Warehouses have many moving parts. Anyone familiar with warehouse operations knows that increasing efficiency in these environments is easier said than done. Customer demands are higher than ever, thanks to the “Amazon effect,” or the expectation that a product will arrive quickly and cheaply.
Prioritizing efficiency has many benefits, including reduced operational costs and enhanced customer satisfaction through faster order fulfillment, and it offers a scalable foundation for accommodating business growth. However, a disorganized warehouse can lead to higher overhead, increased customer returns, bad reviews, and even lost revenue.
While many technological solutions are designed to increase warehouse efficiency, many lower-tech solutions are much easier to implement and positively impact your company culture. To explore these solutions, we sat down with John Faetanini, Process Engineer at Adherex, to discuss tips for increasing efficiency in warehouse environments and how you can adopt these products, tools, and philosophies to reap the benefits in your warehouse.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to make improvements, save time, make the operator’s lives easier, and do anything and everything we can do to help.”
– John Faetanini, Process Engineer at Adherex
1. Organize the workspace
According to John, one of the biggest keys to saving time and creating a smooth workflow is making sure the workspace is clean and organized. Keeping each warehouse area neat speeds up shipping times and helps prioritize safety. OSHA reports that warehouses suffer from a higher rate of fatal injuries than all other industries. Using appropriate labels and signage can save lives.
Designate specific areas for receiving, packaging, cross-docking, and shipping. Use clear labels for tools and materials to minimize search time for tools, tapes, and other materials. Use color film for identifiers.
Inventory management is also vitally important. Keeping commonly used items like tape, stretch film, and boxes within easy reach is essential. Recognizing this need, Adherex developed a stocking program to keep commonly requested items from our customers ready with shorter lead times.
2. Reduce waste
The “Lean” methodology can be applied to warehousing to improve efficiency in almost every regard. The process begins by looking at the current state of the process. Then, figure out ways to eliminate redundant steps and improve efficiency, which leads to time savings and waste reduction.
By documenting processes (more on this in the training section below), you can identify friction points in workflows and brainstorm ways to eliminate wasteful elements or steps in processes. Lean, as it applies to logistics, is an ongoing process that can reap great rewards after months and years of sustained efforts.
Learn more: Leaning into Lean: Boosting Business Performance with Lean Manufacturing Techniques
3. Use the right tape and labels to communicate effectively
Adherex offers several tape products that ensure quality control. Automated tape dispensers speed up sealing packages while ensuring consistency. Reinforced filament tape requires fewer layers for heavy-duty packages, saving time and material. Primetac (an Adherex company) makes carton sealing tape that John uses daily and describes as “super reliable, one-and-done very strong adhesion.”
Pre-cut tapes with instructions like “Fragile” or “Handle with Care” save time labeling while sealing packages and aiding with safety efforts.
4. Use the proper film for the correct application
Securing pallets or packages for transportation is incredibly important and a source of waste from improperly secured parcels. Adherex offers several products that help with this issue to increase warehouse efficiency. Automatic wrapping machines are recognized for their efficiency and versatility, significantly enhancing packaging operations. They offer considerable savings in labor and time compared to alternative products like hand stretch film, tape, rubber bands, and twine.
Pallet bands, like sanstrap®, also offer an affordable and durable solution. John elaborates, “These are basically elastic bands that wrap around pallets or packages. They’re very strong and durable. They can be reused, and they’re very user-friendly.”
Stretch film is also a viable solution in this category. Adherex uses both the machine hand stretch wrap and extended core stretch wrap. Wrapping is the last step for sending out pallets, ensuring everything is secure.
Also read: Rapid Prototyping: Accelerating Innovation and Efficiency
5. Train employees in efficiency best practices
Training does not end at onboarding. Even seasoned professionals can learn new ways to prioritize efficiency and safety.
As John says, “Documenting our shop processes is a big thing. I looked at all the steps we take to complete a process. From that, I’ve created work instructions, standard operating procedures, and training materials to help cross-train our operators so that they have more capabilities and can do more things.”
6. Continuous improvement for warehouse efficiency
Continuous improvement (aka “kaizen”) is a principle of Lean logistics and manufacturing that emphasizes constantly optimizing processes. At Adherex, our goal is to do everything in our power to help you increase productivity and achieve the success you’re aiming for.
We are dedicated to continuously improving our workflows and to helping you improve your warehouse efficiency. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
