As a warehouse or fleet manager, you know what logistics means. The dictionary definition calls it: “The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities and supplies.”
Every business that deals with logistics is always looking for ways to improve it. As far as a fleet manager or warehouse manager is concerned, here are five ideas to consider.
1) A Brand-Agnostic Fleet Management System
In today’s warehouse data is king and managers need to use it as a tool to make better decisions. A fleet management system is one way to command all the data that’s being generated. It keeps you informed with what is happening with each vehicle in the fleet, provides you with information that helps maintain the fleet, and it provides information that helps you to better use all the vehicles in the fleet.
This technology can also help with compliance issues, training, and safety.
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But what if your fleet is relying on equipment supplied by different manufacturers. If you use a brand-agnostic management system, then it doesn’t matter who manufactured the equipment being used. The brand agnostic system can integrate with all vehicles in the fleet regardless of who the manufacturer was. It also allows you to add new data collecting technology to your already existing fleet.
2) Managing Operator Access
Another benefit of fleet managing systems is that they control who operates the vehicles in the fleet. Some systems also have the ability to create checklists and combine with features including speed zoning. Fleet management systems have the ability to operate across your range of equipment. The system works with the warehouse environment, forklifts, order pickers, sweepers and workers tasked with finding and collecting products. A common platform is available to all aspects of warehouse logistics. It can be used at multiple sites and even your sites in other countries. And all is done regardless of who the OEM is.
3) Out-of-Service Reporting
A fleet manager would sure like to know why a vehicle in his or her fleet is not working. Recognizing what is causing downtime could be so important in improving logistics. Is it always the same vehicle that’s down? Is the downtime planned for maintenance work or repairs? Knowing this will help a fleet manager plan out a maintenance schedule, plan how his or her assets are used, and helps to manage costs.
4) GPS Zoning
Fleet management systems include GPS speed zoning that can provide geofencing that allows the fleet manager to control vehicles in a specific area they might be working. A fleet manager can preprogram speed settings for different vehicles based on operations. For example, counterbalance forklifts can be programmed to operate at a particular slow speed depending on what the operator is doing. This is ideal for warehouses that may have a lot of pedestrians in particular locations in the warehouse. If the forklift is not being operated in a high pedestrian zone, then the manager can set a different speed of travel. The speed of the vehicle can be managed in accordance to a zone’s safety requirements. Fleet management systems have the ability to alter zone parameters easily and when necessary.
5) Safety Devices
Integrating safety equipment to fleet vehicles is a cost effective way to protect warehouse workers and helps a warehouse meet occupation health and safety rules. Technology that features light beams that project on to the floor is a great way to warn pedestrians of an advancing vehicle.
Manufacturers are busy developing new technologies that can assist fleet and warehouse managers make their logistics operations efficient and safe.
(Source: forkliftaction.com)