Methods to Improve Warehouse or Distribution Center Capacity and Product Throughput

How productive is your warehouse or distribution center? How many products do you pack daily, how many pallets, and how many packages leave for shipment each day? Let's look at some methods to improve capacity and product throughput, making your facility not only faster but better.

Review your workflow

Before increasing throughput, you need to determine what currently limits it. You should carefully evaluate three aspects: your workforce, equipment, and processes. Here are some questions to ask yourself during your assessment.

Adequate workforce numbers

Does your warehouse or distribution center have sufficient staff? Are they adequately trained? Are their works consistent or haphazard?

Production line packaging equipment

How old is your current production line automated packaging equipment? Is it in good condition? How often does it malfunction or require repairs? Does it fulfill its purpose?

Standard procedures

Does your warehouse or distribution center have standard procedures? Can you identify your pain points and bottlenecks? If so, what are they?

Eliminate bottlenecks

You have evaluated your workflow and identified your core weaknesses. Now you can work to eliminate your pain points and bottlenecks. Perhaps you don't have enough workers, or your existing employees may need additional supervision and training. Perhaps the processes are outdated, or your old machines are causing unnecessary downtime. Maybe you should consider using Speedpack's downstream automated packaging equipment: automatic box openers, automatic box sealers, automatic strapping machines, automatic wrappers, automatic palletizers, etc., which can allow you to achieve higher productivity.

Minimize equipment downtime

Unexpected downtime causes time and money losses. Preventing such downtime is one way to improve product throughput. The best way to eliminate downtime is to purchase branded packaging equipment, with good after-sales service to help you quickly identify issues and perform regular inspections and maintenance on your machines.

Of course, the older your machines are, the more you should inspect and maintain them. If you think the cost of keeping old machines running is not worth it, invest in new equipment. New equipment has upfront costs, but can save you money in the long run. New machines don't need as much maintenance as old ones and break down much less frequently, meaning your facility has less downtime. New machines also come equipped with the latest technology that can help you improve throughput, accuracy, and safety.

Speedpack is committed to being a leading domestic secondary packaging equipment service provider, with various types of secondary fully automatic packaging machines that can help you improve warehouse or distribution center throughput. Contact us now for more product information!