Improving the ergonomics of any warehouse operation may be the single easiest way to improve productivity – and that’s aside from the obvious safety and labor force protection aspects. Consider all the ways people move and work every day, every week, every year. Those repetitive motions take a toll both on the people doing the work and overall productivity. Ergonomics and productivity are not only related: they’re essential to each other.
Warehouse Ergonomics and Productivity: an Inseparable Relationship
February 6, 2024
by Scott Stone
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
How to Specify Dock Area Pallet Racks
January 9, 2024
by Scott Stone
Above: pallet racks are installed both to the side and in front of dock doors in tight space. Palletized loads are floor-staged nearby, further squeezing space.
Warehouse shipping docks are one of the busiest areas in any warehouse. You have the buzz of constant activity as shipments are received or processed out the door, with a mixture of people on foot, forklifts, carts, floor scales, pallets and storage areas. There may be extendable conveyors or other equipment in the same relatively compact footprint. During busy times, it gets more congested and less workable.
It’s also a popular area for palletized storage on, near and around the area. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Tags: shipping docks, loading dock safety, Receiving, forklift safety
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
5 Ways to Help Prevent Forklift-Pedestrian Accidents
December 12, 2023
by Scott Stone
Every company that operates forklifts struggles with pedestrian safety problems. The issues are well-documented; forklifts are often the most problematic safety machinery in any operation that utilizes them.Â
Tags: forklift, plant safety, forklift safety
Posted in Forklift - Pedestrian Safety|
Comparison: Conveyor Systems and Autonomous Mobile Robotics
September 12, 2023
by Scott Stone
Conveyors and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are both used in logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing, but have critical differences in terms of functionality, flexibility, and applications. Neither system is inherently superior to the other based on the use case, situation, load and operational goals. When you need to build a product transport system, they can often work in tandem to create the best solution.
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Order Picking, Accuracy and ROI for Industrial Automation
September 5, 2023
by Scott Stone
You could write a short novel–maybe a long one–about ROI for industrial automation projects.
If you’ve engaged in large-scale distribution or manufacturing automation projects, you probably have a good start on that very thing. ROI is a complicated endeavor with moving parts and shifting priorities. Because investments are always competing with other concepts, it often comes down to this: what’s most important to your company, your business environment and your industry.
Tags: Automation, return on investment, order fulfilment
Posted in Order Picking & Fulfillment|
OSHA’s Warehouse Safety Emphasis Program: An Analysis
August 1, 2023
by Scott Stone
Warehousing grown for most of the last decade, with a 5-6% annual growth rate expected for the next 5 years. That level of expansion stresses labor availability and supply chains, but has another implication: safety. In July 2023, OSHA announced what it terms a “new national emphasis” for workplace hazards for warehouses, distribution centers and retail storage facilities. Since nearly 2 million people work in the industry, the agency is interested in reducing injuries across the board.
What are the implications of this emphasis?
Tags: warehousing, distribution centers, fall protection
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|
When Should You Use a Yard Ramp?
July 6, 2023
Yard ramps are great for letting you load trailers in situations where you can’t back them to a dock because they can easily adjust to trailer heights. You can also use them to connect dock height to the ground in situations where that’s necessary. Beyond these basic situations, there are detailed reasons for using a dock ramp. Let’s look at those reasons:
Tags: shipping, forklifts, Receiving
Posted in Docks & Shipping|
Ways to Optimize Industrial Labor
June 1, 2023
by Scott Stone
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?
Tags: labor, ROI
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
The Right Caster Can Be a Game Changer
May 4, 2023
Casters need a moment! They know you don’t think about them in the grand scheme of a facility’s operations. They know they’re overlooked most of the time….until they’re not for all the wrong reasons.
But, if you take some time to get to the ground level of things, you can see that casters keep your warehouse moving forward. Yes, the task they carry out is a simple one (at least from our perspective), but only if you outfit your operations with the right caster solutions. You don’t want reoccurring problems with your casters, either.
Posted in Material Handling|
Options for Pallet Rack Floor-Level Storage Versatility
May 2, 2023
by Scott Stone
Change is inevitable, particularly in warehousing, manufacturing and distribution. Many warehouses will shift storage area missions over time. New SKUs, more inventory, and different business and operational missions can create the need for newer storage concepts. The problem? There isn’t always a place for new demands. When this occurs, one thing to consider is using the floor or lower levels of your rack system.
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|