Material Handling Archives - Page 3 of 29

Amazon Fulfillment is Impacting Warehouse Labor Market

The U.S. Labor Department estimates that the number of retail jobs lost over the past 17 years is the same as the number of new hires by online retailers like Amazon. That staggering number is approximately 444,000 people. The e-commerce industry toppled retail by providing a new kind of customer convenience and by maximizing manpower with warehouse equipment to quickly move high volumes of products through the system.

The labor market changes

In past years, retail workers were spread across the country at brick and mortar stores. Currently, an increasing number of shoppers have opted to do more of their shopping online. This has resulted in huge warehouses located in a small number of strategic locations that need workers to fulfill customer orders.

Although President Obama and President Trump have bemoaned Amazon eliminating traditional retail jobs, a recent DallasNews article reports the e-commerce industry is adding more jobs than the retail sector is losing. For many people previously employed in face-to-face retail, the pay, benefits, and working conditions are better in the warehouse industry.

Some previous retail workers are still struggling

With e-commerce, the warehouse industry now provides some markets with plenty of available jobs with good pay. Amazon warehouses are clustered near a relatively small number of Amazon facilities, which leaves some displaced retail workers struggling to find work. Online retailers still rely on people with jobs purchasing goods for revenue. Where and how the U.S. economy finds a balance for the e-commerce revolution is not entirely clear.

At DJ Products, our mission is to provide warehouse equipment to help businesses operate more efficiently and prevent injuries to warehouse staff. Contact us today to speak with one of our helpful sales engineers about our full line of products.

Batch or Wave Picking – Which is Best for Your Order Fulfillment Warehouse?

Did you realize that pickers in your order fulfillment warehouse spend nearly two-thirds of their shift moving their tugger carts from one bin to another? Batch picking and wave picking reduce that time for improved efficiency. Which process is right for your warehouse?

Batch Picking

As implied by the name, batch picking involves sorting orders into batches that can be picked at the same time. This cuts down the number of times pickers must visit the same bin location.

Batch picking in small-order warehouses can more than double average pick rates. Since items are usually transported by cart rather than conveyor, batch picking also reduces expenses.

Experts recommend batch picking for warehouses with a higher concentration of SKUs over a large area or those with SKUs in densely populated locations. Varying the number of orders in each batch boosts productivity by limiting traffic on the warehouse floor.

Wave Picking

On the other hand, wave picking calls for pickers to work in specific zones rather than on batches. Once all the items are picked, they are collated into individual orders.

Wave picking generally works best in distribution centers with large numbers of SKUs. The process can be refined further into fixed waves, in which orders aren’t packed until the entire wave is picked, and dynamic waves, where each individual order is packed as soon as it’s completed.

Streamline Your Warehouse with Tugger Carts from DJ Products

When employees struggle to transport outsized or heavy loads, it seriously impacts productivity in your order fulfillment warehouse. Our full line of electric tugger carts offers a solution for every application.

Visit our website to learn more about tugger carts such as our best-selling CartCaddyLite, which can transport carts weighing up to 1,500 pounds.

Winter Warehouse Safety Tips

Use Our Tips to Increase Warehouse Safety During the Cold Months.

Is your warehouse prepared for the challenges of winter weather? Using proper material handling equipment is only part of the equation. Follow these tips to keep your workplace accident-free through the season.

1. Enforce an Appropriate “Dress Code”

It can be costly and difficult to heat a spacious warehouse, especially loading docks and other areas exposed to the outdoors. Employees should wear sweatshirts, coats and boots as well as accessories such as hats, gloves and thick socks.

Dressing in layers lets employees add and remove clothing as the temperatures dictate. Make sure draw strings, scarves and other items that can get caught in machinery are safely tucked away.

2. Stay Hydrated

Employees may be less likely to drink water when temperatures are low, but they still need to replenish electrolytes that are lost during physical activity. Have a ready supply of water on hand and let employees take frequent water breaks.

3. Stretch Regularly

Muscles tend to contract in cold weather, which increases vulnerability to strains and other injuries. Post information about effective stretching techniques and have employees stretch thoroughly before moving heavy objects.

4. Keep Floors and Workspaces Dry

It’s inevitable that moisture will be tracked in as employees come in and out.

– Keep outdoor walkways clear of snow and ice.

– Mop doorways and other damp areas before they become a problem.

– Use no-slip mats and “Wet Floor” signs to promote awareness of potential hazards.

DJ Products: Material Handling Equipment for All Seasons

DJ Products offers a full line of material handling equipment that improves workplace safety during any time of the year. Visit our website to learn more about our popular CartCaddyLite and other battery-powered material handling solutions.

How to Build a Culture Focused on Safety in Your Warehouse

Movers and Tuggers for Warehouses Keep Employees from Injury and Improve Safety

Have you integrated workplace safety into the overall culture of your warehouse? In addition to working with a material handling equipment supplier, use these tips to instill a safety-first mindset in your employees.

Making Safety a Priority in the Workplace

– All employees should receive training on each piece of equipment, even if they don’t use it regularly. Make sure training is an ongoing process, not simply a one-time-only session.

