How to Make My Warehouse Material Handling More Efficient

How to Make My Warehouse Material Handling More Efficient

Advice From Ohio’s Warehouse Material Handling Experts

Managing a warehouse can be challenging, especially when it comes to how materials are handled. Moving, storing, and organizing warehouse materials impacts your company’s efficiency and productivity. You must ensure seamless logistics and operations to stay competitive in a global marketplace. If you believe that you would benefit from some tips on making your warehouse material handling more effective, Miami Industrial Trucks Inc. would be happy to help. As the leading intra-logistics full-service dealer  in Dayton, Findlay, Toledo, Troy, and surrounding areas in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, we’re trusted experts in the industry.

Analyze Your Existing Material Handling Processes

A warehouse contains many moving parts and processes that can impact your operations. Before implementing any changes, we suggest you first analyze your existing material handling processes to identify any areas of improvement. Consider the current steps needed to move and store materials within your warehouse. Specifically, examine how your operation handles receiving, storing, picking, packing, and shipping. Once you have a more accurate picture of your material handling processes and needs, you should begin to notice potential inefficiencies that you can fix.

Consider a More Logical Warehouse Design and Layout

No matter the size of your operation, you will likely have to limit warehouse space due to rising warehousing costs. Optimizing your warehouse design and layout can significantly impact the efficiency of material handling in your warehouse. How is your floorspace being utilized? Ensure your storage and picking areas are organized logically to reduce both the travel time between locations, and the likelihood of workplace accidents. Minimizing unnecessary movement and potential safety risks can improve workers’ morale and productivity while reducing damage to products and equipment.

Improving your warehouse layout can prevent delays and interruptions in your workflow to increase your throughput. Maximizing the cube of your space is often about improving accessibility. How are pallets stored? Improperly stacked loads are a safety hazard. Are racking and shelving readily accessible via forklifts? Do forklifts have enough room to maneuver the aisles without knocking items over? Do workers have access to needed machinery near their workstations? Are your aisles width maximizing space usage? The most efficient warehouse layout allows the uninterrupted flow of goods throughout your space without compromising safety or integrity.

Invest in Modern Warehouse Management Systems to Track Data

Don’t underestimate the importance of material handling in a warehouse. Material handling directly impacts everything from the integrity of your goods to your workers’ morale, safety, and productivity. Mismanagement, errors, and delays can all affect your bottom line. The most optimized warehouse operations all have one thing in common: investing in an effective warehouse management system (WMS) to make seamless material movement possible. Today’s technology has made warehouse material handling easier than ever. Thanks to digital software that can track and manage your inventory in real time, you can now access valuable data and insights on your current processes at your fingertips. This readily available information can help you make necessary warehouse improvements.

Investing in automated warehouse systems in specific areas can also help you make strides in making your warehouse material handling more effective. Have you explored the possibility of an automated storage and retrieval system to conserve space yet? An automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) uses carousels rather than forklifts to move items quickly from side to side or up and down. While these implementations can boost efficiency, we recommend getting your basics right before introducing automated systems into your warehouse operations.

Ensure Your Employees Know to Handle Materials Safely

Automation significantly helps improve warehouse material handling efficiency because it helps reduce the risk of human error. However, automation isn’t always the answer. Ensuring your employees are well-trained on proper handling techniques is equally essential. Your workforce plays a crucial role in material handling in a warehouse. Ensure they know how to use equipment, safely handle materials, and follow standard operating procedures to help them perform their job tasks more effectively. Taking the time to invest in employee training ensures you’re on the path to success.

Likewise, implementing safety measures in the workplace should also be among your priorities. Ensuring employees have easy access to safety training and equipment should help you prevent accidents and injuries. An up-to-date team armed with modern industry knowledge and safety tips is also likely to be a happier, more productive one with less turnover and job dissatisfaction. Miami Industrial Trucks Inc. offers team training according to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) standards.

Consider Ergonomic Warehouse Material Handling Equipment

Ergonomics have been a buzzword in recent years, and the material handling industry hasn’t been spared. If you operate a warehouse, you should invest in ergonomic material handling equipment to simplify your employees’ jobs. Making your workplace more ergonomic helps reduce safety risks and create a more engaged workforce. Comfortable employees are more likely to do their jobs well because of the morale boost. Consider shelving and racking options closer to the floor or automated conveyor systems to make repetitive tasks more manageable. Making small changes today is an investment in your operation’s future success.

Making Your Warehouse More Efficient Is an Ongoing Process

Making your warehouse material handling more efficient likely won’t happen overnight. Likewise, it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. It will probably require regular review and careful monitoring to make continual improvements. Don’t be afraid to try new technologies and strategies to remain competitive and competent in your industry. Keeping up with industry trends and technology advancements can help you enhance your material handling processes.

You may also want to ask your employees for input from time to time or speak with a professional warehouse consultant to identify areas of improvement. An ongoing commitment to organizing how goods get from the loading docks to the appropriate storage and shipping areas can help you minimize damage, spoilage, or theft – all necessary for improving your throughput at the end of the day.

Intelligent Organization Is Essential for Improvement

Making material handling efficiencies in a warehouse is usually about intelligent organization. You may need to explore better material handling equipment for your warehouse and different layout options. Remember, improving your material handling processes is necessary to reduce costs, increase customer and employee satisfaction, and allow for smoother warehouse operations. Investing the time, energy, and resources into optimizing your operations will pay off in the long run. With some effort and dedication, your warehouse will be running at its most efficient levels in no time!

Contact Us for Comprehensive Warehouse Solutions in Ohio

Whether your operation is based in Dayton, Troy, Findlay, or Toledo, Miami Industrial Trucks Inc. can help you streamline your processes and reduce your warehousing costs. Our professional warehouse consultants can help you optimize everything from your warehouse design and layout to the type of warehouse material handling equipment, shelving, and racking you use.

In business since 1956, we pride ourselves on offering value-added material handling equipment, training, and more for large, multi-location companies spanning all industries. We’d be happy to help you source the best equipment and technology for the smoothest warehouse operations. Contact us today to inquire about our cost-effective, comprehensive warehouse solutions across Ohio!