Some companies might prefer to utilize new workers in the shipping and receiving area, though they might be better served to allocate pros to deal with these challenging jobs. Experienced people who really know and understand the products rarely mix items which may seem the same but are somewhat different and they know how to properly stock bins and shelves and hence, work more efficiently.
It is a good idea if you have new staff to start them out by filling orders. This provides them with a terrific chance to learn the products, paperwork and customers along with any electronic inventory system which might take some getting used to. Furthermore, it is easy to check their efficiency by going over their work orders once they are packed for shipment.
Because you do not want to have many trucks arriving at the same time, the next step is to schedule truck arrival. By planning arrivals and being organized, you will eliminate pressure on shippers and receivers and also eliminate excessive waiting time in the yard. The more effectively you can plan the arrival of your trucks, the less dock doors you would need to operate that will save you money on utilities in the long run.
If you are able to, operate different shifts for shipping and receiving. One method is to receive goods during one shift and separate the shipped items to a different shift. Organizing yourself in this manner can allow you to reduce the staging area needs by 50 percent. You might also be able to eliminate time-wasting bottlenecks in the warehouse. In addition, by separating your shipping and receiving, you could keep track of orders more effectively and will know which shift to look over if any discrepancies occur down the road.
Speed up the process of unloading. This will really help you out because the longer a truck sits at your door for unloading or loading, the more congested your yard could become. Based on research, approximately 60% of mass merchants are capable of unloading trucks in under an hour, whilst about 20 to 30 percent of the grocery business works at a similar standard. Take time to watch and time operations in order to see exactly how your facility measures up overall.
Floor maintenance is key as floor defects can cause lift truck operators to slow down or take detours. This can lead to a reduction of efficiency. Potholes or deteriorating floor section seams or uneven floors also result in vehicle damage and wheel wear. In some situations, floors which are really damaged can cause product damage and loads tipping.