– Take every opportunity to let your employees know how much you value their safety, and they will follow your lead. Encourage them to watch out for themselves and each other and report any potential safety risks.

– Back up your words with visual reminders, which are absorbed more readily than speech. Post charts and graphics with information such as the number of days without incident.

– Create tangible incentives by running contests to reward specific safety behavior.

– Keep equipment properly maintained. Aisles and workspaces should be clean and clutter-free.

– OSHA requires companies to post occupational health and safety program information in a highly visible location. Go one step further and start a safety team that will proactively work toward maintaining a safe workplace.

– Enforce use of personal protection equipment such as goggles, helmets and work boots whenever necessary.

Reduce Injury Risk with Electric Movers from DJ Products

Most workplace injuries result from pushing, pulling and lifting of heavy materials. We offer a full line of battery-powered tugs and movers such as our popular CartCaddyShorty, which lets a single employee easily move loads of up to 3,000 pounds.

Visit our website and use our convenient online chat feature to learn why your search for a material handling equipment supplier begins and ends with DJ Products.

Safety – It’s All About Being Alert to Moving Equipment in the Warehouse

Forkift Safety is Crucial in Busy Warehouses

Is forklift safety a priority in your warehouse? A material handling equipment supplier like DJ Products can help you find effective options. Make sure your employees follow these guidelines for safe forklift use.

Forklift Safety Tips

– Don’t let unauthorized employees operate forklifts – no exceptions! OSHA specifies that only people 18 and over who have been properly trained and certified are allowed to drive a forklift.

– Know the recommended load limits for each forklift and make sure employees don’t exceed them.

– Before operating a forklift, visually inspect the exterior and test the mechanical function to ensure everything is in working order.

– Check the work area immediately around the forklift for obstructions and be alert to any obstacles along the way. Be particularly cautious with any blind spots.

– Make sure that employees and visitors to the workplace give forklifts a wide berth. If a pedestrian does cross the path, the forklift operator should stop and lower the load, resuming only after the pedestrian is completely out of the way.

– Never allow a forklift to block a stairway, exit or other points of access.

– While a forklift is in operation, the load shouldn’t be more than four inches off the ground. When the load is being lifted, no one should walk underneath.

– A running forklift should never be left unattended.

– In the event of problems, employees should immediately notify their supervisor.

DJ Products: Your Top Choice for a Material Handling Equipment Supplier

Our battery-powered movers such as our best-selling CartCaddyLite include ergonomic and safety features for maximum productivity with minimum injury risk. Call 800.686.2651 and let one of our cheerful sales engineers help you select the perfect solution for your application.

Long Haul Semi Drivers May See More Pay Raises as Job Market Tightens

Truck Drivers May See Pay Boosts This Year Due to the Job Market

Truckers’ pay rates have increased only a fraction as much as other work sectors in the last two decades. Now, carriers are increasing driver rates by several cents per mile and offering compelling sign-on bonuses to poach from their competitors.

For those managing warehouses, the pay raises create a domino effect. Business is good, but efficiency still rules. Even down to operating costs, such as how your terminal tractors can shunt trailers in and out of the docks.

According to a report by Transport Topics, third quarter 2017 driver wages rose 1.6% over last year, with pay hikes across the board:

– Dry van index up 2.5%

– Flatbed up 1.4%

– Truckload pay up 4 to 7 cents in the stronger markets

– Signing bonuses up to $14,000

Experts point to low unemployment, high GDP, and the likelihood of driver numbers holding steady as indicators that the transportation industry should expect to increase driver pay rates in 2018.

Boost Efficiency with TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractors

DJ Products developed the TrailerCaddy Electric Yard Dog to make it safer, easier, and more efficient to shift and relocate trailers at docks and warehouse terminals. Making things even better is the fact that any dock worker can operate the tractor; no CDL is required.

TrailerCaddy terminal tractors move tank, OTR, and semi trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds using a long-life 48-volt battery. It’s a small machine that any yard spotter can use to precisely maneuver trailers wherever they need to go.

Let our automated tractors do the heavy lifting with pinpoint control. Warehouses can expect lower maintenance costs, fewer injuries, and maximized efficiency to keep transportation costs down even in a competitive job market.

Contact DJ Products to find out more about TrailerCaddy shunt yard trucks.

Warehouse Management And Productivity Tips Part Two

Our Productivity and Management Tips for Warehouse Managers

DJ Products is more than just your preferred material handling equipment supplier. We’re your source for the latest information and tips on warehouse management solutions.

Here are more ideas from experts on how to improve operations and maximize productivity.

Eliminate Dead Spots

Warehouse space is valuable. Use an asset tracking system to monitor how often items are picked. If an product is rarely picked, move it to drop-shipping and put a higher-turning item in the slot.

Streamline the Returns Process

Handling returns is one of the more cumbersome processes in a warehouse. Automate the procedure with a specialized returns system such as a warehouse management system (WMS).

Control Freight Costs

Many people accept freight charges as the cost of doing business, but few elements eat into profits as quickly. Talk to an experienced consultant who can offer helpful advice on negotiating better rates.

