5 Steps to Optimize Warehouse Training & Reduce Labor Costs | Apex Safety Spotlight
Labor & Efficiency Challenges Top the List of Warehouse Challenges – Apex Offers Solutions
A recent industry survey provided some sobering statistics highlighting the current workforce challenge. Nearly 70% of respondents said they couldn’t find enough workers, and almost as many said that the workers they bring in are unreliable. Yet, almost 60% of respondents said they are spending more on labor. So, fewer workers, but higher labor costs. In addition, an ancillary outcome of the labor challenge is warehouse safety. A well-trained team familiar with your operation and facility is a safer team. Let’s see if we can provide a few warehouse training tips to help minimize the expense of onboarding new workers and improve safety at the same time.
Optimize Your Training Program
- Clearly identify the skills you need in your labor force. What is your current skills gap? Narrowly focus your training to ensure your workers are equipped to meet your expectations.
- Take advantage of online materials, but supplement with practical application of the learned skills on the warehouse floor.
- Test your training materials on current workers to obtain feedback and ensure that it sufficiently covers the needed content and does so most efficiently.
- Set graduated goals and measurements for success that your labor force should meet at different levels of experience.
- Reward your workers for meeting productivity goals. Don’t let the word “Rewards” scare you away… incentives don’t have to be extravagant. Show your workers that you are paying attention to their progress, that their impact on your business is valuable, and don’t underestimate the value of a productive, trained employee. Workers that feel appreciated stay longer and are more productive.
Onboarding New Warehouse Workers
Updating your training program can significantly reduce the time it takes for your newest employees to be productive. The faster they are productive, the lower the cost of labor so, it is in your best interest to make them feel comfortable in their role. In addition, there are several other areas to consider that can support your training program.
- Ensure your trainers are highly trained – the more efficient they are, the faster your new workers are on the floor gaining experience.
- Examine your HR process – can you do things more efficiently?
- Consider offering shift work or part-time for employees struggling with a full-time schedule.
- Automate rote processes – a large number of semi-automated systems are available that will reduce labor time for order picking and processing and allow you to operate with a smaller workforce and still meet your inventory goals. Some simple to install automation solutions can cut labor needs by 50 – 60% depending on your warehouse operation.
Warehouse safety and a productive workforce go hand-in-hand. The Apex team is available to help you with on-site group forklift operator training, pallet rack system-specific videos, integration of automation solutions, slotting methodologies, and more.
In addition, our rack repair app ensures that if you have an equipment strike vs. a pallet rack system, you can quickly evaluate the damage to determine the level of severity. Here’s more on the Apex Rack Repair App…
The Apex Rack Repair App is a free-to-download tool for evaluating pallet rack damage.
- Do It Yourself – use the app for guided damage inspection
- On-site Training – Apex will train your team to use the app and inspect rack damage
- Call the PROs – Apex professional rack inspection team will conduct a thorough rack and warehouse safety inspection using the app
Do It Yourself – use the app prompts to gather all necessary rack damage details including specs for pallet rack columns, struts, baseplates, anchors, and beams. Point & click features and 3D graphics help capture what you will need to order a custom repair kit, if necessary. Upload your findings at the end of the audit, and the Apex PROs will evaluate everything and reply with a detailed report, including an independent custom repair solution if needed.
On-Site Training – Apex comes to you and provides a thorough rack inspection training for your staff to help improve your internal inspection process and meet your warehouse safety goals.
Call the PROs – The Apex PROs are certified pallet rack inspectors, and they come to you to conduct a thorough rack inspection and overall warehouse safety assessment using the Rack Repair App.
You decide the best way to address your warehouse safety concerns and rack damage; the Apex team is here to support you. Call us for full-service support for all your warehouse needs.
Download the Apex Rack Repair Mobile App – Available on the App Store.
