Improving a warehousing operation is a complex endeavor that can be approached from any number of angles. Here are 13 common actions you can consider in any warehouse improvement effort:
13 Best Practices for Warehouse Productivity
March 17, 2011
by Scott Stone
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
5 Ways to Avoid Costly Conveyor Breakdowns
December 17, 2010
by Scott Stone
Conveyors are exceptional in their productivity enhancement for manufacturing and distribution operations, but they need attention – and not just from your maintenance group. Everyone involved with them should be aware of the safety and performance issues involved. Here are five practices for happy conveying…
Tags: conveyors, conveyor systems, maintenance, industrial maintenance, parts
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Pallet Rack Wire Decking: Calculating Gauges and Capacity
December 7, 2010
by Scott Stone
Wire gauge is a crucial element in wire pallet rack deck design and is also one of the first places manufacturers look to when needing to cut costs, meaning it’s one of the first places you should look when comparing decking for your pallet rack project. Lower cost is great, but only if you’re getting the capacity and durability you need.
Just because two decks are the same size in no way makes them the same deck. Here are the critical differences:
Tags: industrial storage, Pallet Rack, wire decking
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Why Warehouse Employees Ignore Safe Lifting Advice – and How to Help Them
December 5, 2010
by Scott Stone
The most common advice that ergonomics experts, OSHA, and other researchers provide to people in warehousing or other jobs that require manual lifting is that you should always bend your knees and lift that way, rather than bend at the waist to pick something up. Repetitive stress on the lower back is staggering: 20% of workplace injuries are related to lower back issues. Lifting right is essential to employee safety, and also to preventing Worker Compensation claims.
Even when you train employees to lift right – and we know that not everyone does – they frequently ignore the advice. Why?
Tags: ergonomics, lifting, musculoskeletal, warehouse workers, back issues, injury prevention
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Saving Space in Rack Storage Areas
December 3, 2010
by Scott Stone
Pallet rack storage is relatively inexpensive and extremely common. In many facilities, it also consumes the majority of square footage. When you can cut down on this space, significant gains can be made that allow you to use the square footage for other purposes. Here are some ideas for reducing your rack storage footprint while maintaining storage capacity.
Tags: pallet racks, dock doors, storage density
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
How to Safely Store Gas Cylinders
October 26, 2010
by Scott Stone
One of the more dangerous items that you’ll find at virtually every facility is the humble gas cylinder. In warehouses or manufacturing operations, you’ll find LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) canisters that power gas forklifts. You’ll also find vertical cylinders for welders, cutting torches, or other equipment operations. Too often, you will find them standing against a wall or on the dock with no protection at all.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: security, gas cylinders, LPG tanks, propane tank storage
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
Cantilever Racks and Lateral Deflection
October 21, 2010
by Scott Stone
Cantilever racks are the best way to store long, heavy loads. Whether the load is a single item or a bundle of them (like lumber, tubing, or pipes), as long as you understand the load, these racks are ideal storage. One key to correctly loading and specifying them is nailing the necessary lateral spacing vs. load weight so that you have enough arms beneath the load.
Tags: lumber storage, pipe and tubing racks, warehouse racking, cantilever rack
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
A Quick Guide to Reducing Warehouse Costs
September 29, 2010
by Scott Stone
Over at the Operations & Fulfillment site, Curt Barry has written a brief, informative piece on reducing warehouse costs. In particular during a difficult economic climate, cost reduction is at the top of mind for distribution operations.
Tags: distribution center, product slotting, warehouse productivity, ROI, labor management
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
Conveyor Systems: Total Cost of Ownership
September 28, 2010
by Scott Stone
The amount on your purchase invoice isn’t the last time you’ll pay for that conveyor, but those ongoing costs of operations can be dramatically reduced by making good decisions at the point of purchase. Conveyor systems designed for future considerations slash costs and perform better.
Tags: ROI, Sustainability, Conveyor, warehousing, conveyor systems
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Shipping Docks & Safety: Dealing with Blind Spots
August 17, 2010
by Scott Stone
Shipping & receiving docks are a particularly dangerous area of most operations because so much activity takes place in a confined space. You have truck loading, unloading, staging, inspections, and much more. You have people like order pickers, drivers and guests potentially in the mix. In your average warehouse, the docks take up 20% of the square footage but host 80% of the activity. As you know, at times that activity can be fast-paced – even frenzied as full pallets are taken in, or loaded ones are being loaded into trailers. This is a time rife with possibilities for accidents. How can you prevent them?
Tags: dock layout, warehouse safety, forklift safety, shipping & receiving, Safety & Ergonomics
Posted in Docks & Shipping|