QC Software’s Low-Cost Plan for Reducing Inventory Damage in the Warehouse

April 20, 2012 - PRLog -- The costs associated with inventory damage can be quite substantial.

When damage occurs, companies have to repair or rework the inventory, sell it for scrap or trash it. Companies often keep damaged goods for a long time before processing it, taking up valuable warehouse space and making it more difficult to manage incoming shipments. In the long run, inventory and labors costs are much higher than they should be.

“A considerable amount of product damage can be prevented by the warehouse worker. Managers should focus on improving their material handling practices to minimize this problem,” states Rich Hite, President of QC Software, a leading provider of warehouse control systems.

Seven Inexpensive Ways to Minimize Inventory Damage

Improve pallet management. Inspect pallets regularly for signs of wear and tear. Broken planks and missing support blocks or nails can cause loads to fail. Make sure to load and wrap pallets correctly. The load should be stacked in a cubed, uniform and stable manner.

Don’t overload.  Too much weight on shelving or racks is an accident waiting to happen. Post the maximum weight capacity at each storage location as a reminder.

Upgrade the lights.  Improve the lighting system to prevent product damage and save on energy costs. Studies have found that natural light reduces the error rate throughout the order fulfillment process and improves worker safety.

Install safety equipment. Rack safety netting not only prevents injuries, it can prevent cartons from falling off palletized loads. Visibility mirrors are an inexpensive way to prevent accidents. Rack protectors partially absorb the impact of a forklift accident and help prevent a rack from collapsing.

Protect the building structure. Steel guarding and low clearance warning bars help prevent structural damage to beams and door frames. They also minimize damage to inventory being transported inside the warehouse.

Capitalize on ergonomics. Make sure workers are using ergonomic solutions perform their jobs. Workstations should be adjusted to the right height. Hoists and lifts reduce the physical stress of lifting and moving heavy loads. Pallet positioners make it easier to handle loaded pallets. Minimizing stress on the job helps reduce accidents and injuries.

Keep the facility clean and neat. Forklifts that navigate around obstructions in the aisles are more likely to dump their load or run into storage areas. Clean and unobstructed aisles enhance productivity and safety while reducing inventory damage.

You may not be able to totally eliminate inventory damage, but you can reduce the risk by creating the right work environment.

QC Software is recognized as an industry leader in providing innovative and adaptive software solutions for order fulfillment and distribution centers. Their warehouse control system provides advanced management capabilities for inventory control, resource scheduling and order management. For over 16 years, these solutions have enabled customers throughout North America and in Europe to streamline their warehouse operations with the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry.

For more information, contact Jerry List
Phone: 513.469.1424
Website: www.qcsoftware.com
Email:  info@qcsoftware.com