demand shifts and respond quickly to problems.

Sharing Economy

As retailers look for ways to be flexible enough to accommodate customer demand while keeping costs low, on-demand warehousing and logistics is seen as a viable solution. The sharing economy is projected to grow from $14 billion in 2014 to $335 billion in 2025.

Evolving Customer Channels

Change in customer channels has actually been an ongoing trend over the last few years. Traditional brick-and-mortar retail continues to move into direct-to-consumer, with 40 percent of brands now selling DTC. By the year 2025, DTC sales are expected to reach $130 billion.

Warehouse Equipment for Today’s Supply Chain Needs from DJ Products

While many elements of the supply chain may change, one constant is the need for efficient, reliable and safe warehouse equipment. We offer a full line of electric tugs, movers and pushers to suit any application. Visit our website for immediate assistance from our friendly sales engineers.

Experienced Long Haul Truckers Share Their Top Driver Tips

Checking Your Vehicle Periodically While Doing Long Hauls is Essential for Proper Safety and Maintenance.

Your yard trucks are hauling cargo destined for a dangerous journey. Are your long-haul truck drivers prepared to make it to their destination safely?

Experienced Long Haul Truckers Share Their Top Driver Tips
Truck driving is a lifetime skill that requires refinement over time. Here are a few lessons from seasoned veterans for those new to the arena:

Look at your truck after leaving it.
Are your hazard lights or blinkers on? You’re not done after parking.

Know where your trailer is at all times.
Drive your trailer like your cab. If it wanders outside the lines, you aren’t driving safely. Lives are at stake.

Don’t shirk pre-trip inspections.
Check the lights, tires, pins, valve stem covers, the fifth wheel, and be mindful of inspection dates. You never know when a DOT officer will be verifying your work.

Have an exit plan.
As you exit for a truck stop, take the time to look at signs to see how you get back on the highway, otherwise you could miss it and end up lost after taking a wrong turn.

Don’t swerve to miss that animal.
Not only is it often a safety department policy, that animal is not worth your life or that of the family in the vehicle next to you. Your vehicle is 80,000-lbs, and the odds of swerving quickly enough to miss it are stacked against you. It’s a sad reality, but holding the wheel tightly and slowing down are sometimes the best you can do.

Ask for help when you need it.
No one is in it alone, and it feels good to pay it forward when others are in need.

Keep your employees safe. Learn more about yard trucks from DJ Products today.

Top Warehouse and Business Disrupters to Be Watching in 2019

Warehousing Trends to Watch

Warehouses are always in need of efficient equipment such as industrial tugs, but ever-evolving digital technology creates a flow of disruptions that affect small and mid-sized businesses (SMB). These disrupters have been particularly fast and furious over the last 20 years.

Here are some of the top SMB disruptors experts anticipate over the next year. Is your warehouse prepared for change?

Data Ethics

When it comes to data collection, technology has been a double-edged sword. Companies have unprecedented amounts of information at their fingertips, but customers fear excessive intrusions into their privacy. Create a formal and specific data usage policy and make sure it’s clearly communicated to customers.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is essentially an inversion of traditional computer programming. Instead of hard-coding logic into software, engineers define the results they’re looking for and the machine algorithm works backwards to determine its own logic. Most internal and customer-facing SMB software programs are expected to integrate machine learning by 2020.

Conversational User Interfaces

Conversational user interfaces such as chatbots have already revolutionized customer-facing functions, but they’re increasingly being used for internal processes as well. Examples include virtual employee onboarding and online knowledge management systems.

Blockchain

At this point, blockchain is associated primarily with cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. The underlying technology, in which data transactions are linked and recorded on a public network, is being adapted for applications like ensuring product quality along every step in the supply chain.

Let Industrial Tugs from DJ Products Carry You into the Future

Our electric industrial tugs help maximize productivity in your warehouse, freeing you up to focus on implementing upgraded technology solutions. Visit our website and use our online chat feature for prompt assistance from our knowledgeable sales engineers.

Hotel Technology Trends to Watch – Making Guest Feel at Home

The Frontier of Comfort and Hospitality is Always Being Expanded. What’s New?

Hotels continue to refine the guest experience as a way of standing out from the competition. Equipment such as hotel supply movement carts improve staff productivity and room turnaround times, while high-tech innovations add to guest comfort and convenience.

Here are top communication trends expected to impact the hospitality industry during 2019. Is your hotel up-to-date with these features?

Mobile and Room Phone Synergy

The prevalence of mobile phones has resulted in hotel room phones being limited to room service and wake-up calls, but technology is in the works to pair the two as a central communication hub. Guests will be able to use their mobile phones for functions such as TV remotes and message centers.

Guest Apps

Apps are a great vehicle for one-stop access to information. Hotel guest apps have the potential to host loyalty programs, special rate notifications, and other valuable functions while also providing data that can be used to personalize the guest experience.

Tech Lounges

Guests traveling for business appreciate the opportunity to work or relax in other parts of the hotel for a change of scenery. Tech lounges provide a comfortable spot where people can conduct business or unwind while keeping WiFi connectability.

Social Listening Tools

In a matter of minutes, hotel guests can share their experiences with a vast audience of social media users. Social listening tools like Hootsuite and Brandwatch let you monitor mentions of your hotel and other relevant keywords. You can then use the collected data to engage in conversations and fine-tune your marketing strategy.

Streamline Hotel Supply Movement with Powered Carts from DJ Products

Our hotel supply movement carts boost staff efficiency and reduce risk of job-related injuries. Contact us for more information.

Beyond the Dumpster: Technology and Innovation are Changing Waste Management and Recycling Efforts

Making Our Planet Cleaner and More Inhabitable is Invaluable to Sustainability.

At DJ products, we know how important technology can be in addressing waste management issues, whether it’s a trash hauler to make toting trash safer, or a dumpster mover to more efficiently shuttle waste. And we’re not alone.

Every day, product designers and industry professionals are changing the waste management landscape. How are their innovative new ideas paving the way for a brighter future?

Waste as a Renewable Energy Source

The capacity to turn waste into power is one of the most significant innovations in the industry. Rather than breaking down in the landfill, new machinery called ‘digesters’ can convert waste and the biogas that it produces and turn it into energy for use on-site.

This process is compatible with food waste, animal waste, agricultural byproducts, and more. Bioreactors, micro-turbines, and fuel cells can likewise achieve similar results.

Improving the Recyclability of Precious Metals

New recycling methods, such as plasma arc recycling for platinum, can recover greater amounts of this precious metal, making them available for reuse in the automotive, technology, and chemical sectors. Look for new technology to achieve the same with palladium, iridium, and other metals.

Boosting Route Efficiency

Advanced software that optimizes collection routes improves fuel efficiency and reduces energy usage.

Recycling Screening Technology

Sensors that alert waste management pros when bins are full reduce the likelihood of recyclables being tossed in the trash. New screening technology also sorts recycling, taking this task out of the hands of consumers and increasing recycling rates.

Looking for a way to solve your waste management woes? DJ Products has a wide variety of dumpster movers and waste haulers to make your life easier. Learn more today.

Author: christopher Harper