Warehouse Forklift

Improving the Efficiency of Your Warehouse Or Shipping and Receiving Department
By Christine O Kelly

A busy warehouse or shipping and receiving department can often be a bottleneck in a production line. It is also an area commonly overlooked. To improve the output of this area, you need to increase the speed and ease with which it operates. Rather than increasing the number of staff members, consider the equipment used in this area. Is it really doing the job it needs to do or is there additional equipment that can make this job more efficient?

Moving Pallets And Loads

The equipment used to move loads around your building and in and out of trucks depends on your set up and the amount of space you have available. A used forklift with a narrow aisle design might be better for moving loads through a warehouse toward a loading dock. You will also be able to use reinforced industrial shelving to store waiting loads vertically, saving valuable space.

If you have no need to raise loads to great heights and only need something to move pallets on and off transport trucks, you may want to consider a pallet jack instead of a used forklift. If you find yourself having to constantly wait on a rental, why not purchase a used forklift? Purchasing the right style of used forklift and accessories may seem like an expense at the start, but the return on investment will be well worth it in the end.

Weighing Loads

Anything shipped by a transport company has to be weighed before it can be loaded. Having to weigh each pallet out by the piece is a long, drawn out process, particularly if everything on the pallet has a different weight. Rather than having staff use a small desktop scale, consider having a scale the size of a standard load installed into the floor. This way, the employee only has to pull the load onto the scale, pull off with the pallet jack or used forklift, and record the weight. You can weigh with the equipment under the load, but be certain it sits in the same place on the scale each time and that the weight of the equipment is subtracted for accuracy.

Securing Products

To prevent damage to the product while traveling, the products need to be secured on the pallet. This often requires some kind of shrink wrap or plastic wrap around the outside. Instead of having the rolls on a handle, consider an automatic shrink wrap machine that spins the pallet and covers the entire load in one step. A strapping machine will prevent boxes from opening up during transport. For larger equipment, consider having stands that hold the straps and clasps all together in one spot so the worker can keep everything together. In addition, consider a custom made stand that holds labels, bills of lading, packing slips, knives, tape, and any other minor equipment needed to get a package wrapped, loaded, and on its way. The fewer steps each person makes, the less time wasted, giving your employees more energy throughout the day.

Whether you run a grocery store in a small town, or a large warehouse with a shipping and receiving department in Illinois, forklift and moving equipment, weighing stations, and even the securing of loads can eat up a lot of time if they are inconvenient. If you find this area doesn't work as efficiently as the rest of your business, carefully examine each task in the area and see where you can make improvements. Even the smallest change can make a huge difference when added up over time.