Do you want to know how to avoid the mayhem of warehouse clean-up? Be prepared for visitors at any moment by following our tips and tricks for an always-ready warehouse.
If you’ve spent much time in warehousing, you’ve probably been a part of the chaos that ensues when the warehouse needs to be cleaned up for company. That might mean visitors from the corporate office, external auditors, regional management, or sales tours, for example, are paying a visit.
No matter the reason for the meet (and the cleanup), everyone panics and starts trying to make the place presentable by sweeping, organizing, hiding random boxes, and trying to fix obvious inventory issues.
But, after a while, that panicky cleanup activity gets a little tiring. And you have to wonder, “How can I avoid all this drama and just stay ready?”
We have some general tips for doing just that:
- Own your Processes
- Understand the risks in every process. In addition to reviewing any systemic anomalies, look around each functional area for obvious physical problems in the process.
- Identify irregularities and modify processes to prevent any avoidable troubles. Make it a priority to deal with the exceptions in real-time so that issues don’t accrue.
- Require Consistency
- Train users in a consistent manner across all processes, including how they should be handling the exceptions and abnormalities.
- Confident users are less likely to leave a problem for the next guy to deal with, and they will be more likely to resolve it.
- Maintain Inventory Integrity
- Keep the inventory accurate through associate awareness and regular cycle counting.
- React immediately to any reported shortages or variances.
- Deal with issues promptly to avoid a scenario which causes audit failure.
- Make Housekeeping a Priority
- Combat warehouse complacency and drive a culture that maintains a lean and tidy workspace.
- Implement checks and balances across teams and departments.
- Encourage feedback, look for associate engagement, and celebrate success.
- Stay Current with Document Management
- Support and teach document management as a priority every day on every shift.
- Make sure all associates are trained to manage both electronic and paper documents.
- Manage the Yard/Docks
- Keep the “Yard and Dock” log updated and accurate in real-time.
- Be mindful of the driver’s arrival, appointment, and departure times.
Preparedness is at the heart of maintaining an orderly warehouse. Being prepared for an audit of any kind relies on understanding the audit risks and managing the daily discipline to minimize those risks.
We need to step back and look at the operation with a fresh eye and identify the opportunities to improve. It is easy to get bogged down in the daily activities of shipping and receiving and forget about the little details. However, we must keep focused on the fact that to maintain a world-class facility, we need to put some additional effort in daily.
Only a few minutes a day, per associate, will mean that the call to “clean up” will not be as gut-wrenching as it was once. Instead of running around trying to hide unused pallets and unfiled paperwork from visitors, we can focus on turning on the coffee, welcoming our guests, and showing off our “Always Ready” warehouse.
Call Katalyst Software Services Limited today to discuss how we can help make your warehouse “Always Ready!”
