Warehousing Tips Archives

Improve Your Warehouse Management Processes with Our Top Tips

Improving Warehouse Ergonomics with Motorized Warehouse Tugs

Running a warehouse means overseeing every aspect of operations, from receiving merchandise to shipping it out. Managing these different processes can be challenging. The following tips can help you improve them.

Organize for Easier Inventory Control, Storage, and Picking

Taking steps to organize your warehouse as much as possible helps with a few key processes. Consider using more efficient equipment, such as motorized warehouse tugs. These help workers move pallets and other heavy loads around more quickly and easily.

This allows you to maintain an organized warehouse, resulting in more accurate inventory control. Workers are also able to store inventory and pick merchandise with greater efficiency. Other organization tips include adopting a more dependable system for storage and optimizing the picking process.

Improve Warehouse Entry for Inventory

When merchandise arrives at your warehouse, it’s important to make sure that you’re receiving the right items. Other entry details to verify include item quantity and scheduled arrivals. This helps ensure that your warehouse is getting the correct products and product amounts within the right timeframe.

Making improvements to this process helps workers catch inventory entry errors. For example, they can find and remove damaged products instead of having these stored on shelves. This prevents damaged merchandise from being shipped to customers. It also ensures that storage, picking, and other processes can be done in a streamlined manner with fewer issues overall.

Reduce Packing and Shipping Errors

Merchandise needs to be packed with care to prevent damage during shipping. Orders that are ready to be shipped need to be sent to the right destinations. Errors with packing and shipping can lead to frustrated customers and an increase in returned merchandise.

Make sure all staff are trained on packing products for optimum safety. Have a process in place for verifying that orders are set to be shipped to their intended destinations. Taking these simple steps can go a long way toward preventing errors that lead to a decrease in revenue.

Exploring all of your options for motorized warehouse tugs? Contact the experts at DJ Products for assistance with selecting the most efficient equipment for your warehouse.

Top Tips for Better Management of Your Warehouse

Warehousing Tips from DJ Products

Managing a warehouse involves providing a safe environment that encourages productivity and efficiency. This includes overseeing or handling a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. Managers might make changes to the warehouse layout or invest in safer equipment, such as electric tugs. The following warehouse management tips can help you make improvements as needed.

Make Inventory Control a Priority

Even the most well-organized warehouse can run into serious problems without effective inventory control. Product shortages can affect order fulfillment and lower customer satisfaction. To avoid this, use an inventory management system to store records of what’s in stock and other details. This helps ensure that you have an accurate inventory count at all times.

Maximize Warehouse Space

Making the most of available space means you should have plenty of room for inventory. Leave enough room for receiving merchandise. Work on getting rid of obstacles or barriers that hinder workflow throughout your warehouse. This helps prevent slowdowns that affect productivity. Keep in mind that these obstacles can also become safety hazards.

Improve Safety

Warehouses tend to be busy workplaces filled with equipment and inventory. Forklifts and similar equipment can cause accidents on the job. Consider switching to equipment that offers safer and more efficient ways to move boxes or other heavy loads around. Motorized tugs provide these qualities, resulting in a lower risk of injuries.

Evaluate Picking Strategies

The right picking method can boost productivity in your warehouse. Go over the current strategies you use, and make changes as needed. Some warehouse management tips for picking include finding ways to decrease travel time in the warehouse and using the right order to streamline operations, such as batch or zone picking.

Offer Regular Training

All staff members in your warehouse should be up-to-date on training. This includes training on using certain equipment and technologies, following safety protocols, and learning new procedures. Hold training sessions as often as needed. This helps create an efficient, productive, and safe workplace for everyone.

Ready to improve safety and productivity in your warehouse with motorized tugs? Contact DJ Products for help choosing the right tugs for your business.

Top 5 Warehousing Trends in 2023

Warehousing of the Future

What does the crystal ball reveal about this year’s developments in the warehousing industry? Our experts at DJ Products, makers of the electric Trailer Dolly, share some insights about the top five warehousing trends taking shape in 2023.

1. Automation

Automation of warehouse processes improves workplace safety while also reducing the possibility of human error.

- Amazon and UPS are two of the companies that have begun to incorporate drones in their delivery services. Ware, supplier of automated inventory systems, offers autonomous drones that fly inside warehouses, using 2D scanners and stored location data to map a digital “twin” of the facility.

- Peer Robotics has developed mobile robots with sensing technologies to collaborate with human workers.

2. Wearables

Digital wearables enable workers to utilize high-tech tools without the need to carry them around.

- Ox, a US-based startup, has smart glasses fitted with scanners and real-time messaging systems to maximize pick routing and communication between workers.

