Warehouse Management Tips Archives

Creating Solutions for the Modern Warehouse

Warehouse Management for the Modern Warehouse

The landscape of warehousing and distribution is rapidly evolving, driven by the constant push for efficiency, safety, and scalability. Modern warehouses are no longer just storage spaces but dynamic environments that require innovative solutions to meet the challenges of today’s fast-paced market. From optimizing space utilization to enhancing productivity, implementing effective warehouse management tips can significantly transform operations. Here, we explore practical strategies and introduce cutting-edge technologies that can help streamline processes and improve overall warehouse performance.

Enhancing Efficiency with Technology

One of the primary goals in modern warehouse management is improving efficiency. This can be achieved through the integration of smart technologies and the application of strategic warehouse management tips:

Automation: Deploying automated systems for tasks such as inventory tracking and order picking can drastically reduce manual errors and speed up operations.
Digital Inventory Management: Utilizing cloud-based inventory management software offers real-time tracking of stock levels, reducing overstocking or stockouts.
Advanced Planning Tools: Implementing warehouse management systems (WMS) for optimized layout planning and resource allocation based on predictive analytics.

Fostering a Safe and Agile Environment

Safety and flexibility are paramount in today’s warehouse settings. Following key warehouse management tips can help in creating a safer and more adaptive workspace:

Regular Safety Training: Ensuring all staff are trained on safety protocols and the use of equipment.
Ergonomic Solutions: Introducing equipment that reduces physical strain on workers, such as adjustable workstations and ergonomic handling devices.
Flexible Design: Adapting the warehouse layout to be scalable and modular, allowing for quick adjustments based on changing demands.

Implementing Modern Solutions: The CartCaddy5WP HD

A prime example of innovation in warehouse management is the CartCaddy5WP HD motorized cart mover. This heavy-duty, battery-powered device is designed to push, pull, or maneuver carts or equipment weighing up to 10,000 pounds, offering a substantial upgrade in terms of efficiency and safety over traditional material handling methods. Its capability to securely attach to carts with a mix of swivel and straight casters, coupled with its ability to pivot a full 180 degrees without jackknifing the cart, exemplifies the type of solution modern warehouses need to stay competitive and safe.

Streamlining Operations with Strategic Insights

To keep pace with the demands of modern commerce, warehouses must continually seek out strategies that streamline operations and enhance productivity. Here are some actionable warehouse management tips:

Conduct Regular Audits: Regularly review operations to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
Employee Feedback: Engage with staff to gain insights into the day-to-day challenges they face and explore solutions together.
Continuous Improvement: Adopt a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging insights from data analytics to fine-tune operations.

Empowering Your Warehouse for the Future

As we explore these strategies and tools, it’s clear that the future of warehousing lies in smart, scalable solutions that prioritize efficiency, safety, and flexibility. Implementing these warehouse management tips and embracing innovations like the CartCaddy5WP HD motorized cart mover can significantly enhance your warehouse operations. For those looking to further explore these solutions and tailor them to their specific needs, we invite you to Contact Us to speak with one of our warehouse solution experts.

Warehouse Management Tips: How to Be Prepared for When Predictions Fail

Be Prepared When Predictions Fail

Technology has put more information than ever before in the hands of warehouse managers. Unfortunately, not everything is as reliable as quality warehouse equipment. Even the most knowledgeable predictions can fail to materialize.

How do you keep erroneous predictions from throwing operations off course? Follow these three helpful tips to be prepared for curves in the road.

Manage Costs Carefully

The boom in online retailing has been something of a mixed blessing. Sales have gone up, but profits are shrinking due to free shipping, competitive pricing and other costs of gaining customers.

– High-tech improvements are necessary but expensive, so focus on the long-term return on investment.

– Don’t be afraid to let shoppers bear some of the costs. Stricter return policies, free-shipping minimums and focus on high-value items are strategies to indirectly reduce costs while still providing customer satisfaction.

Maximize Square Footage

When is the last time you reviewed your warehouse layout? Do a careful analysis to identify dead space, optimize placement of high-volume SKUs and make any other changes needed to ensure full productivity of the entire footprint.

