As with any business, inefficiencies cost time, effort and ultimately money. Warehouses are no exception, especially as seismic facilities which contain large quantities of valuable stock.
When goods are slow to transit through a warehouse, or if items are not stored in a logical way, these seemingly small issues can add up to huge revenue losses.
Here at Metreel, we work directly with warehouses to improve safety and productivity. As a result, businesses can enjoy lower operating costs combined with higher profitability.
If you own a warehouse facility or are part of a warehouse management team, these are the top 3 suggestions to cut costs across the business.
What Are Some Of The Top Factors That Make Warehouses Inefficient?
- Delays in the global supply chain
- Failing to prepare for seasonal demand
- Inventory inaccuracies
- Lack of space
- Management weaknesses
- Picking errors
- Poor layout
- Spending on labour but not investing in automation
- Stock damage
Implement A Warehouse Management System
As the name suggests, a warehouse management system (WMS) is geared towards helping warehouses navigate their daily operation needs in the most efficient way. Controlled via software, warehouses can oversee the entire journey of goods from the moment they arrive until the moment they reach the customer.
How a WMS can help warehouses cut costs is through identifying and remedying issues at the earliest opportunity. Likewise, a WMS makes it easier to predict trends such as seasonal demand so that warehouses can prepare ahead of time.
Optimise The Picking Process
The picking process within a warehouse environment can be improved to increase efficiency and reduce errors. This saves both time and money.
There are lots of ways to optimise the picking process, but some key steps include:
- Optimise the warehouse layout
- Perform an ABC assessment to determine the items which need to be accessed the most frequently
- Invest in technology to monitor and oversee product picking
- Employ batch or zone picking
- Regularly review the placement of items needing to be picked through dynamic slotting
- Ensure consistent team training and development so that everyone responsible for picking is on the same page
- Put contingency plans in place for technology failure or similar unexpected circumstances
Invest In Material Handling Products
In business, it’s a well known fact that sometimes you have to spend money to make money.
When it comes to investing in tools and technologies that move goods or parts around a warehouse, it’s worth remembering that there is only so much that your team can manually lift and reposition themselves.
Material handling products such as jib cranes, workstation cranes, track systems, monorails and gantries can safely and efficiently lift large loads and complete repetitive tasks with ease. As a result, tasks can also be sped up and production capacity can increase.
Metreel – Helping Warehouses Become More Efficient To Cut Costs
Could industrial solutions such as material handling, powerfeed equipment or fall protection equipment be used to help your warehouse save money, all while improving safety and efficiency?
Metreel works with warehouses from the UK. We create custom solutions to improve safety, along with the ease at which heavy lifting and other intensive tasks are performed.
Take a look at our product brochure to see our full product specifications.
Or if you’d like to talk about the needs of your warehouse with us personally, please give us a call on 0115 932 7010 or email us at [email protected].