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The key to having smooth-running warehouse operations is to make sure that your workforce is content and comfortable when fulfilling their roles. It’s also important that morale is kept as high as possible. There are multiple ways in which you can make the lives of your employees easier whilst at work whilst also benefiting your own business in the process. In this article, we’ll be discussing exactly what you can do to make sure a productive warehouse is also a happy one.
Improve your warehouse layout, taking advantage of all available space
If you’re finding that you’re running out of space to put stock or are lacking communal spaces for your employees to sit together during break times, then it’s time to rethink your warehouse layout. This is also the case if you’re struggling to find somewhere to store your heavy machinery.
It’s paramount that everything has a place to help mitigate workplace accidents. Moreover, the extra space you find could also be used for communal lunchtime areas where workers can sit and chat together, therefore boosting their morale and making them feel happier and more included in the process. If you’re looking to create additional space, for whatever reason, consider the following things:
- Reorganising the warehouse, making sure popular items are easy to access
- Installing floor-to-ceiling warehouse racking
- Implementing specialist equipment, such as multi-directional forklifts and VNA forklifts, to navigate narrow aisles and compact spaces
- Adding mezzanine flooring as it can be used as an office on top and a storage area underneath, or you might just wish to use it as a storage space entirely
Make sure additional training is offered
It’s required by law that your employees are kept up to date with any training, especially if it comes under requirements of Health and Safety. This means that they’ll have to regularly attend refresher courses in order to operate forklifts and other pieces of warehouse machinery.
This helps to keep your workers safe, whether on-foot or behind the wheel of a warehouse machine. In addition to that, offering such training also gives younger or less experienced workers the opportunity to learn new skills and work their way up the ladder in terms of a solid career path.
Be as organised as possible
We have already touched on this slightly at the beginning, but making sure that your warehouse is organised means that workers will be able to find what they need quickly. This lessens the amount of time spent looking for items that need to be picked which, in turn, increases productivity as well as improving picking, packing and shipping times.
Make sure your employees know the exact location of items and ensure everything is put back in its place when someone has finished using it or if they no longer need it. This can be learnt through training programmes when they join your team or as a refresher course.
Understand the needs of your employees, keeping an eye on morale, specifically
Your employees aren’t robots, and they shouldn’t be treated as such. In turn, you need to keep an eye out in terms of how they might be feeling. If you find that they’re struggling to perform a certain task, ask them what they’re finding difficult and if there’s anything you can do to help them on their way.
If they know that you’re on their side and that you’re always on hand to help them if they’re struggling, without judgement or consequences, then they’ll be far more likely to come to you with any problems, thus increasing trust and boosting morale simultaneously. The happier your workers are, the more likely they’ll enjoy their work and they’ll then want to make sure they do a good job, which also means improved productivity.
Make sure your employees are safe & comfortable
This comes under making sure that everyone is trained properly to ensure that workplace accidents do not occur. If someone does receive an injury as a result of doing their job, then you could be liable for compensation, but it will also cause harm to someone who you should have done your utmost to protect. Make sure that your employees, no matter their role, are trained fully in safety in the workplace.
This will cover something as simple as making sure boxes are off the floor and that doorways are clear right up to safe operation of heavy machinery. You also need to check that your workers are comfortable in their roles. Ask them if they need additional equipment to make their job more bearable if it’s a manual role, such as additional foot stools, kick stools, kneeling pads, additional lifting and handling training or even training them to use a lifting machine so as to take the strain off of them.
Multy Lift have over three decades of experience in the material handling industry. We are proud to supply customers throughout the UK with warehouse equipment, both second-hand and new, including forklifts, reach trucks, stackers, pallet trucks, order pickers and more. If you would like further information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our professional, specialist team – we’re always happy to hear from you.
