5 Secret Tips for your Warehouse Strategy in 2020

The efficiency of a warehouse is crucial in the supply chain – and it can make or break a company’s bottom line. The goal is to keep customers satisfied and businesses running seamlessly. Wondering how you can streamline your warehouse for the 2020 year ahead? Read on for some essential tips on how to run a successful warehouse.

Warehouse Management Tips & Strategy

5 Warehouse Management Tips for 2020;

 

  • Organize the Warehouse and Workstations

How have you organized goods?  What methodology did you utilize? Organizing your warehouse improves productivity and maximizes efficiency. It should be designed to ensure accuracy, speed, and accountability. There are several strategies to optimize efficiency, including implementing a methodical location numbering system to easily identify a specific warehouse location – based on position, level, bay, aisle, and zone. 

You can also de-clutter the warehouse by enforcing the ‘5s’ methodology (Sort – Set in order – Shine – Standardize – Sustain). Another proven warehouse organization strategy involves designing workstations according to the characteristics of the worker and specific tasks. This improves productivity and minimizes the risk of workplace illnesses or injuries.

 

 

  • Use a Velocity-Based Layout
    Velocity Based Warehouse Layout 

Traditional product placement layouts, such as grouping products based on the manufacturer or the type of product, are largely inefficient and time-consuming. Instead, you can improve your efficiency by implementing a velocity-based layout in your warehouse strategy. 

By placing the frequently picked products closer to the shipping area, warehouse staff can easily and quickly pick the items on demand. Additionally, warehouse managers should consider integrating the packing and shipping stations to free up space and streamline the fulfillment process.

 

 

  • Streamline Workflows

How do all of your warehouse resources fit together?   Or better yet, how do you identify gaps in the processes? Warehouse managers can determine how departmental workflow and scheduling affect operations by creating a visual map. This allows you to understand how things are working, including the efficiency of the warehouse layout, storage of different materials, and handling of items. Simply put, streamlining workflows through visual mapping is like creating a well-oiled machine.

 

 

  • Measure Results and Review Effectiveness

You can’t have 2020 vision for your warehouse strategy if you don’t measure and review the results. It’s important to analyze and gauge how you’re utilizing available resources. 

What is the flow of goods in and out of the warehouse? Are there any inefficiencies in the chain that may negatively affect the bottom line? While analyzing the effectiveness of a warehouse, it’s essential to review the whole process – there’s no point in improving one system when another is lagging.

 

 

  • Leverage Technology

Nowadays, there are tons of technologies designed to improve accuracy and increase productivity in a warehouse. Some of these tools include bin tracking, pick-to-label, bar codes, integrated CRM processes, and advanced inventory tracking methods. 

It takes a lot to manage a warehouse efficiently with the influx of new requirements from clients with shipping and packaging deadlines. With the help of a great Warehouse Management System like Kechie®, you can integrate several real-time systems to ensure the seamless flow of data and efficient movement of goods in the warehouse. This leads to lowered costs, space management, increased accuracy, and easier analysis of results. Get a free demo to see how it can streamline your business operations today.