When it comes to a warehouse, we often discuss the one that provides the best outcomes in terms of cost-efficiency, sustainability, and personalization. However, one of the major challenges many manufacturing firms face is constructing a suitable warehouse to store their raw materials and final products.
So, what is the definition of an ideal warehouse?
Perhaps, proper knowledge of the characteristics in running a successful and efficient warehouse is what you should remember. While the characteristics depend on business to business, some are common that plays a significant role in an ideal warehouse. The location, proper storage safety, and security, storage of perishable goods, design, and organization are a few of them.
Check out the other important characteristics and functionalities of a warehouse that contributes to pushing profitability and business’ growth.
Design and Storage Space
Warehouse often deals with storing heavy and bulky items; so, your pallet racking system must be designed to manage that. Also, for storing cold food, there must be a separate area with an adequate refrigeration system installed to store perishable goods and anything that needs to be refrigerated.
You must have enough storage space to keep the goods organized without clutter. Also, storing goods and materials in a safe and secure manner will keep them protected from external factors like rain and moisture. This will not only improve the organization, but also promote effective workflow.
Customer Service
Using a shipment tracking program is a crucial attribute both for customer satisfaction and efficiency of your warehouse. You will need to know the location of your products at all times, and an automatic tracking system will help customers track their shipment anytime they want.
Being able to give customers real-time statistics using latest technologies regarding location and contact details of delivery person will improve customer service.
Trained Staff
Imagine your warehouse experiencing poor material handling, loading/unloading, collisions due to poor forklifts driving, stuck in between congested aisles, etc. This situation can have your work facility involve more in accidents than in handling warehouse functions.
Before a situation becomes more destructive, provide your employees with forklift certification to help them drive forklifts properly. Developing more skills in your employees will also help them recognize potential hazards, reduce accidents, improve efficiency, and make management easier. While most of the employees know how to stock shelves, many still don’t follow the correct protocol. Supervisors should ensure their employees’ behavior in terms of handling warehouse operations, before anything becomes the norm on the floor.
Location
Warehouse location is another essential characteristic. You must ensure that your warehouse is not located in remote areas; rather, it should be well-connected for easy transport access. It should have easy access to communication lines, including railway stations, seaports, highways, and airports.
This will help transporting goods with ease. Further, this will not only be easier for your employees, but also promotes the business operations of your warehouse.
Parking Facility
It is probably one feature that is often overlooked! But just imagine traders coming from outstations having a terrible experience with the lack of parking facility. It can affect your business in the long run. Thus, proper arrangements must be made inside the premises to allow safe parking and quick loading/unloading.
Conclusion
While warehouse’ functions may differ in terms of the product line, operations, and system they use, every warehouse can take benefits using these tips to boost efficiency, security, and customer satisfaction.
Make sure to continue improving the processes by implementing new strategies, and reorganize and reevaluate as often as required!