To run a successful warehouse, you must ensure it is properly equipped and well managed.
Storage and Equipment
Your warehouse needs to have the standard equipment required for your workers to operate efficiently and safely. Depending on the size of your warehouse, you may have people operating heavy machinery. If you have licensed workers operating forklifts, it’s a good idea to zone off certain areas with reflective tape and guardrails. Railings and bollards create physical barriers and act as visual aids to help keep your workers safe and prevent collisions. To handle and transport material, set up the warehouse with pallet jacks and equipment with swivel wheels. Swivel wheels help more easily maneuver things and navigate narrow aisles when needed.
Packing and Shipping
With your warehouse set up to operate, make sure you are equipped to store and ship what is needed. If you need extra storage space for your inventory you can make the aisles narrower in your stock room and extend storage racks vertically to create more storage space. You should take regular inventory to stay on top of purchase orders that need to be placed to keep up with any changes in demand. Ensure your packing room is stocked with packing tables, tape, box cutters, boxes, stretch wrap, and an industrial scale. Keep the space neat so that everything you need to get your orders packed and out the door is accessible and ready to use.
Protective Uniforms
Every person working in the warehouse is required to wear a proper uniform and protective equipment. This should include heavy-duty work boots, reflective vests or jackets, hard helmets, safety goggles, gloves, and earplugs for hearing protection from loud noises and machines. Regularly review codes and safety procedures with your employees. When safety measures are frequently reviewed, you minimize the chance of workplace injury and will be better prepared in the case of an emergency.
Supervisors
It’s important to have a small team of responsible, trusted individuals who can share the responsibility of supervising the warehouse. Because running a warehouse is a large-scale operation, it’s a good idea to split this role up into a small cooperative team. Your warehouse supervisors can help maintain safety and keep your warehouse operating effectively so you can remain more hands-off. Hold regular meetings to review how things are operating and any goals you’d like to meet or changes that need to be made.
With this review, you can better understand the responsibility and safety measures required to maintain and operate a working warehouse.