Efficient Storage In Daily Life

Some days it feels like no matter how hard you work to optimize your warehouse, there’s always a few things standing in the way of productivity. It’s nobody’s fault – your staff works as hard as they can with the tools they have, and there’s some tasks that are always going to take longer than others just due to the nature of the warehousing business . All the same, there’s still times that you review your recent productivity and workflow and think to yourself “what could we have done better here?” Don’t despair! There’s always ways to squeeze a little more productivity out of your workflow and cut down on time and cost overheads, even if it’s by smaller metrics. If you want some ideas on a faster warehouse workflow, we’ve got a few right here for you: Digitize as much as possible. A lot of warehouse managers are awfully proud of their digital inventory tracking strategies, but in a lot of cases there’s still room for further improvement and optimization. Make sure every step ...

As businesses grow, they may encounter an increased need for industrial storage to carry a larger range of products, serve a wider geographic area of customers, or some combination thereof. During this growth and expansion, you might consider branching out on your warehousing capabilities to better meet the demands of your business and customers. The most common warehouse configurations are either centralized, wherein all products are shipped from one primary location, or decentralized, a method of maintaining several smaller warehouses spread out to different areas in order to better serve different markets or stocking different products. Each method has their own advantages and disadvantages, and if you’re considering branching into a different warehousing method here’s a few advantages and disadvantages to each to keep in mind. Centralized Warehouses -A common advantage of centralized warehousing is the reduction of operating costs. By choosing to centralize your distribution ...

Your workplace may have an above-average track record for safety, and your injury, accident and incident rates may be low when measured against industry standards. But even so, just one accident can cause serious damage to your bottom line. And even one injury over the course of ten years can still cause untold suffering to the unlucky victim and his or her family. No matter how strong a safety record may be, it can always be stronger. So as you look over your workplace procedures and conditions, what can you do to improve the safety of all your employees with a cleaner and safer environment? Keep these considerations in mind. 1.Training You usually hire skilled lift truck operators to step into your open positions. But if you’re like most workplaces, you occasionally hire and train operators who show high potential but have little or no forklift training of any kind. As you train these operators in-house, are you using the very best resources available? Are your training texts...

A scissor lift is a useful piece of equipment to have on a construction site. Providing a safe, steady enclosure and a rising platform, a scissor lift helps workers accomplish precise tasks at high elevations, from close inspections to cable wiring. A scissor lift is a type of construction lift, which is machinery equipped with a platform to elevate workers and loads to high areas. Construction lifts include different types of scissor lifts and boom lifts — however, there are key differences between them. While a scissor lift reaches a shorter height and only moves up and down, it can lift multiple workers at once, making it a more logical and affordable option for projects where height is not a concern. Scissor lifts vary in size, application, and fuel type. Here are the five main types of scissor lifts that are seen on the worksite. Hydraulic Scissor Lift Hydraulic scissor lifts are powered by hand-operated or engine-driven hydraulic systems. The changing pressure of the hydraul...

You look for a truck that can get the job done at a price that doesn’t break your budget, and you try to find a truck with the durability and versatility that bring high returns on your investment. But if these numbers are the only ones you evaluate before making your decision, consider adjusting your methods and making safety your top priority. As an operations manager or business owner, you have some difficult decisions to make every time you add a new forklift to your fleet via rental or purchase. Your first step is most likely to balance the cost against value. You look for a truck that can get the job done at a price that doesn’t break your budget, and you try to find a truck with the durability and versatility that bring high returns on your investment. But if these numbers are the only ones you evaluate before making your decision, consider adjusting your methods and making safety your top priority. The best lift truck is a safe lift truck. If your truck can prevent ha...

Security is a crucial factor for any business, no matter what you do – and when it comes to the bulk storing of goods, inventory, and supplies, warehouses rely on secure storage for a number of reasons. Proper item security can help in a number of ways, from keeping your inventory safe from damage, loss, and theft to helping protect your workers from potential injury. If you’re looking to help increase the security of your warehouse and prevent both loss and damage, here’s a few policies you can start implementing along the way: Implement Secure Staff Policies While we like to think you can trust your staff, employee theft is still an unfortunate (and costly) fact of life for many warehouse management companies. Before bringing in new employees, running background checks and checking with references can ensure you hire workers without a known history of shady behavior. Once hired, implementing two-worker systems in high-volume areas or any area with costly inventory to monito...

With warmer weather just around the corner, this is the ideal time to consider erecting an outdoor racking system for additional storage. For seasonal businesses in particular, outdoor racking is an inexpensive way to store products, but it’s also a great option for commercial/industrial organizations that have available land and don’t want to undertake an expensive warehouse expansion. Here are some tips for creating a successful outdoor racking system : Anchor the shelving appropriately. Vertical shelving uprights need to be anchored into the ground, and a concrete substrate is your best option. Avoid an asphalt base because its heat retention can impact structural integrity, and loose gravel won’t provide the needed stability for the unit. At a minimum you should pour concrete footings to anchor vertical stanchions. We recommend using at least two half-inch wedge anchors for each upright stanchion. Defend against rust. As with any metal that comes into contact with moisture,...

One of the most common (and ongoing) issues with warehouses is the need for accessibility and proper layout design. Proper accessibility can help your workers handle their tasks and duties more easily, prevent accidents, and smooth out any sort of traffic or performance issues your warehouse may encounter. Whatever size your facility is, there’s likely something you can do to improve the accessibility and usability of your warehouse, and we’ve got a few ideas here for anything you may consider reviewing to improve the accessibility and traffic flow of your warehouse. Increase The Size Of Your Receiving Area No matter what products you deal in or what industries you serve, the receiving area should always be one of the biggest areas of your warehouse, if not the biggest. Your staff will need a large amount of room to deal with the influx of new items and the amount of items headed back out into the world, and any sort of overflow from this area could clog the rest of your w...

Your business may be growing and you need a fleet of materials handling equipment that can keep up with your rapid increase in demand. Or maybe your business operates according to seasonal fluctuations and you expect upcoming spike inactivity. In either case, you need to resolve this issue and make decisions that can keep your warehouse or distribution center in motion. But as it happens, you don’t have the budget flexibility to invest in a brand new fleet. You could rent your lifting equipment, which can help control maintenance and storage costs since you’ll be returning your forklifts when you no longer need them. But if your seasonal fluctuations are unpredictable, and ownership suits your budget and your needs, you may decide to invest in used lifting equipment. Here are a few reasons to consider this cost-effective option. Value versus Cost Liftow offers fully refurbished, late model, state-of-the-art forklifts that function just like new. But the market value of used lif...

Renting a forklift may not seem like an obvious choice. However, depending on your business needs, it could help you save money in the long run. Even if your business could get by on sheer manpower alone, would it be worth the time and potential liability? Below are a couple of considerations that can help you determine when a forklift rental is the most economical choice for your business. Time As the adage goes, “Time is money,” and this is especially true when it comes to business logistics. Pipeline delays in one area only create larger problems down the line, and renting a forklift can significantly reduce downtime and help you control your logistics without the commitment of a lease. You may be able to handle an average workload with only your employees and existing fleet, but the average male can squat-lift anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds at a time, depending on fitness level and package design. In comparison, a forklift can easily and quickly transport several hundred poun...