To say that managing a warehouse is a whole lot of work is simply saying the obvious truth. While there are several products to locate within the warehouse, there are also thousands of products lying in wait for you to be shipped to your customers without any delay in time. Proper warehouse management is most times a daunting task that many companies are yet to fully embrace. However, the major key to an efficient and successful warehouse management is streamlining your warehouse operations, getting them automated as much as possible. Below are 5 most common challenges being faced by warehouse management and simple ways you can avoid such challenges.
#1: Space Utilization
In order to make sure you are not inviting in wasted space and warehouse inefficiencies, it’s wise you look into your warehouse layout. You need to make sure your storage systems, rack patterns, and pallets are well-optimized. When space is not properly managed in a warehouse, it could lead to unnecessary labor, and thus results in reduced productivity. Make the most wanted products more accessible to your workers by moving them to the front of the warehouse. This will not only save time in retrieving them, it will also save your workers the stress of moving back and forth the entire warehouse.
#2: Inventory location
You will be putting your company at risk if you fail to recognize where your inventory is located. Without proper inventory oversight, the warehouse is bound to enter into several inefficiencies which will not only slow down operations but may also increase costs. Make inventory location easier within your warehouse by investing in warehouse management system that makes use of barcode technology. Such system will help direct pickers straight to the location of an item and also give them prompts about the number of items required for scanning and shipment.
#3: Inventory accuracy
More inefficiencies arise when companies tend to be unaware of the inventory they have at hand because there is no automated warehouse management system. Prevent unnecessary or excess inventory build-up by enhancing proper product visibility. This can actually save you from several hassles like lack of cash flow, housing extra inventory leading to extra cost, space issues in the warehouse, and poor customer service. A warehouse management system is no doubt what can accurately give you an idea of what you have at hand and prevent excess expenditures.
#4: Redundant process
When the warehouse processes, become redundant, they affect the employees’ productivity in many ways. Remove every unnecessary or redundant process in your warehouse and thus create more space for efficiency and productivity boost.
Reevaluation of your warehouse processes is the key to avoiding and scaling through these challenges. The most important of all is to invest in a warehouse management system to help you maximize your warehouse productivity.