“Listen” to Your Customers

National news and market data provide an outlook on the general business climate, but it paints a picture in broad strokes that may not apply to your business. Take advantage of the detailed customer data that you have to watch for even slight changes that may indicate an upcoming positive or negative trend.

Cost-Effective Warehouse Equipment from DJ Products

Labor is your costliest and most important resource. Maximize productivity and reduce disruptive warehouse injuries with safe and efficient warehouse equipment like our best-selling CartCaddyShorty.

Visit our website and use our convenient chat feature to let our cheerful sales engineers find the best solution for your specific application.

More Warehouse Robots Added at Walmart and Amazon But Not at a Human Cost – Yet

The move toward automation is affecting the retail industry, but is it a threat to employees yet? Retail giants Amazon and Walmart are adding warehouse robots to handle different tasks. While this might seem like a concern for employees, they can still count on being able to do their jobs using warehouse equipment for now.

Amazon Robots

Amazon first made the company’s interest in robotics known in 2012 with the purchase of Kiva Systems. Since that time, Amazon has set up cashierless stores and put robots to work moving items around inside its warehouses. These robots have allowed Amazon to store more inventory and handle customer orders at a quicker pace. This has led to shorter delivery times, making customers happier overall.

Walmart Robots

Walmart also uses robots in warehouses to take care of some tasks and plans to add more. Newer robots will be moving groceries around warehouses at a grocery distribution center in California in 2020, and a New Hampshire location will have automated carts available for moving items that are part of online grocery orders.

Other plans for robots at Walmart include an unloading system that removes items from trucks and sorts them while bringing them to warehouse shelves.

Effects of Robots on Jobs

Adding automation to warehouses is expected to create some jobs, but it could also lead to job losses for some warehouse workers over time. While warehouse workers don’t have to worry about losing their jobs to robots just yet, they should keep an eye on automation news.

If you need warehouse equipment to keep your business running smoothly, visit DJ Products. We have a wide selection of this equipment available to help your employees handle warehouse tasks more efficiently.

Amazon Warehouse Staff Exercise Their Right to Protest

With Amazon’s far-ranging network of facilities, robust infrastructure and labor force of more than 600,000, it’s not far-fetched to compare the retailing giant to a self-contained country. Amazon has begun using its stature to wield influence among governments both here and abroad.

Continuing the parallel, “citizens” of Amazon are seeking to be heard on topics ranging from warehouse equipment to global warming. What issues are causing employees to raise their voices in protest?

Amazon Becomes a Political Force

Last year, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos enjoyed a private summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and it was later announced that Amazon would open a new office in Vancouver employing 3,000 people. In the United States, Amazon caused a frenzy with its search for a city to host its second headquarters.

The “contest” was ultimately won by Washington, D.C. and New York City, although the latter eventually declined. It’s expected that a facility in the nation’s capital will give Amazon a stronghold for increased lobbying as well as efforts to obtain Department of Defense contracts.

Employees Flex Their Muscle

For their part, several Amazon employees are taking an ethical stand against certain products. Workers are joining civil rights groups such as the ACLU in objecting to use of Amazon’s facial recognition software for “authoritarian surveillance.”

In a development that bears watching, some Amazon employees are taking advantage of stock holdings in their compensation packages. As shareholders, they have filed a resolution demanding that Amazon create a plan to deal with climate change.

Warehouse Equipment for All Applications

Your company may not be the size of Amazon, but your employees deserve quality warehouse equipment. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers about our line of electric tugs, movers and pushers.

Start 2019 Out Strong with Our Top Warehouse Efficiency Tips

Start the Year off on the Right Foot in the Workplace!

Is increased efficiency on your list of New Year’s resolutions for your warehouse? Our electric industrial tugs are a safe and cost-effective way to accomplish this goal.

Supplement your efforts with a number of easy-to-implement methods that improve all factors of warehouse performance. Here are tested tips to increase efficiency and boost productivity in 2019:

Communicate Openly and Often

No matter how well everyone knows their job, nothing should be taken for granted. Share all relevant information required to prevent problems and keep order processing moving smoothly.

Embrace Metrics

Metrics provide specific measurements of performance in a straightforward and objective manner. Today there are more tools than ever before to collect and share data in a user-friendly format.

