ASK DAN: How can we boost profitable sales?
Question: Within a Printing Company, how can we boost profitable sales?
Answer: Retail sales accounts for approximately one-third of consumer spending. Unfortunately, the print industry is rated as a commodity by most customers, being that it is mainly chosen on price and convenience.
ASK DAN: Automated systems for pallet staging prior to loading
Question: I work at a warehouse with a large variety of products. I am interested in researching automated staging systems for before the pallets get loaded onto the truck. We are specifically thinking about sequencing the pallets into a specific order in the staging lane so they are in the correct order to be loaded to the truck. Other than Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), do you know of any automated systems which will do this efficiently?
Answer: A difficult question to answer with any detail, as I do not know the internal systems which you use, products and volumes handled, picking sequence, etc. That said, automation within the warehouse is an exciting development and needs to be approached carefully and methodically. You need to determine the use of the automation in-line with the outcome; in other words, you need to establish the methodology.
ASK DAN: My goods inward area is a total mess
Question: My goods inward area is a total mess, and is causing delays in getting stock through the system. Could you come up with some ideas for me please?
Answer: Not having seen your goods inward area, it is difficult for me to comment, but I have had quite a bit of experience in this area so I will use these other companies as an indicator of the problem.
ASK DAN: What is the weight capacity of a pallet?
Question: We are in the racking business and routinely supply pallet racking for use with 1200 x 1000 CHEP pallets, or 800 x 1200 Euro pallets. Of course we can specify racking load capacities, but I can't find any reliable information on the actual capacity of timber pallets.
For example the Chep website gives data sheets showing a capacity of 1,500kg for a 1200 x 1000 pallet, but when it is used in pallet racking, my understanding is that the capacity is 1,000kg. (This is what I have always trained my staff, but I have no written evidence for this). But what if the pallet is stored the other way, i.e. 1000mm wide x 1200 deep (in 1100 deep racking) then the top boards are parallel to the beams and the only strength front to back is in the stringers. The pallet capacity must be severely down rated. But to what?
ASK DAN: How can I increase my picking times?
Question: How can I increase my picking times, as I am operating a mail order company with a throughput of about 1,000 pick units per day? The operation is manual, and although the staff are busy, I find I am not getting the best out of them. Can you help?
Answer: Getting the best out of your team is always a driving ambition of any capable manager, but is not always the easiest thing to achieve. There are a number of different and successful techniques you can use in this regards, but we need to concentrate on your particular area. With that in mind, again this is a difficult question to answer, as I am not sure about the products being shipped, and your current configuration. However, there are two distinct ways of resolving this question.
ASK DAN: How many forklifts do I need?
Question: How many forklifts do I require to run an average sized warehouse?
Answer: This is a very difficult question to answer, as it depends upon what you are storing in the warehouse, and also the daily movement of stock.
