Cartons affect the full sequence of warehousing operations, but are frequently overlooked.

Besides carton sizes, you must also consider carton construction. One box out of square may not matter much; over a whole shipment, un-squared cartons can cause issues up and down the line. They don’t stack well, may not convey correctly and could result in product damage. In fact, you may pay higher shipping costs due to the size, composition and condition of the simplest thing: the carton.

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73% of warehouse operators said they can’t find enough workers. The National Association of Manufacturers sees shortfalls today, and more in the future: an astonishing 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2030. With labor shortages the norm today and for the foreseeable future, how can you optimize, retain and improve labor in your operation?

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As new technologies emerge to help keep forklifts safer around pedestrians and each other, finding new ways to utilize your fleet of forklifts is more important than ever. Since supply chains are tight, more efficiency and safety should matter more than ever. Forklift accessories provide that aid in daily processes can offer that extra help without new lift trucks.

But what kind of accessories are out there?

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Warehouse managers are always interested in ways to optimize and measure their success. Usually these discussions revolve around measuring outcomes–pick rates, errors, ship rates, damage, etc. In any walk of life, it’s good to take some time to reflect on the overall state of your work, and that’s what a warehouse audit should do.

Let’s dive into some things you should measure and how you should get started.

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As the progression of baby boomer retirees continues–at a blistering pace of 10,000 each day–all industries are feeling the pressure to attract the younger generation. Not only is this need growing, but in terms of keeping up with the faster pace of business, it’s paramount. Warehousing is no different and faces the tough task of keeping younger workforces interested in walking through its doors for the long haul.

Just how do warehouse operators attract qualified hires from the younger generation? What are some ways not only to bring in these employees, but retain them?

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Today’s warehouse managers are fighting growing inventory levels, dealing with increased SKUS, and managing higher frequency of tiny orders. Dealing with this daily grind many often have no time to find or fix operational issues. If your company is not fortunate enough to have a team of industrial engineers, you could be missing many opportunities.

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A manager’s job is never done. There is always a cause to undertake or a situation to help control. I should know, I was a warehouse manager for a day.

Why was my tenure so short? Well, it was because my “job” consisted of directing some employees with whom I shared a unique bond….my children. We were working in General Mills Lift, Load & Haul distribution center at the Scott Family Amazeum, which provided a fantastic showcase for them to see just what efforts and machinations go into getting each and every package out to its destination.

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If you run a warehouse or distribution facility today, it’s likely that you are busy — really busy — and scrambling for time. E-commerce has changed the game, as customers demand more, faster, better. Managing a warehouse has always been a battle for time and the pressure never seems to subside. When we talk to warehouse managers and operators, here are some of the issues they face on a daily basis.

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If you run a distribution center, factory or warehouse, it’s not news to you that labor is in tight supply. Demands is up, and workers — particularly skilled, motivated, productive ones — have more options than ever. E-commerce has transformed the business, with constantly-escalating demand for pickers, packers, assembly workers, drivers and warehouse labor. With national unemployment rates below 4%, many other industries are competing with you for the same labor pool. What can you do to cope with these issues?

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In warehouses, we deal with tons of empty pallets, and the load can be overwhelming at times. Yet, people tend not to notice the effect all that lifting and manual manipulation has, because it’s cumulative. Pallets are routinely handled the same way because that’s what we are used to. The problem is really one of ergonomics: people who stress, push and strain with stacks of pallets on a daily basis are more likely to be injured. They certainly aren’t working at the speed you’d like. It’s wasted time with a serious downside.

The new Pallet Return Device offers a safer and way more efficient way to handle your pallets, all while making more perfect stacks.
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