Maximize Vertical Space and Optimize Slots

Expanding vertically is a quick way to add space without expensive renovations. Warehouse management systems (WMS) let you assign slots for maximum productivity based on seasons, inventory levels, SKU movement and other relevant factors.

Reduce Travel Time

Labor is a significant expense, and much of it is taken up with travel time while picking, packing and shipping orders. Analyze your warehouse layout and make sure work stations are set up in a logical order.

Implement Effective Training Programs

As technology becomes more integrated in warehouse management, workers can’t afford to be left out of the loop. Design robust and ongoing training programs that allow employees to be comfortable with new systems and solicit feedback to find areas for improvement.

Industrial Tugs for Every Application from DJ Products

Whatever your need, we have battery-powered industrial tugs, movers and pushers that handle it. Use the handy chat feature on our website and let our friendly sales engineers find the solution that’s right for you.

Blockchain Technology is Changing the Logistics Market

Blockchain has been called “the new Internet” due to its potential to revolutionize commerce just as significantly as the web did. Created for Bitcoin financial transactions, blockchain technology for logistics holds the key to open new trends for the logistics market.

From improving your record keeping with each warehouse equipment supplier to tracking your goods while they’re out on the truck, your company’s data can do more with blockchain technology.

What Is Blockchain Technology?

If you’ve used peer-to-peer downloading or Bitcoin, you’re familiar with blockchain technology already. Data gets stored across multiple stations rather than one central server. Imagine a single spreadsheet of all your inventory data— and that it can be accessed anywhere, updated in real-time, and stored with heightened security.

Benefits of Blockchain for Logistics

Blockchain makes logistics smoother, cheaper, more agile, and more future-proof. Specifically, just a few of the significant improvements and benefits of blockchain for logistics:

• Share unused space in a warehouse, trailer, or intermodal container

• Optimize truck routes and shipping logistics

• Create an easily accessible, constantly updated database of transactions

• Provide status updates on goods in transit

• Use “smart contracts” to handle transactions without lawyers

• Eliminate errors and missing data from paperwork issues

Logistics Technology Trends

At DJ Products, we keep up with the latest logistics news to help you stay informed. As a warehouse equipment supplier, we also bring you solutions for better warehouse productivity. Our industrial cart movers, trailer tows, truck pushers, and other material handling solutions help your team move at the new speeds made possible by improved logistics.

Increase in E-Commerce Creates a Booming Demand for Warehouse Space

As foot traffic in brick-and-mortar stores continues to decline, commercial real estate is being hit hard by mall closings. But that’s good news for warehouse landlords, who are seeing an increase in demand driven by the rise in online shopping.

Warehouses: The Hot New Real Estate Properties

Most retail properties are controlled by real estate investment trusts, also known as REITs. Retail store closings and bankruptcies have caused retail REITs to drop nearly 20 percent in early 2017.

On the other hand, industrial REITs that control warehouses are benefitting from a demand that outstrips current supply. Jonathan Petersen, analyst for global investment banking firm Jeffries, says the shift to e-commerce has caused price targets for industrial REITs to be raised across the board.

According to industry estimates, online retailers require three times as much warehouse space as traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. Peterson explains that e-commerce makes up 10 percent of retail sales, and simply doubling their share would create a need for 600 million square feet of new warehouses.

What Does the Future Hold?

The increase in e-commerce and warehouse demand is more than just a cyclical event. Peterson goes on to say that he and Jeffries see it as the beginning of a “secular growth trend” that’s expected to continue for several years.

Electric Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

As warehouse use increases, efficient operations will be more vital than ever. Industrial tugs such as our CartCaddyShorty let a single employee move loads of up to 3,000 pounds quickly and safely.

Visit our website and let our cheerful sales engineers help you find the right industrial tugs for your applications.

Diverse Materials Being Used for Warehouse Pallets

How Will Pallets Change Your Warehouse Efficiency?

One of the most dependable mainstays of the warehouse world, pallets have a bright future even as material changes lie ahead.

A survey conducted by Modern Materials Handling shows that while 96% of companies are sticking with wood pallets, but more than 40% are also using plastic or metal pallets. A strong 18% of businesses are reporting plans to begin pallet pool programs.

