Winter- when temperatures keep plummeting, but demand for the warehouse and its operations is at its peak. It is essential to be fully prepared for festive seasons to ensure smooth and streamlined logistics.
Warehouse managers need to be smart about staffing, scheduling, and organising to ensure the chaos is to the minimum. As the famous saying goes, prevention is better than cure; this phrase cannot be more true when it comes to getting your warehouse ready for the coming winter months.
Want to make sure your warehouse operations run smoothly during the peak winter season?
Prepare your warehouse for winter and prevent downtime by following these expert tips.
Winterizing your warehouse can be challenging as running it efficiently requires round-the-clock efforts. However, it doesn't have to be complicated.
Managers can take basic measures to ensure they prepare the facility before the cold hits. This will ensure the workers have all the necessary supplies and a safe working environment during winter.
Strategic planning can make this hyped-up season much less stressful. Prime Associates explains nine key steps for any warehouse winterizing process for easy working, minus the stress and complications.
Keeping the warehouse up and running smoothly is the result of continuous efforts. In reality, maintaining a warehouse facility is a year-round process.
Many companies in western countries get their winterizing process done between Halloween and Thanksgiving when the weather starts to change and while people are busy enjoying the festivities.
While in India, businesses usually tend to get the winterization done around Diwali when everyone is immersed in the festive vibes.
You know, it's never too early to start preparing for winter. We cannot change the inevitable cold and the hurdles that come with it; but we can make efforts to ensure the safety of our workers, inventory, and overall business operations.
If there is any warehouse maintenance that needs attention, take care of them at the earliest. If ignored, the issue will only get worse with time. Moreover, getting a technician or mechanic may be tedious during winter as they may charge more for the services.
Also, if your warehouse is located at a place that receives heavy snowfall, any maintenance issue during heavy snow may derail your warehouse activities.
So, better safe than sorry; take care of your maintenance at the earliest for smooth warehouse operations for the winter. You will be glad you did!
Tip: Thoroughly check the facility and equipment to find the fault and repair and maintain it. Also, ensure the warehouse is all set for functioning before the season sets in.
One of the most drastic changes in winter is the loss of daylight hours. Schedule the most light-reliant tasks for daylight hours, since these are the most productive hours for warehouses.
During winter, the warehouse team needs to schedule its work accordingly as sunlight hours decrease. Also, ensure the warehouse has proper artificial lighting so that it operates efficiently in the dark as well.
Make adjustments to the schedule before winter arrives.
An essential step in winterizing the warehouse is to completely check the doors and windows for any possible leaks, as such leaks can let the cold air in, unnecessarily increasing the heating costs.
One can check air leaks via manual inspection, blower test, or pressurisation check.
Many warehouses hire experts for the task, but you can also do it independently.
Once the leaks are found, they can be easily dealt with by caulking or weatherstripping.
Tip: Keep in mind that this process may take days; the managers should get the job done, so they have sufficient time to perform seal checks before temperatures drop.
The expenses turn up to keep the warehouse warm. Saving money is vital for warehouse management, but workers also come first. When it gets too cold in the winter, turn up the heat.
Keep the warehouse warm for your workers, inventory, and equipment. This will not only boost morale and productivity but will also make up the money spent to keep the facility warm.
Keep the temperature high when workers are working, and turn it down when the warehouse is not operating.
Tip: Make sure there are no leaks around the doors and windows to achieve maximum energy efficiency.
Preparing your warehouse for winter also includes a complete drainage checkup. The last thing anyone wants is a leak when the cold hits. This issue is easy to prevent in time.
So what is included in a drainage check? It involves
Inspecting the facility’s pipes, roof, and gutter.
Clearing the debris, like leaves and sticks.
Checking the drainage for damage, leak, and rust.
If your warehouse has a flat roof, there is a risk of water buildup, and it may need repairs to address puddling and prevent any damage.
Tip: Thoroughly checking the drainage system may be a complicated process; hence we advise you to take expert help for this step.
Keeping the staff safe and injury-free is the best way to ensure a hassle-free working environment. Hence, the warehouse must be fully ready for the wet weather; and taking slip-prevention actions are included in it.
It is recommended that management install walk-off mats near entrances in order to prevent falls and slips. Furthermore, keep in mind to change and replace them regularly; create the janitorial schedule accordingly.
Floor coatings are another important slip-prevention measure. Though such coatings prevent slips and improve overall durability, they aren’t necessary to prepare for winter.
Tips:
Keep mats by the door.
Clean up excess water.
Install caution signs if needed.
During winter, you might get an unexpected power outage, and you wouldn’t want to lose valuable client or vendor data. To avoid such a technological disaster, we suggest you backup the data onsite or in cloud services.
Tip: If your warehouse has a sufficient budget, invest in backup generators to ensure your system is fully functional even when the weather turns at its worst.
Lastly, consider arranging a snow removal facility ahead of time if your warehouse is located in an area that experiences a lot of snowfall.
Many larger warehouses have maintenance crews with the necessary equipment to handle such issues. However, for those who do not have such arrangements, you might want to get in touch with local experts before the cold hits.
Contact different providers to get the best rates and what services they offer.
Keep the parking lots and docks clear of any snow to ensure efficient warehouse activities in winter.
Prime Associates hopes these warehouse management tips for winter will be helpful to take a clear course of action for your warehouse and make it foolproof before the season changes its course.
If you are looking to get your warehouse ready for winter, start with the above-explained tips and steps.
Make this season the most wonderful and profitable time of the year by ensuring the warehouse winterization efforts are made in your facility.
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