Maximizing efficiency and safety of warehouses, docks, and other work areas require designating specific areas for certain uses. For example, lanes that are used by fast-moving forklifts and other industrial equipment should be separated from pedestrian walkways. Warehouse aisles should be similarly marked to prevent collisions, alert workers to overhead dangers, and maximized workplace order. … Read more
What in the world did we do before stretch wrap? It’s now one of the most commonly used methods of pallet wrapping. Stretch wrap isn’t just effective. It’s also relatively cheap, easy to use, and convenient. And it can be either low-tech or high-tech: In small operations, it can be slid onto a broom handle … Read more
Up until now, most pallets were little more than a few scraps of wood nailed together to provide a durable platform to accommodate materials handling. But some pallets used in warehouses and docks today are much, much smarter than that. Many are embedded with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that allow global positioning systems to … Read more
Drones are everywhere … both figuratively and literally. Millions of people received drones as holiday gifts last year, capping the best year on record for the pilotless flying vehicle industry, according to news reports. And as Amazon finalizes testing in the UK of its automated drone delivery system for packages prior to launching the program in … Read more
The rise in online shopping has put dock and warehouse managers under the gun to improve operations. Mega-retailers like Wal-Mart and Amazon and package delivery services like UPS and FedEx can afford to spend billions on research and development of faster, more efficient ways to get products to consumers faster and more accurately. The result … Read more
Quick: What is the average height of all the employees in your workplace? In the US, the average height for men is 5 foot 10 inches. For women, the average height is 5 feet 4 inches. But that’s the national average. Most of your worker are going to be either taller or shorter than that. … Read more
Aluminum platform trucks are one of the most convenient, efficient, and cost-effective ways to move small loads through your business. But using aluminum platform trucks improperly can result in tip-over accidents and other disasters that can result in damaged or ruined products and the potential for employee injuries. Here are five things NOT to do … Read more
In recent years we have seen most aspects of warehouse operations evolve into the use of new equipment and technologies, but it seems that the dock has been immune to the changes, at least until now. Focus on making warehouse operations more efficient and safer has finally been turned toward the dock. For example, new … Read more
For years now, high-tech companies like Google, Vuzix, Ubimax, and others have promised that wearable technology will make our lives better and easier. But how will it actually work? Look no further than a pilot program from global package delivery service DHL to understand the answer. DHL Supply Chain, a subsidiary of the German company … Read more
Anyone who has worked around docks or delivery vans, at some point or another has probably seen some pretty sketchy materials used as dock boards: Cracked and splintery pieces of old plywood, wooden 2X4 beams, and even old metal advertising signs have been used to span the gap between where the dock ends and the … Read more
