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5 Steps to a More Productive Warehouse

Globial Talks Business / Nick Saltmars

Warehouse work can be uncomfortable especially in bad weather. When workers get distracted, productivity and even safety suffer. As outlined in this blog post from Miner, these five steps can make the warehouse environment more efficient so that workers can better focus on their jobs.

 

1. Maintain your warehouse equipment

Productivity suffers when workers have to deal with poorly performing or broken equipment. A simple way to prevent many issues is to have maintenance plans for all of your important equipment. Critical machinery that receives regular scheduled maintenance lasts longer and has fewer breakdowns. For equipment requiring vendor service, a contract often reduces cost and ensures that maintenance occurs when needed. Small problems can be caught before they cause a breakdown that slows productivity or even leads to injury. Some components can be maintained by workers, and these tasks should be part of a written warehouse schedule that includes the date and person responsible.

Employees feel more at ease knowing that the equipment they use is safe and in good condition. They also feel more valued when they have a role in maintaining the warehouse environment and are often the first to spot potential hazards and areas for improvement.

 

2. Install powerful cooling fans

Summer in a warehouse can be brutal on workers. When bottled water and breaks aren't enough, consider installing high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans. These fixed ceiling fans are built to move masses of air, so that the workers below feel several degrees cooler. The air movement speeds water evaporation and makes humid environments seem drier. The fans are energy-efficient and well worth their cost in the productivity regained when the warehouse no longer feels like a sweatshop.

 

3. Install truck shelters at loading dock doors

Rain and other troublesome weather is unpleasant to work in, and the slick surfaces and reduced visibility can be hazardous. Truck shelters seal out the weather and protect workers and cargo. They also can lower energy costs by reducing inside air loss. Shelters and door seals come in solutions to handle any size truck or door, so they are suitable for busy shipping and receiving environments. Whether workers are hand loading a truck or using a forklift, shelter from the weather lets them focus on the job rather than their footing.

 

4. Use truck restraints for safer loading and unloading

Every worker knows a story about a truck versus a forklift, and workers shouldn't have to be concerned about it happening to them while loading and unloading delivery trucks. Truck restraints installed at the loading areas will hold trucks in place to prevent rolling and unexpected departures. Workers can operate forklifts with peace of mind, cargo is better protected, and truck drivers know exactly what is going on.

Truck restraints come in different configurations including direct wall mount to the loading dock and floor hydraulic for rear truck restraint. Some models come with external pumps that can be operated under flooding conditions.

 

5. Install high-speed doors

A busy warehouse shouldn't be slowed down by manual doors in high-traffic areas. High-speed doors, which open as quickly as eight feet per second, allow workers and product to keep moving. They also keep environmental contaminants such as dust, grit and bugs away from sensitive storage areas. Their operating speed and solid construction reduce temperature loss and therefore help keep energy costs down.

 

http://globial.com/globialtalksbusiness/5-steps-to-a-more-productive-warehouse/


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