How to avoid delivery delays through a good warehouse organization
Avoid delivery delays with a good warehouse structure
What is certain is that every warehouse needs a firm and uniform structure. And this applies to all warehouses, regardless of size. Even small storage rooms without the right structure offer enough space for chaos and thus for delays in delivery. So anyone who wants to focus on an optimal, fast and efficient workflow of all processes and work steps in his/her company should invest sufficient time in the planning and implementation of a good warehouse structure.
This means that your warehouse should be uniformly divided, named and recorded in terms of both space and documentation. This includes first and foremost a clear structure of your warehouse. Racks, pallets or other stowage elements should be positioned to allow smooth passage between aisles. A sufficiently broad design of the aisles supports this. It enables your employees to quickly reach the respective storage locations, compile the required goods and process orders quickly – it also saves valuable time and is a first step in preventing delivery delays.
Benefit from the advantages of automation and technology
An other point to keep delivery dates is the consistent marking of storage locations and goods. For larger warehouses, it is also recommended to divide the area into different zones. If each area has a suitable, individual designation, it is easier for your warehouse staff to orient themselves and supports a faster processing of orders. In this context, however, it is important to create the labels for the warehouse in close cooperation with the warehouse management. It is the only way to ensure that all data can be entered correctly and uniformly into the warehouse management program you use at your location.
A structuring with barcodes is also helpful for warehouse organization. These ensure that logistical processes are accelerated, that storage locations are coded and that employees can quickly confirm whether they are in the right storage location for the right product. Especially for new employees this can be a considerable relief to find their way around the warehouse. This in turn promotes the smooth running of all work processes in the warehouse and prevents delivery delays due to disorientation and loss of time.
Maintain regular checks on stock levels
A customer has to wait for his delivery because you do not have enough goods in stock? This would be an unfavorable case, which can be avoided with the right warehouse organization. What matters is far-sighted planning and regular checks of your stock levels. If you ignore this, bottlenecks can quickly occur with regard to the goods and this has a direct effect on delivery times. The result: delayed delivery, dissatisfied customers and rising costs for your company. Regular inventory counts or complete inventory documentation can help here.
Make sure that you always have enough goods available. In this context it is also recommended to work with a product buffer. If you always have a little more goods in stock than you need, you are on the safe side with every order. In addition, a goods buffer makes you more independent of suppliers and your company can act more independently. The less dependent you are on other suppliers, the more autonomously you can work and better tailor your warehouse organization to your customers and their orders. This is also an important factor in avoiding delivery delays. Especially true if you have your own production. Comprehensive planning of all processes is important here so that you have enough goods at your disposal at all times. You should therefore always consider the replenishment lead time of the materials required for production. This is the only way to produce the right quantities at the right time. Another important point to avoid delays in delivery is smooth internal logistics. A seamless communication between warehouse, production and dispatch is crucial for this.
Communication as a success factor
Nevertheless, it is not always possible to act completely independently. It is therefore very important that you maintain a constant dialogue with your suppliers. This is also an essential part of a good warehouse organisation. Communicate regularly with your suppliers and inform them in good time about new, additional or unscheduled large orders. So they can also adapt to your requirements and supply you quickly. This in turn supports your logistical work and prevents a delay in the announced delivery date.
Communication plays a big role. Make sure that all technical, spatial and personnel factors are related and coordinated with each other. Only if all processes are connected can they function without problems. This also applies to the communication of all departments in your company. If these are regularly exchanged, errors in the transmission of information and the associated loss of time during order processing due to discrepancies can be avoided.
Recognizing Warehouse Organization as a Central Process
How well the logistical work in a company functions depends largely on the organisation of its warehouse and all related processes and work steps. A warehouse not only serves as a storage area, but also influences the operative business. If there is a delay in delivery, the reason for this is in most cases an inadequate warehouse organisation. In order to prevent such a situation from arising in the first place, it is crucial to ascribe to the warehouse the central role it actually plays. Only when you have recognized its importance in connection with the entire company, you will be able to structure it optimally for all processes.
However, it can be difficult to make subsequent changes to the structure and organization of your warehouse while it is in operation. It is therefore advisable to consider how you can structure and organise your warehouse in the best possible way right from the planning stage. Take advantage of the opportunity at this early stage to prevent a delivery from being delayed - long before it even occurs.
As a general rule, honesty lasts the longest. For this reason, it is essential that you only give your customers realistic delivery times and rely on clear and honest communication. Inform your customers in good time in the event of a delay in delivery, delivery problems or even company holidays. So your customer knows when he may have to wait longer for his goods and will certainly appreciate your heads-up.
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