Tips for improving warehousing operations

February 10, 2025

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As long as essential parts and products, such as Sirem motors, Dinal couplings and Berges speed belts roll out on time and customers receive their goods and are happy, warehouse operations are easy, right? Not quite. The process involved in warehousing and the storing, handling, processing and distribution of goods is often more complex than first perceived and requires some pretty tight organisation.

Matt Grierson, managing director of Dexion, provider of industrial and commercial storage solutions throughout Europe, says only a small percentage of companies approach him because they want to move into a larger premises, and the rest have sufficient space they are just not using it to its optimum.

“Inefficiency just happens. You start with a big empty shell that’s high and deep and you slowly begin to fill it as your company grows. Most of the company’s effort are concentrated on generating sales, naturally, and your warehouse is full, but it’s wasted space and you’ve got a lot of unused potential,” Grierson told The Guardian.

If you are the likes of a gearbox distributor, an Amt linear bearings manufacturer, or run a warehouse in any kind of capacity, you may find the following tips useful for improving warehousing operations.

Organise meticulously

As Cisco Eagle advises, all warehouse owners and managers should organise their goods carefully by dividing their facility into zones based on the type of pick. Such clearly mapped out organisation will simplify picking and re-slotting as similar items are grouped together.

Implement real-time, actionable data

In order to make effective alterations to operational practices in a warehouse and to keep on top and maintain efficiency within all operations, you should be utilising real-time data gathering systems.

Analyse picking methodology

In its ‘10 ideas for a more efficient warehouse operation’ article, Shelf Plus advises analysing picking methodology so that it is tailored for your organisation and specific requirements. The correct picking methodology, whether it’s a multi-order, single order, or zone picking, is “critical for optimising productivity,” writes Shelf Plus.

Implement software to assist with sequence orders

It’s the 21st century and if your warehouse operations are still a little too old school and traditional, it might be time to get a bit more up to date with modern times by using software to sequence procedure operations and events.

Using software designed for sequencing orders will help you to organise workflow more efficiently and optimise sequence performance.

Apriso highlights some key ways to use technology to run a more productive warehouse, stipulating that collaboration is crucial in the efficient running of any warehouse environment.

Focus on replenishing

As Cisco Eagle writes, focusing on replenishing is just as important as picking methods and that “Putaway logic can help you define both receiving process and stock locations.”

Loading and shipping

It is important to remember that in terms of loading and shipping, first in is not always first out. It is important that trucks are loaded in reverse order, with the last items placed in the trucks being the first items to be unloaded.

YB Components has more than 20 years’ experience in the supply of couplings and clutches, industrial gearboxes and motors, variable speed pulleys and many more ancillary products. We might be experts in helping manufacturers distribute their industrial parts all over the world, but when it comes to your internal warehousing operations, it’s up to you to organise processes to their optimum.