If you’re looking to get the best out of your team, then your workspace is always going to play a big factor in that. How it does this depends on the nature of the workspace. If you own a warehouse, then there are a lot of ways that not investing in it properly can lead to inefficiencies that can slow your team down and cost you money. Here, we’re going to look at a five-pronged approach you can take to target those inefficiencies.
Look at your layout
How your warehouse is laid out, including where you set up your shelving units, where you store PPE, and where you keep your vehicles and machinery can play a huge role in efficiency. You want to keep the lines of sight and travel paths as clean and clear as possible, making it easier for your team to navigate.
Keep it clean
Of course, there are a whole host of reasons to want to keep your warehouse in good condition. Make sure that any walkways or paths are kept clear, and that boxes or stock are never left there. Invest in the equipment and training needed to make your warehouse workers able to quickly tidy and clean up after any mess. Aside from creating a less bothersome work environment, they can help you cut down on the potential for accidents due to slip and fall incidents.
Visibility is crucial
As big as warehouses are, and as often as visibility can be obscured by shelving, machinery, stock, and the like, you have to consider visibility. Poor visibility means a greater chance of making mistakes, losing items, and even getting lost. A good set of stadium LED lights can enhance lighting over much wider areas. You should also look at installing smaller task and spot lighting for areas that require extra focus, too.
Stay lean with your inventory
Efficiency is just as much about the use and wastage of your resources as it is about allowing your team to work to the best of their capabilities. For that reason, you should adhere to the principles of lean when you can. In essence, keep only what you need in your inventory, keep it as long as possible, and work to anticipate when you need more inventory in the future.
Your choice of frontline manager matters
Systematic approaches to inefficiency, as mentioned above, are crucial for getting the best out of your team and your warehouse. However, it’s important to have a calm, capable worker with good judgment on hand to be able to deal with situations of waste and inefficiency as they arrive. As such, you should take the time to make sure that your frontline manager is the right person for the job.
The above tips are just a starting point, a set of principles and points of focus that you should keep in mind going forward. In time, you’re going to notice more inefficiencies that you can tackle. The strive for excellence has to be constant, after all.
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