Warehouses can count on their material handling equipment supplier to help maintain pallet use as the convenient, efficient, cost-effective, and traditional solution. Even businesses that may be switching over from stringer pallets to block pallets can benefit from continuing to use their fork lifts and cart tuggers to maneuver those pallet loads.

New Pallet Materials and Innovation

The Modern report also highlights the fact that 42% of companies are using more wood pallets than they were a year earlier. Regarding plastic pallets, 88% will maintain or increase their usage in the next year. Metal pallets are primarily used for heavy international shipping, and even its usage is ticking up slightly.

These increases come despite the fact that some companies are experiencing pallet shortages or price increases. Making up for these difficulties, in part, is the pallet pooling movement. This helps businesses to essentially outsource and scale, using the pool service as a material handling equipment supplier that takes care of sourcing and storage.

Are you switching to block pallets or changing your approach to warehouse pallets? Let us know what you need from your material handling equipment supplier, and check out our cart pushers and tugs for an even easier solution for moving pallets.

Top Tips to Improve Performance and Efficiency in Warehouses

Tips to Improve Performance and Efficiency in Warehouses

Warehouse management can be a tricky operation, requiring great concentration and skill, and lots of inventory lists that need to be checked and re-checked to make sure all the material that is shifted in and out of the warehouse is the right product and quantity. Here are some warehouse management tips that can make the entire process simpler and more efficient:

1. Confirm Advanced Shipping Notice

An “Electronically transmitted Advanced Shipping Notification” is a cutting-edge shipping solution that many distributors have still not started started to implement. Using the electronic option allows for more efficient planning of the distribution procedure, and reduces delays and disruptions.

2. Employ Bin Locations

Making use of bin locations allows products to be located much faster, since it allows you to locate the product on the basis of sales volume, which means having to do less legwork to retrieve the key items that are sold the most.

3. Transparency of Operation

Work done within the warehouse must be as transparent as possible, with your keeping track of every piece of inventory that is sold or bought. This allows for easy spotting of mistakes and errors, and rapid correction.

4. Have an Emergency Response Plan

Along with the usual warehouse management tips, remember to keep alternative plans in place for potential fires, lockouts, and other hazards that can occur unexpectedly and disrupt work flow.

The next time you have to deal with warehouse inventory, remember to call on DJ Products for all of your moving and packing needs. Our range of vehicle products offer the latest in cutting-edge solutions to make your job and life easier!

Warehouse Safety Tips Include a Focus on Education and Ergonomics

Proper Ergonomics can Keep Your Employees Safe, Healthy and Happy

Warehouse management needs safe, repeatable processes in order to reduce injury risks. It’s not enough to rely on brute strength and lumbar belts! This is why warehouses implement proactive changes — from stepping up training protocol to bringing in automated equipment like our industrial tugs.

Educating Workers About Warehouse Safety

Train and frequently remind your workers about the most common warehouse injuries. Key issues for your team to discuss:

• Slips and falls: Messy warehouses cause falls, often when workers carry items and cannot see the ground below.

• Forklift and equipment injuries: Even after training and certificates are obtained for operating heavy machinery, each worker should review instructions periodically.

• Unreported dangers: Workers should have an avenue for reporting hazards like chemical fumes and faulty equipment.

• Untrained staff: Don’t skimp on training or let veteran employees miss safety meetings.

Ergonomics to Prevent Warehouse Injuries

Ergonomics refers to tools and methods that have been designed to suit a task. The more you manage ergonomics, the fewer injuries you can expect.

Warehouse equipment is one obvious area to consider ergonomics. For example, you might see a warehouse worker hunched over while strenuously pushing a wheeled cart. This almost guarantees a back injury. Ergonomic industrial tugs remove most of the physical burden and let the worker stay in a comfortable position.

Lifting techniques can also be designed for ergonomics. Heavy items that get moved should be a few feet off the ground so the worker does not have to bend all the way over repetitively.

Next steps: refresh safety training at your warehouse and bring in motorized industrial tugs for better ergonomics.

Tag: Warehouse Management Tips