It sometimes seems difficult to improve warehouse productivity even further. I hear you thinking: my employees are already working fast. Or: surely I have a WMS? True, but there are a number of measures you can implement to work even more efficiently in the department store.
Reorganise the warehouse
Which products are the most popular? Place these in a strategic location within the warehouse. To do this, use vertical, automated storage systems that automatically position popular products close to the warehouse staff.
Let technology handle the goods
Around the festive season, Amazon deployed Kiva robots to pick orders. The robots delivered the tray containing the required products to the order picker, who then processed the order. This makes the work a little more monotonous for the warehouse worker, but it saves them a considerable amount of walking time.
Measure staff performance
Of course, you trust your warehouse staff. However, it is a well-established fact that employees work faster and more accurately simply because they know their performance is being measured.
Use ASN (Advanced Shipping Notification)
ASN informs warehouse managers of the time a consignment is due to arrive. This information is crucial for ensuring sufficient staff are scheduled.
Implement pick-to-voice or pick-to-light
Systems such as these not only speed up order picking but also ensure that staff make fewer mistakes. The technology informs order pickers of the exact location and the required quantity of a product. This means staff do not have to search through a piece of paper for the product number and the order size.
LogistiekProfs Editorial Team
Image: Mark Hunter (cc)
