Impact WMS is your partner for warehouse management solutions. But we realize not all solutions depend on technology to enable sustainable results. In the coming weeks, we introduce and discuss many easy and often low tech ways to help you improve your warehouse performance. Specifically, we cover 10 topics:
- Apply 6S
- Measurement
- Space Utilization
- Slotting
- Know Your Order Profiles
- Warehouse within the Warehouse
- Flexible Pick Strategies
- Vendor Compliance
- Eliminate Excess Inventory
- Get Involved
We expect you may learn something new, or be reminded of something you already know but maybe never considered in warehouse operations. All the concepts we discuss have been proven in warehouse operations and may be adapted your business. Some you can start tomorrow, while others may require more planning and change management.
As we discuss the improvement concepts, keep these key points in mind:
- Labor costs typically consume at least 60% of a warehouse budget.
- Pick labor can consume up to 70% of warehouse labor.
- In a typical supply chain the warehouse is the last place to touch the product and potentially impact customer service levels and perceptions.
- You are paying for space even if you don’t use it, or if you use it for non-active product.
- And as shorter delivery lead time expectations become the norm, your operations should be setup and organized to be able to rapidly respond to changes.
As you think about process improvement ideas and changes you can make to your operations, try to prioritize the projects based on impact to these value levers.
On Friday Chris Barnes, The Supply Chain Doctor will be discussing the concept of the Six S’s and how you can use this model to improve your Warehouse operations.
