Operational spring cleaning – Avoid April showers to enjoy the May flowers

Editor’s Note: The following by Chris Arnold, director of operational support services for Intelligrated, is part of Modern’s new Other Voices column. The series, published on Wednesdays, will feature ideas, opinions and insights from end users, analysts, systems integraters and OEMs. Click on the link to learn about submitting a column for consideration.

It may only be February, but spring and summer are both right around the corner. With the last of the Easter bonnets, plush bunnies and marshmallow Peeps coming out of reserve and into pick modules, it’s time to start planning for the spring and summer surge. Lawn and garden products, fresh produce and warm weather fashion assortments will soon be hitting the receiving dock. Are you ready to begin spring cleaning?

Here are some tips to help your operation get ready:

Slotting: Out with the old and in with the new
Now is the time to review and rotate your SKU inventory and answer a few questions.

Do you have each SKU in the appropriate storage location? Examine the cubic velocity of your item master and forecasts for the new SKU set, and move items at the end of their life cycle to slower moving locations and single deep racking or shelving.

Are your high-velocity SKUs in the right pick face, pick module or slapper line? Plan to slot the new spring and summer higher velocity movers and initial allocation inventory into slapper lines and deeper modules for lower cost-per-piece fulfillment.

Have you considered cross-docking? Cross-docking your fastest movers and/or initial allocation inventory could further reduce handling costs.

Do you have enough locations for storage and picking? Consider consolidating slow moving or out-of-season inventory to free up locations. Engage your IS team for all adjustments needed to your WCS or WMS to accommodate these changes.

Personnel: Prepare your staff
Team meeting: Refresh your associates and managers on procedures and operational changes required to handle the upcoming seasonal influx.

New procedures: Make sure all associates are refreshed on safety procedures, and evaluate the need for new procedures. Now is a good time to introduce new procedures based on what you’ve learned from the holidays and past seasonal peaks.

Spring Cleaning: Prepare your facilities and equipment
Safety first: More volume means more traffic through your facility. Inspect and refresh floor striping, evaluate your machine guarding and ensure all safety signage is up-to-date.

Preventive maintenance: Ready your material handling equipment with necessary preventive maintenance in preparation for increased volume and extra production requirements.

Summer temperatures: Prepare for climbing spring and summer temperatures and make sure all cooling systems, fans, ceiling vents and dock louvers are maintained and ready for operation. A cool and happy workforce is a productive workforce.

Housekeeping: Top off sorter oilers and ensure guarding on chain drives are in place.
Opening vents and dock doors to bring in a spring breeze can increase dust and debris entering into the building.

With a little preparation, your operation will sail through those April showers and be ready to smell the roses this spring.

Click on the link to learn more about submitting an Other Voices column to MMH.com.