No matter how smoothly you think your warehouse runs, it’s a pretty safe bet that there are a few things you could be doing to make it run even smoother.

Efficiency in a warehouse can make a big difference for a company, affecting everything from workplace safety to customer satisfaction.

By taking a few relatively simple steps, you can drastically improve one of the most critical parts of your business.

Make your team look like a team

What are some ways that you can make your warehouse team start working like a team?

Well, for starters, you can make them look like a team.

Creating a team t-shirt, hat, etc. is a great and cost-effective way to both visually and morally unite your employees. You can even take it one step further and create a different shirt for each department, or put the department name across the back like a name on a jersey.

Plus, it gives you the ability to quickly determine if some non-team member is somewhere they shouldn’t be, which cuts down on unnecessary distractions, improves security, and, most importantly, helps prevent injury.

Build a solid receiving corp

Football season starts on Sunday, but NFL teams aren’t the only ones who should be putting together a great group of receivers.

Your warehouse’s receiving department is one of the most crucial links in the inventory process. Receiving mistakes can cause a chain reaction of other problems, from inventory mistakes to lost items to unfulfilled orders.

Make sure your receiving team consists of experienced employees with an attention to detail, not just the first new guy who you can stick with the job.

Not only that, but give them room to work. All too often, receiving departments are just an outdated computer sitting on a desk crammed into a space near the door.

Give your receiving team equipment that works in a workspace where they can stay organized and efficient.

Keep it organized, keep it clean

It’s really very simple. If your warehouse is a mess, it won’t function properly.

And that’s not just because it can be harder to find things if they’re not in the right place, although it definitely is. Leaving inventory lying around makes navigating the warehouse much more difficult, especially for forklifts.

The same goes for old boxes and other trash. Don’t just let these things pile up. Clear them away as soon as possible.

Another great way to improve both organization and safety is to ensure that your warehouse has clear and visible signage. Not only does this keep everything neat, it makes it easier for new employees to learn where things are.

Along those same lines, labeling inventory with easily identifiable and color-coded labels makes it much easier for you to get a rough inventory estimate at a glance.

And of course, it never hurts to invest in some new rackable pallets, which are always great space-savers.

There are many different ways to improve warehouse efficiency, so find the ones that work for you and your team and start taking your warehouse to the next level.

Photo by Erik Soderstrom / CC 2.0

About Brian Pigott

Brian Pigott is an engineer and customer-centric entrepreneur. Brian is the Managing Director of One Way Solutions.

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