How to organise your warehouse to improve workflow

Create a floor plan for your Warehouse space

Just as a house plan helps you to figure out where to place your furniture, a warehouse floor plan allows you to better organise your workspace. Visual aids such as line marking tape help you to map out places for all of your equipment and inventory making it far easier to know where to find and store items you might need throughout the working day. A simple warehouse floor plan that is easy to read will also be of great benefit to your employees, allowing them to understand where things belong and indicating any areas that may need to be kept clear, such as forklift paths or loading zones.

 

Keep your warehouse clean and clutter-free

Making sure your warehouse is clean and tidy may seem obvious, but sometimes it’s the simple tasks that are sometimes forgotten. When it comes to optimising productivity, regular maintenance of your workspace and flooring is absolutely key. Not only does clutter increase the risk of accidents, it also negatively impacts on your employees’ focus. Experts warn that dirty and unorganised warehouses can also lead to obsolete inventory, which nobody wants. To give your business the best chance at optimal success, be sure to implement a regular, detailed maintenance schedule that includes tidying up and cleaning.

 

Use your space wisely with smart shelving and storage

When it comes to stocking your warehouse, it’s important to work with the space you’ve got in a way that makes the most sense. Utilising pallet racking will allow you to take advantage of vertical space that may have been wasted otherwise. Storing items in this manner—in bins or pallets—also ensures that your warehouse is kept clean and clutter-free. Tip: keep frequently-used equipment and popular inventory in easy-to-reach places, reserving higher shelves for items you know you’ll only need every now and then.

 

Invest in technology to increase your productivity

If you want to take your warehouse management to the next level, you’re going to want to know about recent advances in tech. As with many other realms of modern life, technology is transforming the ways in which warehouses are managed across the globe. From automated picking tools, line marking projectors and inventory control platforms to all-encompassing cloud-based inventory management, contemporary warehouse technologies offer you a wealth of ways to improve the day-to-day running of your business.

 

Train your staff properly to enhance business potential

You can’t learn to drive until you learn how to read road signs; a similar rule applies when you hire new warehouse employees. You may know your warehouse like the back of your hand, but all new workers will need to be guided through the space and its systems. Basics include where things belong, how things are transported to and from the space, and what areas need to be kept clear. If your workers are also responsible for warehouse floor maintenance duties, it’s wise to keep a routine schedule that can be signed off on, such as a daily cleaning log. The more your team understand their workspace, the better your business will flow.

 

To learn more about how Cotewell can help you to update your workplace, get in contact with us today!

 

Call 1300-590-505 or email enquiries@cotewell.com.au