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.
Warehouse Management Headaches and How to Relieve Them
August 23, 2018
by Scott Stone
Tags: 3PL, Third Party Logistics, ecommerce
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
The Final Frontier – Using Space Efficiently
August 16, 2018
In a recent article released by the Wall Street Journal, warehouse space was showcased as being at its tightest since 2000. While this should come as no surprise that this issue of space is consistently growing, the rate at which warehouse vacancy is dwindling is far outpacing the increase in new construction. Â In the second quarter of 2018 alone, industrial real estate availability fell to 7.2%. This creates in a unique predicament for those thriving and looking towards expansion, but also provides opportunities for those who can maximize their available footprint.
Tags: Warehouse Management, warehousing, space savings, storage, warehouse, warehouse productivity
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|
A Guide to Measuring Your Facility
August 2, 2018
by Scott Stone
We measure many facilities on-site, but there are times our customers either want to or need to measure their own buildings. Here is a quick guide to measuring for conveyors, racks and other material handling equipment.
Tags: facility design, facility layout, warehouse design, manufacturing facilities
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|
Dealing with Warehouse Labor Shortages
July 26, 2018
by Scott Stone
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?
Tags: labor, ROI, ecommerce
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
Warehouse Robotics – How to Apply Them to Your Needs
May 3, 2018
While warehouse robotics can be thought of as too futuristic, there are many e-commerce fulfillment applications being installed today that are set up to take full advantage of all they have to offer a facility. Some may be leery of this technology, but it would be a mistake to say that robotics would never apply to your warehouse.
Today’s robotic applications are all based on existing applications and technology, not uncharted research, and each generation of technology gets cheaper. Here are some important considerations when looking at applying warehouse robotics today.
Tags: e-commerce, Robotics, warehouse flow, Manufacturing
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
A Guide to Conveyor Rollers “Set Low”
April 24, 2018
by Scott Stone
When conveyor rollers are set low, you gain several advantages vs. rollers set high. When you do this, your conveyor has several advantages.
Tags: Accumulation Systems, conveyor design, rollers
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Order Picking Velocity: Storage and Picking Method Comparisons
April 12, 2018
by Scott Stone
When you consider the various storage media and order picking methods, it’s critical to understand why some items are better picked in a variety of storage media, and accessed by the right type of picking authentication. The following table is a visual comparison of these alternatives.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Factors for Storage Area Security
April 5, 2018
by Scott Stone
Although security experts agree that dock areas are probably the largest security concern in a warehousing operation, storage and picking areas are also a problem. What are some things you can do to reduce your pilferage risks?
Tags: distribution center pilferage, access control, Industrial Security, wire mesh security cages, secure storage
Posted in Security|
How To Choose The Right Cold Storage Facility for Your Needs
March 29, 2018
Because it links the manufacturing process with transportation to retailers, cold storage is one of the most important parts of the frozen food supply chain. The rise in e-commerce and evolution in where food is stored and how it gets to our homes is causing a massive increase in cold storage facilities across the nation. With supply chains becoming more and more complex and increasing in length, it’s more important than ever for providers to ensure that perishable products that are stored in their warehouses are kept within a strict temperature range (normally between -20 degrees Celsius and -28 degrees Celsius). A temperature variation of even a few degrees could ruin hundreds of pallets of food—and cost many thousands of dollars.
Tags: e-commerce, cold storage, frozen storage, 3PL cold storage
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Smarter Space in the E-Commerce Landscape
January 18, 2018
Online sales will account for 17% of all U.S. retail sales by 2022, up from a projected 12.7% in 2017. As you might imagine, warehouses are suffering from a major capacity crunch. Whereas previously warehouses were organized to handle large volumes of each product, E-commerce orders are characterized by a low quantity of many items or just a singular item. In an e-commerce oriented warehouse, huge quantities of SKUs exist, each needing their own specific storage slots.
Warehouse managers know that inventory levels can fluctuate anytime within a sales season, especially during a holiday when inventory levels are typically at their peak, often double or triple normal levels. Plus, because of the Amazon-effect, consumers are demanding more products with faster and better service, putting additional strain on warehouse space. Because of this growth, many businesses are looking for additional space to distribute and store products, but warehouse real estate is hard to find.
What is a retailer to do? The answer for additional space can be found within the four walls of your current operation.
Tags: warehouse, e-commerce, Order Picking & Fulfillment
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|