Warehouses focus a great deal of effort in improving inventory management systems, order fulfillment procedures, communication methods, and more. While all of those factors are important, they are meaningless if there is not a good staff to do the work. Unfortunately, many warehouses undervalue their workers because they forget just how crucial they are to the overall success of the facility. Let’s take a closer look at why it pays to have great warehouse workers.
Catching Problems at the First Signs
Good warehouse workers are observant. They notice problems within the warehouse before they turn into large-scale obstacles. For instance, a forklift operator may tell his supervisor about an obstacle in a commonly used area. The obstacle can be removed right away, preventing a major delay in productivity later on. When a staff cares about their work environment, they will do all they can to take care of it.
Having the Power to Meet High Demands
Warehouses go through seasonal shifts in demand, usually in line with peaks in retail shopping. A good staff of workers can adapt to these shifts and accommodate to the increased workflow. Of course, the warehouse may still need seasonal workers to fulfill their orders, but the core staff members are usually happy to train/help them. As long as employees feel valued and motivated in the workplace, they will make sure it operates at maximum efficiency.
Trusting the Staff with Expensive Merchandise
A warehouse is often filled with a wide variety of items – from $1 trinkets to $10,000 purses and everything in between. The warehouse staff must be trusted to handle these products. Unloaders, pickers, packers, and shippers must be able to safely handle high-value and fragile items. The warehouse’s security system should control theft in the workplace, but having a good team of trustworthy people is another way to ensure that products are always protected in the warehouse.
Finding Fast Solutions for Time-Sensitive Issues
Every area of a warehouse is interconnected. If a problem occurs in one area, the delay can ripple into other departments. That’s why it is best to correct problems before they become too costly. A good staff will know what to do to correct a problem when it arises. Leaders can think their feet to find the best possible solution in the shortest amount of time. This will keep operations running smoothly, and it will ultimately determine the success of the day’s work.
Operating with Minimal Supervision
A well-trained staff needs minimal supervision. Supervisors should still be visible and accessible, but the staff should not need to constantly be monitored by upper-level workers. This allows supervisors to handle bigger tasks within the facility, rather than trying to micromanage the employees. Once again, this comes down to having a team of people that can be trusted to do their jobs properly.
Having great warehouse workers is one of the biggest factors in a facility’s success. We employ some of the best pickers, packers, forklift operators, loaders, drivers, and more here at our Maryland warehouse to ensure that our customers are properly taken care of.
For more information about warehousing, Contact Overflo at 1-800-626-0616