Re-Slot Pick Positions as Needed

Changing slot positions may seem inefficient, but it’s actually the opposite. Business is constantly changing, and your strategies need to change with it. Keeping items slotted correctly lets your employees make better use of their time.

Make Safety a Top Priority

Manpower is your greatest asset. Use industry safety regulations as a starting point, not an ending point. You should constantly be looking for ways to implement better safety practices.

Save Time and Money with Material Handling Solutions from DJ Products

Our battery-powered tugs, pushers and movers pay multiple dividends for warehouse efficiency. They let your employees accomplish more in less time while avoiding workplace injuries.

Visit our website and use the real-time chat feature for assistance from our friendly sales engineers. They’re one of the reasons why DJ Products is your first choice for a material handling equipment supplier.

Plan Ahead to Boost Your Warehouse Productivity with Improved Skills and Training

Improve Efficiency in Your Warehouse with Training

Implementing tugger carts is a great way to improve day-to-day productivity in your warehouse. Providing proper training is crucial for maintaining a motivated and efficient workforce now and into the future.

Training a New Generation of Workers

Consider the example of CVS, one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains. Drug Store News recently reported that CVS plans to open a new training center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is also home to a sizable number of military families.

The CVS Talent Connect Center will use virtual reality and other modern instructional methods to educate enrollees in retail, logistics, nursing and IT. In addition, students will get assistance in handling all phases of the hiring process.

Planning for the Future

According to Lisa Bisaccia, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of CVS Health, the healthcare industry will need an estimated 5.6 million workers by 2020. The skills taught at the Talent Connect Center will position enrollees to be highly desirable candidates to fill these jobs.

Trade magazine DC Velocity points out that effective training is a win-win situation for employers and employees. Workers enjoy an improved quality of life thanks to better job opportunities, while employers have a stable workforce of productive employees who are happy with their jobs.

Electric Tugger Carts from DJ Products

Reducing workplace injuries is another way to improve productivity. Our battery-powered tugger carts let employees transport loads up to 50,000 pounds safely and efficiently.

Visit our website and use the convenient online chat feature for real-time assistance from our friendly sales engineers. They’ll be happy to use their knowledge and experience to help you find the right solution for your specific needs.

Will the IoT Make Your Supply Chain “Smarter”?

Do you track your workouts with a FitBit or run your household with the help of Amazon’s Alexa? Welcome to the Internet of Things (IoT), a world of “smart” devices that are impacting your personal life and revolutionizing supply chain management.

Making Your Supply Chain “Smarter”

While these Internet-connected devices have been making a big splash, it’s not going to slow down any time soon. In fact, research firm Gartner recently issued a prediction that the number of IoT devices will increase thirty-fold by the year 2020.

How does this new technology impact supply chains and logistics? The IoT will connect people, processes, information and equipment to an extent never before possible, providing an amazing depth and breadth of data.

A Real-Life Scenario

A significant example of this benefit is in-transit visibility. As products pass through a number of points between manufacturer and consumer, an agile supply network is needed to follow them through all steps of the supply chain.

Cloud-based GPS and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies can be used to transmit identity, location and other data that’s crucial to accurate tracking. With a chip in a pallet and a coordinated device in the shipping vehicle, stakeholders can monitor progress in real time and make proactive decisions based on the constant flow of data.

DJ Products: The Leader in Warehouse Handling Equipment

While the IoT takes supply chain management to another level, our battery-powered warehouse handling equipment makes labor-intensive tasks easier and safer. Contact us to learn more about our popular CartCaddy5WP and other products in our full line of electric pushers, tugs and movers.

Caterpillar Invests in Robotics Firm to Offer Material Handling Innovation

Investing in the Future

Funding for OTTO Motors

A handful of investors, including General Electric and Caterpillar, have provided $30 million to Clearpath Robotics, which will be used to expand their industrial division, OTTO motors. This division is in charge of developing automated, self-driving vehicles that will be used as material-handling equipment in factories and warehouses. The capital-led investment is targeted toward development of new, cutting-edge self-driving software for the vehicles.

Explosive Growth

Co-founder of Clearpath, Matt Rendall, declared that self-driving vehicles will see a market growth of $80 billion over the next two decades, while self-driving material-handling vehicles will also increase in demand. This funding gives Clearpath a solid start for development of the new technology, which will be used to make further strides towards safer and more efficient self-driving software.

The company expects that a predicted a labor shortage in the coming decade will greatly increase demand for their vehicles. OTTO Motors’ products are already used by top-tier companies in the field of manufacturing, which includes GE, John Deere, and several others.

Factories as Small Cities

Rendall further described the operation of factories in the future as on the scale of small indoor cities with all the accompanying infrastructure, including roads, intersections, and pedestrians. The factory setting has an advantage in terms of having a controlled layout that’s perfect for using self-driving vehicles.

Whether you’re making use of self-driving vehicles or thinking about improvements in operations, your factory can be made a lot safer by using the right material-handling equipment from DJ Products. Go to http://www.djproducts.com/industry/ and check out our full selection of warehouse equipment!

Tag: Material Handling