Regardless of its size, managing a warehouse is no easy task, but someone has to do it in order to run a successful business. Our team at Lamberson Packaging Solutions is here to help you get the most out of your warehousing investment to ensure your business runs to the best of its ability. This post will cover everything you need to know when it comes to how to manage your warehouse inventory.
Reevaluate your warehouse design
An efficient warehouse must have a logical inventory flow leading from receiving to picking, packing and shipping. Additionally, employees must have plenty of space to perform their jobs correctly and safely. Make sure all of your warehouse aisles are wide enough to operate machinery. Consider upsizing if your current warehouse is running out of space.
One of our tips for managing warehouse inventory is to ask employees what they’d do differently if they were redesigning your warehouse. After all, they’re on the frontlines every day, so they have a sense of what works and what doesn’t.
Reorganize your stock keeping units
You’re losing a ton of money and making your employees frustrated when they have to run all over a warehouse looking for inventory. Ensure all of your stock keeping units (SKUs) are strategically placed to avoid wasting time and energy.
Group related items near one another and ensure everything is properly labeled to maximize efficiency. Reorganizing will be a pain at first, but it’s well worth it in the long run.
Invest in technology
When we get asked how to manage warehouse inventory, we tell customers to spend money on new technologies. Technology like a warehouse management system (WMS) integrates with your existing operations to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. You can help forecast inventory needs by investing in a business intelligence (BI) system.
You may be hesitant to drop a bunch of money on upgraded tech, but we promise it’ll pay for itself in no time, thanks to reduced operational costs.
Automate everything
Speaking of new technologies, automation is becoming more widespread throughout every warehouse. Essential workflow processes like data collection, scanning, packing and many more can all be automated. Automating these systems reduces overhead costs and eliminates the risk of human error.
Just like with investing in new software, the machinery needed to fully automate a warehouse isn’t exactly cheap. But don’t skimp on your robots—buying the latest and greatest technology sets you up for success.
Train your employees
Even after you automate things, you’ll still need human employees to help run the show. Ensure they can do their jobs safely and efficiently by setting strict safety standards and developing an organization plan. Frequent training sessions are the best way to get everyone on the same page to reduce accidents and essentially improve profits.
Lamberson Packaging Solutions can help
In addition to our tips for managing warehouse inventory, Lamberson Packaging Solutions has all of the warehouse and industrial supplies you need. Contact us today to check out our vast inventory of goods.