Managing a warehouse is tailor-made. The way you manage a company depends, among other things, on the experience of the staff or the size of the company. Nevertheless, there are some general rules you should follow as a logistics manager. In particular, mistakes made by companies often show similarities. Below, we discuss four common mistakes in the warehouse: mistakes that can easily be avoided.
Prefer paperwork to technology
They really do exist: supply chains that still do their business from paper. They rely on a simple spreadsheet or employee memory. Small warehouses in particular tend to think that a WMS is not for them. But keeping track of everything on paper (or in an Excel file) slows down processes. Moreover, it increases the likelihood of errors. A WMS may seem like quite an investment, but it is an investment that pays off in the long run. Moreover, WMSs come in all shapes and sizes. There are really cheaper systems on the market that don't need to be complicated at all. These WMSs support inbound, storage and outbound operations and lead to greater efficiency, fewer errors and sometimes lower inventories.
Keeping excess stock
Many warehouses are still guilty of hoarding rage. Wholesalers in particular have a habit of stocking up too much when products are on sale. They are then left with copious stocks. Less stock means less money in the warehouse, resulting in better cash flow. Don't suddenly stock a lot of products when they are on sale. This way, you will avoid having too much money in the warehouse.
Not investing in staff development
In times of austerity, staff deployment is not usually at the top of logistics managers' spending list. Yet it is important not to cut back on staff. After all, they are the carriers of the warehouse. Give them training and the opportunity to grow within the company. This may cost money, but it ends up costing even more money to hire and induct new staff.
Forgotten to tidy up
A cluttered warehouse doesn't seem like such a problem. Old pallets lying in a corner might look a bit untidy, but do employees really care? They do. Several studies show that a tidy working environment increases efficiency. So too in the warehouse. Moreover, there are no items in the way when employees want to move from place A to place B. Reserve time at the end of each shift for tidying up the workplace. This ensures that the next shift can get straight to work and not spend time cleaning up rubbish.
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