3. Internet of Things (IoT)

Much like it does in your home, the Internet of Things uses technology to automate and simplify functions such as climate control and lighting.

- Track inventory and personnel with an IoT beacon from ScratchNest, which sends signals to smart phones and tablets via Bluetooth. The beacon also has extended battery life for better performance.

4. Sustainability

Companies continue to search for ways to minimize their carbon footprint and reduce their impact on the environment.

- Leave petroleum-based pallet wraps behind with innovative solutions from Australia’s Great Wraps. Their innovative wraps are made from converted food waste, which decomposes into carbon and water for toxic-free disposal.

5. Fleet Management

Forklifts are involved in a high number of warehouse accidents, causing significant injuries and damage. Telematics solutions allow for safe and effective interaction between workers and equipment.

- Onyx, a telematics system from GemOne, collects data on its proprietary hardware system and stores information on a cloud platform for easy retrieval.

Improve Productivity and Safety with the Trailer Dolly

Our battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers are eco-friendly solutions for your material handling needs. Contact us at 800.686.2651 or use our convenient online chat feature to learn more from our friendly and helpful Sales Engineers.

eCommerce Expansion Drives Increased Awareness of Workplace Injury in Fulfillment Warehouses

Blurred Warehouse For Industrial or Logistics Background. Interior Warehouse Space Storage of Tall Shelf. Business Distribution Storage Cargo.

As eCommerce grows, so does the risk of injury to warehouse workers trying to keep up with increased demand. Here’s a look into workplace safety and specific steps, such as use of the Trailer Dolly from DJ Products, that companies are taking to alleviate the problem.

Sobering Statistics About Warehouse Injuries

In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report about workplace injuries by industry. At 4.8 injuries per 100 workers, the rate of the warehousing and storage industry is nearly 80 percent higher than the average of 2.7 per 100 of all private industries.

As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a five-year program aimed at reducing warehouse injuries. The regional initiative, focused on four Mid-Atlantic areas, includes onsite warehouse inspections and targeted enforcement of safety standards.

Tips for Reducing Warehouse Injuries

Daily awareness of correct procedures and recognition of safety hazards are the biggest factors in preventing workplace injuries. How are companies taking ownership of this issue and giving employees proper tools?

Musculoskeletal injuries, caused by stress to muscles and joints, are common in warehouses. Wearable devices implement “smart” technology to analyze safety risks in real time. Employees wear the devices that track physical data to issue immediate alerts signaling hazardous movements.
Forklifts accidents, from collisions to rollovers, present a serious challenge. Many companies are improving their training programs while instituting campaigns to raise awareness. Infographics and checklists are posted in prominent areas where they can be seen every day.
With several warehouse tasks, factors such as repetitive motions and proximity to conveyor belts and other machinery pose a major injury risk. As robots become increasingly sophisticated, companies are turning to this method. For example, logistics provider NFI developed a robot nicknamed “Stretch” that can handle loading and unloading jobs quickly and safely.

Is There a Trailer Dolly in Your Truckyard?

Loading docks are a prime spot for injuries. Our Trailer Dolly lets a single employee move semi-trailers up to 50.000 pounds with ease. Contact us at DJ Products or use the handy online chat feature to learn more from our cheerful and knowledgeable Sales Engineers.

Top Tips for 2023 on Optimizing Your Warehouse Space

Warehousing Tips

As your business grows, more warehouse space may be on your 2023 wish list. Let our staff at DJ Products, makers of the electric Trailer Dolly, help you get the new year off to a great start with these helpful tips on optimizing warehouse space.

3 Tips to Optimize Warehouse Space

1. Re-evaluate current warehouse space.

When warehouse space is at a premium, the automatic reaction is to look for a larger facility. Many times, the answer is right in front of you. Ask yourself if you’re making the best use of the warehouse you currently have. More space, whether it’s adding on to your current facility or moving to a new warehouse, is costly in terms of productivity and the bottom line.

2. Make necessary enhancements to work flow.

Are your work processes tight and efficient, or do they involve a number of unnecessary or redundant steps? Tasks such as packaging can take up a lot of space if they’re not laid out in a logical flow. Solicit input from workers, who know from experience where time and space can be conserved.

3. Maximize use of pallet space.

Standard pallets take up just over 13 square feet, which by itself doesn’t seem like much space. But multiply that by the thousands of pallets stored in the average warehouse and it’s a considerable amount. While you can’t change the size of a pallet, you can use creative techniques to accommodate them.

- Switch to a just-in-time (JIT) model for packaging supplies and other items that are stored regularly. JIT means products are delivered as you need them, freeing up otherwise stagnant storage space.
- Bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts and other packaging materials are bulky. Storage often requires a number of pallets that are out of proportion to the amount of materials being stored. Consider switching to inflatable packaging elements that are both compact and eco-friendly.

