Streamlining warehouse loading bays for high-volume seasons
Being in charge of a warehouse operation isn’t an easy job. To ensure optimal productivity and avoid safety issues, there is plenty to consider, even when work takes a downturn.
However, when it comes to the high-volume seasons, few realise just how much planning needs to be in place so that challenges can be tackled head on and you can come out of the other side of peak seasons tired but triumphant.
Typically, high-volume seasons occur between November and January for Christmas and all the associated after sales and then at other times of the year when there are celebrations or sales, such as Easter. During this time, you will have a higher volume of inventory in your warehouse and an increase in picking and packing going on.
You may also have a number of temporary staff. Fortunately, there are a number of measures that you can put in place that will help you to streamline the loading bays in your warehouse during this time.
Start planning early
You should know when your high-volume seasons are. Therefore, putting plans in place well in advance (and while you’re less busy) is key to success when it comes to streamlining your warehouse loading bays. Use your past inventories to help you. This will also allow you to forecast your upcoming inventory levels so that you will have enough stock to meet demand.
Do a stock take as well to ensure that the inventory you have is correct. A less busy period is a good time to move stock that is less likely to be needed to the back of your warehouse where it is less likely to be in the way. Bring popular, seasonal stock to the front to help ensure maximum efficiency.
Check your loading bay equipment
If your loading bay equipment develops a fault during high-volume seasons, this could really hamper your procedures and create problems with your efficiency. Even if you have a regular maintenance schedule in place, plan ahead and have all of your loading bay equipment checked over just in case.
This will ensure that anything that has developed an issue can be dealt with in plenty of time. It will also mean that anything that may need replacing shortly is identified and can be kept an eye on.
Train your temporary staff
It may seem obvious but you need to train your temporary staff properly to ensure that they can be as productive as possible. Even if they have worked in a warehouse before, they have not worked in your warehouse so will still need the correct training. This includes knowing where different items of stock are kept and also understanding your loading bay protocols for safety and efficiency.
Put wet weather safety measures in place
Wet weather, and that includes melting snow as well as rain, can play havoc when it comes to safety in your warehouse. The most dangerous place of all will be in the immediate vicinity of your loading bays.
This is because anytime that you open your doors, whether this is to load or unload, you could be letting in water. This can make your floor slippery and has the potential to cause an accident. Ensure that you have a good routine in place to keep your floors clean and dry and this will help you to significantly reduce the potential of slip and trip accidents.
Consider the layout of your warehouse
You may think that your warehouse is well laid out. However, there is often room for improvement. If you do not have enough space you may need to consider adding additional storage in order to streamline your processes. Remember that you cannot fill an already full warehouse with more items without compromising on essential space in your loading bays. Plus, doing so may reduce your safety levels.
Once you have planned for one set of high-volume seasons you should be able to use what you have learned to get organised for those to come.
