Running a warehouse can be hard at any time of year, but it’s essential to consider how the job changes as the seasons do. Autumn is a particularly pivotal time of year, marking the transition from summer, which can often be slower, to winter, which brings the peak holiday season with it. Warehouse management, especially in fields like retail, requires a particularly considerate touch throughout the fall season.
This guide will offer actionable guidance on maintaining proper warehouse health and safety along with maximum productivity throughout autumn. The principles will highlight space optimisation, hardware enhancements and comprehensive preparation, among other management aspects.
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashPhysical autumn warehouse optimisation
It’s important to start by physically optimising your warehouse space, which needs to encompass hardware maintenance, any new installations, weatherproofing and major layout changes.
Installation optimisation
Ensuring all your permanent fixtures are in proper working order for the autumn is important. It’s a great time to sort out preventative maintenance or even replacements for installations such as:
- Warehouse lifts
- Rolling shutter doors
- Dock levellers
- Perimeter protection systems
- HVAC systems (important for heating)
- Testing your emergency lighting
And more. Smooth-working, durable installations are essential to functioning all year round, but it’s essential to check before the busiest season.
Weatherproofing the space
Autumn brings a lot of rain, as does winter, which is just one of the reasons why it’s important to weatherproof your warehouse before or during the season. Make sure to check the roof, walls and foundations for leaks and cracks, along with comprehensively clearing out the gutters and drains. Keeping flooding at bay is essential for warehouse safety and productivity.
Getting ready for the winter rush
Many people start holiday shopping in autumn, so it’s important to proactively prepare for winter to meet increased demand. Demand forecasting is a vital step in preparation, as analysing your historical sales data will help you to prepare in terms of inventory and staffing. Some principles to keep in mind include:
- Ordering in excess of the seasonal favourites to avoid any shortages
- Prioritising fast–moving, high-demand items in the most accessible locations, as this will minimise travel time for your staff
- Conducting full and regular audits to ensure you can correct any discrepancies, ensuring your system for warehouse management reflects the actual stock
Make sure that all of these preparative steps are recorded in a reliable warehouse management system software, as this will make it a lot easier to keep track of.
Staffing, training and habit forming
Autumn and winter might require additional staff to handle the increased demand. Early autumn is the best time to start recruiting your seasonal staff, ensuring all the contracts are clear and in place well in advance.
Onboarding and cross training
It’s important to get staff familiar with your internal processes as quickly as possible, ensuring temporary employees can do good work from the start. Permanent staff should be trained to perform multiple roles, allowing for a more flexible and dynamic workforce.
Safety training habits
Seasonal safety checks are vital for managing warehouse equipment and environments throughout autumn. You have to train all your staff on processes such as:
- Inspecting all manual handling equipment
- Placing absorbent mats at entrances and high-traffic areas to soak up water
- Ensure your staff are wearing appropriate footwear and PPE
- Clearing debris, such as seasonal issues like fallen leaves
- Conducting regular refresher safety training sessions
- Creating a culture where reporting hazards and near misses is encouraged
Your staff are the lifeblood of the organisation, whether permanent or temporary. Ensuring they are fully up to speed, qualified and aware of their responsibilities will guide you through the season effectively.
Success from autumn and beyond
These are fundamental elements of warehouse management that will support you through Autumn, ready for handling the even more hectic holiday period.
source