DJ Products: Home of the Trailer Dolly and Other Material Handling Solutions

Do you equip your employees with the right tools to work safely and effectively? Contact us at 800.686.2651 to learn more about our Trailer Dolly, CartCaddy, and other products designed for maximum efficiency.

Warehouse Fall Prevention and Safety for the New Year

Fall Prevention Tips

Did you include a goal to reduce warehouse accidents in your 2023 business plan? Our eco-friendly trailer dolly is a valuable tool to improve workplace safety. Here are some additional expert tips to protect against falls, one of the most frequent types of accidents occurring in warehouses.

Types of Falls

Knowing the three basic types of falls helps you focus on specific areas of improvement.

- - Same-level falls, also known as same-surface falls, take place on flat ground, such as the workplace floor.
  - Elevated falls refer to falls from one level to another, such as from a ladder or loading dock.
  - Swing falls involve the use of a Personal Fall Arrest System, or PFAS. If the PFAS is not fastened securely, the person using it may lose their balance and swing freely, striking a nearby object.

Tips to Prevent Falls

- - Education raises awareness. Institute a comprehensive training program on risk reduction, including proper use of equipment. Make it easy for employees to report potentially hazardous areas or behavior.
  - Invest in a PFAS that meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. In addition, install passive fall protection systems in high-risk areas. Examples include hand rails, netting and safety gates.
  - Make maintenance a priority for everyone. Keep aisles free of obstructions and clean up spills promptly.
  - Check the warehouse floor from one end to the other. Make any necessary repairs, such as filling in holes or refinishing uneven spots.
  - Create and enforce a dress code that includes hard hats, safety shoes or boots and other items designed to minimize risk of injury.
  - Examine work practices to ensure they allow for enough time to complete a task. Assign more complicated jobs to experienced employees who are already familiar with safety protocols.
  - Remove excess vegetation that may be obstructing views around building entrances, loading docks and other high-traffic areas.

Improve Safety and Productivity with the Trailer Dolly from DJ Products

Loading docks are a primary risk area. Our trailer dolly lets a single employee move up to 15,000 pounds safely and efficiently. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more about our full line of electric material handling solutions.

What are the Top Five Warehouse Injuries?

Warehousing Tips

When it comes to your warehouse safety program, does it focus on the areas of greatest risk? Our trailer dolly is a great tool for protecting employees against these top five warehouse injuries.

1. Forklift and Heavy Machinery Accidents

Not surprisingly, forklifts and other machinery are involved in the greatest number of warehouse injuries. Statistics from the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) indicate that forklift-related accidents number close to 100,000 each year. All workers should be fully trained in the operation of forklifts and heavy machinery, with periodic reviews to maintain awareness.

2. Slips and Trips

Slipping and tripping may seem like relatively mild mishaps, but they can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities. Proper maintenance is the best safeguard against such incidents. Make sure aisles are kept clear and spills are promptly cleaned up. Other tips include:

- Install adequate lighting to improve visibility.
- Clearly mark steps, ramps and other areas where the floor is not flat.
- Encourage workers to get in the habit of not leaving boxes, pallets and materials unattended on the warehouse floor.

3. Musculoskeletal Injuries

During the workday, employees are in almost constant motion, with tasks frequently involving movement of heavy items. Sprains and strains can sometimes lead to chronic pain, which affects productivity both short- and long-term. Train workers in proper ergonomic techniques and provide personal protective equipment, such as back braces and knee supports.

4. Pallet Rack Collapses

When a pallet rack collapses, it can trigger a domino effect by causing its contents to spill out. It may even result in nearby pallets collapsing. Invest in high-quality pallet racks that conform to safety standards and avoid overloading them.

5. Falls

Warehouse falls account for more than 95 million lost workdays annually. Instruct employees to use approved ladders to reach high levels, rather than climbing on forklifts or shelves, and repair any uneven sections of the floor.

Choose the Trailer Dolly from DJ Products

Our electric trailer dolly is just one of the many eco-friendly and ergonomically designed material handling solutions we offer. Learn more when you call 800.686.2651 to speak with one of our cheerful Sales Engineers.

Five Key Warehouse Safety Facts

Warehouse Safety Facts

Providing a safe environment for workers in your warehouse is essential. Reducing the risk of injuries and accidents in your warehouse keeps employees safe from harm while also boosting productivity. The following warehouse safety facts can help you better understand the importance of ensuring the safest environment possible. Consider a trailer dolly to stop injury when moving heavy loads.

