How Distributors Can Counter Common Warehouse Issues

Contributed by Jake Meister, CleanLink Contributor

 Warehouse distribution isn’t easy. Distributors must keep up with deadlines, customer demands, and employee needs all while staying profitable — not just now, but in the future. Recognizing the importance of knowing how to best accomplish these tasks, CleanLink sought insight from Keith Schneringer, senior director of marketing — Facility Care + Sustainability at Waxie Sanitary Supply, a BradyPLUS company, San Diego. 

Is there another form of technology out there that distributors need to start embracing? If so, what's the best way to go about it?

I think we look at A.I. as part of the continuum of technology and automation. You look at even forklifts — these are things that can be increasingly automated. There’s forklift technology that can drive by wire. It doesn’t really drive around. It will go by one line from either side, and it allows for you to stack things closer and higher. In addition to being able to save space it saves on accidents. 

I think when you talk about technology it’s ways to automate the process, ways to make people safer, ways to make your inventory management more accurate.

Do you believe distributors have any shortcomings when it comes to consistent or proper use of PPE and safety? If so, what are the ways they can improve?

I think for the most part, if you ask most companies they’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, we do a great job with safety,’ but we should reframe the question as ‘Do human beings have some shortcomings as it relates to consistent and proper use of PPE?’ The honest answer is probably ‘yes.’ 

Sometimes people are rushing around trying to do too much too quickly and that’s maybe when they don’t use proper PPE or lifting techniques, so the key thing is to consistently reinforce how safety is more important than being super-fast. UCLA Men’s Basketball coach John Wooden had a saying, “be quick, but don’t be in a hurry.” I think the implication is the same. Sometimes you’re wanting to hurry, but I think there’s a goal of being efficient and purposeful in your movements. Sometimes you need to wait, wait, wait, then you can go.”

What are some of the newer demands and challenges facing distributors and how would you recommend navigating each?

 Like with all businesses, everyone is being asked to do more with less. To do the same amount of work but with less people or do more work with the same amount of people. I think in an effort to meet those demands and challenges people can work too fast. It may seem like you’re getting more done by doing something unsafe, but if you have an accident then you don’t get anything done. 

How can distributors better enforce safety protocols?

There are several ways, one is the carrot and the stick approach. I think some of the things that we see are effective is to offer incentives and rewards for people being safe. For our company, what we’ll do if we go a certain number of days without incidents is we’ll throw a little party. Maybe we’ll get some carne asada, some hotdogs, hamburgers and barbecue. Something where if the group collectively knows that if they’re looking out for their own individual safety and coworkers’ safety, then together we can celebrate. There’s some gamification of it.  

How do you recommend keeping workers motivated in the warehouse? Is it a similar strategy to what you recommend for encouraging safety? 

Obviously, money is a great motivator and being able to reward your folks for being at work and on time and being focused on their work is good. Food is a great motivator, too. And sometimes even just saying ‘thank you.” I guess it sounds simplistic, maybe even trite, but just recognizing that somebody is doing a good job can go a long way. Especially if you compare that with some of these other things that are more tangible. Sometimes people are motivated by being given additional responsibilities. 

Everybody has different things that can motivate them, and I think there are several different ways and knowing your employees is important. What some people might find meaningful, another might not so it’s good to know different ways. 

How do you make work more enjoyable?

I’m reminded of an interview I just saw yesterday with the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa. He was talking about the difference between his current coach and his previous coaching. He explained his previous coach was saying “You haven’t earned your right to be a quarterback in the NFL, you’re not good at your job,” and Tagovailoa said after a while he started believing it. Then his current coach is saying “You’re doing these things well.” 

It’s sort of like the saying “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” So, I think one of the things we can do to make the workplace more enjoyable is to reward achievement and effort, do things as a group, and sometimes they just want to listen to music while they work. It just depends on the group.