warehouse operations

Warehouse Design: Dock Doors For Drop Trailers

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Warehouse design for outbound flow and dock doors is meant for peak warehouse efficiency. But when you’re operating, things can be different. You’ve checked the picking rates. You’ve calculated staging areas and staffing. Yet when you’re running operations, disaster strikes! You can’t get enough loads into trailers and are constantly building inventory in your shipping … Read more

Warehouse Automation Return-On-Investment

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Warehousing automation’s high return-on-investment has made it a popular subject in the world of logistics. A properly executed shift towards automation can provide several benefits for companies in the long run, in addition to a hefty return on investment (ROI). There are many reasons a business may choose to move forward with automating their facilities. … Read more

Getting to Buying

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Managing warehouse implementation projects usually involves spending money. Big warehouses will take a lot of money. Spending that money with high efficiency (speed & quality) is a critical part of a successful implementation. Here is what to look out for during the project to stay on track: Identify Big Spend & Long-Lead Items Early When … Read more

Warehouse Improvement Case Study

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Let’s explore a warehouse improvement case study employing lean concepts and a holistic overview approach. The results speak for themselves – 30%+ improvement in cycle times, 30% reduction in labor, improve quality by 10x. How did it happen? Situation The company, “RailCo”, shipped produce and wine by rail from the west coast to the east … Read more

Calculating Warehouse Project Payback

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Calculating payback of warehouse projects is critical to prioritizing resources. This applies to projects ranging from getting a forklift to building a new site. In this post we’ll review a few ways to do this as well as some limitation to payback calculations. Why Calculate Payback Warehouse projects can be very large or small. They … Read more

Warehouse Efficiency Standards And Turnover Effects

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One standard practice to improve warehouse efficiency and productivity is to use performance standards for non-exempt employees. Performance standards management will help ensure that the employees are productive. But you can’t just “turn the knob to 11.” The standards have to be reasonable and attainable. This implies a trade-off: higher standards mean more turnover, which … Read more

Warehouse Start-Ups: Ramp Planning

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A critical planning piece for a warehouse startup is the volume ramp plan. This is important because it informs the organization about what the new facility will be capable of and what they should plan for. It is a key deliverable that the Project Manager should identify and track during the planning process. Let’s explore … Read more

Top 10 Warehouse Quality Tips

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Having great quality in your warehouse operations makes everything run more smoothly. Records are correct, orders are in full, shorts and damages are minimal… it’s a dream. On the other hand, having poor quality means that your team is always fixing problems, searching for inventory, and firefighting daily. Nobody wants that. It’s stressful and creates … Read more

Starting a Warehouse: Change Control

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When you’re starting up a new warehouse, change control may be the last thing on your mind. After all, you’re probably thinking about the conveyors, hiring, and forklift delays. It’s understandable because change control is often considered as administrative distraction, and–let’s be real–it’s not the most exciting part of the PMBOK. But managing change is … Read more