Overturned Forklift Trucks Cause the Most Fatalities

Forklift trucks are often used in warehouses to move pallets and other large objects around. These trucks can tip or overturn, leading to potentially fatal injuries. In fact, overturned forklift trucks are the most common incident resulting in fatalities. Over 40 percent of fatalities are caused by these trucks overturning.

U.S. Warehouses Have Fewer Than 30 Fatalities Each Year

Regulations on worker safety have made it possible for warehouse owners to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries in these facilities. Even with more and more warehouses being built in recent years, the number of fatalities has remained stable. Warehouses in the U.S. have fewer than 30 fatalities per year.

Warehouse Injuries Cost Over $84 Million a Week

The cost of warehouse injuries, which includes medical bills, equipment damage, replacement staff training, and production time loss, adds up quickly. One of the most notable warehouse safety facts is that injuries in these facilities in the U.S. cost more than $84 million a week.

Warehouse Staff Numbers Have Doubled in the Last Decade

Warehouse safety becomes more and more important as the number of workers in these facilities increases. In fact, the number of warehouse staff has doubled during the last decade and is expected to reach close to 2 million by 2030. With more warehouse workers, it’s crucial for owners to ensure warehouse safety.

Forklifts Cause 90 Percent of Pallet Rack Failure

While forklifts are commonly used for moving goods around warehouses, they can lead to pallet rack failure. Collisions with these trucks is one of the top reasons that failure occurs. The way forklift trucks move makes them more likely to hit pallet racks.

Having the right equipment for moving large items around is an effective way to ensure warehouse safety. Visit DJ Products to learn more about the solutions we offer. Our highlighted product this week is the versatile Trailer Dolly. Find out more today.

Tips for Improving Efficiency in Your Distribution Center Warehouse

Water Trailer

Having an efficient warehouse can help boost your bottom line and ensure that daily operations run smoothly. From overhead posts to worker productivity, the following tips can help you improve warehouse efficiency.

Increase Productivity

How long does it take your workers to move larger items or equipment around your warehouse? Finding ways to cut down on the amount of time this takes is a highly effective way to improve productivity. For example, having workers use a trailer dolly to move large equipment from one area to another can reduce the amount of time this takes. This allows workers to get more work done throughout the day, resulting in a lower risk of delays.

Focus on Safety

Improving worker safety is a good way to make your warehouse more efficient while also protecting your staff from injuries. When your warehouse has fewer injuries, your workers won’t need as much time off. Showing that you are dedicated to making sure your workers are safe also helps boost employee morale, which can improve productivity as well. For example, providing workers with better ways to move big pieces of equipment and other items around helps keep them safe.

Improve Inventory Tracking

Keeping track of inventory in your warehouse is important for efficiency. With accurate tracking, workers will know exactly where to find items when needed. You’ll also know when items should be restocked or reordered as they run low. For better efficiency, use technology to keep track of inventory rather than trying to do this by hand.

Reduce Costs

Finding ways to lower overhead expenses in your warehouse can help improve efficiency. Maintaining warehouse equipment, such as lift trucks or trailer dollies, helps ensure that it stays in good working condition on a regular basis. This help improve worker safety, raise efficiency, and lower expenses, since you won’t need to replace equipment as often. These cost savings can add up over time, allowing your warehouse to significantly reduce operating costs.

To learn more about trailer dolly options for your warehouse, please contact DJ Products. We can help you find the right solution for improving warehouse efficiency.

Tips for Smooth Operations at Your Warehouse

Warehouse Organization and Management

Warehouse operation is the backbone of a successful company, but it’s easy to lose control of all the moving parts. Use these helpful tips to manage the details that keep your warehouse running on all cylinders.

1. Establish an Organized System

Without a logical system, your warehouse will fall into chaos as employees fall back on their own random methods. Set up the warehouse using a well-thought-out plan based on operational goals.

2. Stay Flexible

Your company is a dynamic environment where goals and conditions can change rapidly. Be sure to assess your warehouse system periodically and make any necessary changes to stay current with the business plan.

3. Make Receiving a Priority

All shipments should be received promptly and placed in the appropriate location so they’re readily available. Deal with damages and shortages immediately before problems pile up.

4. Train Your Staff

There’s no such thing as being overtrained. Develop a thorough program for training new associates, but include ongoing training and cross-training to put employees in the best position to succeed.

5. Establish and Maintain Effective Safety Practices

Workplace injuries have a ripple effect on lost productivity and increased expenses. Use proper equipment and work methods to reduce the chance of accidents and injuries.

Streamline Warehouse Operations with Industrial Tugs from DJ Products

Moving heavy equipment and materials is one of the primary causes of workplace injuries. Our battery-powered industrial tugs like our popular CartCaddy let a single employee move loads of up to 10,000 pounds easily and efficiently. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers to find the best solution for your needs.