christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

New Smart Warehouse Technologies to Embrace in 2019

Technology has made devices such as phones “smart,” and now it’s doing the same with warehouses. There are a number of sophisticated tools available to help you increase productivity of employees and material handling equipment.

So when it comes to implementing these processes, where do you start? Experts recommend these must-have technologies as ones that will make the greatest impact.

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

If you don’t already have a WMS in place, you’re behind the curve. These systems let you review large amounts of data in an organized fashion, making it easier to anticipate and plan for changes. A WMS also coordinates well with other technologies to serve as an information hub.

Automated Picking Tools

Fewer issues will annoy customers more than orders filled with errors. Voice automation, robots and upgraded barcoding are some of the options you can use to improve order-picking accuracy.

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)

AS/RS is not a new concept, but the drawbacks of earlier versions often outweighed their benefits. Today’s systems are more streamlined so you can enjoy the advantages of lower costs and greater accuracy without the inconvenience.

Automated Inventory Control

Inventory control is an essential factor in cost management and effective customer service, but manual systems are clumsy and time-consuming. Automated platforms can perform the work automatically and put real-time data at your fingertips, even remotely.

Collaborative Robots (Cobots)

While visions of the future often include fully automated workplaces, staffing a warehouse with robots isn’t truly feasible at this point. Cobots are designed to work alongside employees, not replace them, to enhance operations.

State-of-the-Art Material Handling Equipment by DJ Products

Our electric material handling equipment coordinates perfectly with all types of warehouse systems. Contact us for more information.

Top Warehouse and Business Disrupters to Be Watching in 2019

Warehouses are always in need of efficient equipment such as industrial tugs, but ever-evolving digital technology creates a flow of disruptions that affect small and mid-sized businesses (SMB). These disrupters have been particularly fast and furious over the last 20 years.

Here are some of the top SMB disruptors experts anticipate over the next year. Is your warehouse prepared for change?

Data Ethics

When it comes to data collection, technology has been a double-edged sword. Companies have unprecedented amounts of information at their fingertips, but customers fear excessive intrusions into their privacy. Create a formal and specific data usage policy and make sure it’s clearly communicated to customers.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is essentially an inversion of traditional computer programming. Instead of hard-coding logic into software, engineers define the results they’re looking for and the machine algorithm works backwards to determine its own logic. Most internal and customer-facing SMB software programs are expected to integrate machine learning by 2020.

Conversational User Interfaces

Conversational user interfaces such as chatbots have already revolutionized customer-facing functions, but they’re increasingly being used for internal processes as well. Examples include virtual employee onboarding and online knowledge management systems.

Blockchain

At this point, blockchain is associated primarily with cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. The underlying technology, in which data transactions are linked and recorded on a public network, is being adapted for applications like ensuring product quality along every step in the supply chain.

Let Industrial Tugs from DJ Products Carry You into the Future

Our electric industrial tugs help maximize productivity in your warehouse, freeing you up to focus on implementing upgraded technology solutions. Visit our website and use our online chat feature for prompt assistance from our knowledgeable sales engineers.

Hotel Technology Trends to Watch – Making Guest Feel at Home

Hotels continue to refine the guest experience as a way of standing out from the competition. Equipment such as hotel supply movement carts improve staff productivity and room turnaround times, while high-tech innovations add to guest comfort and convenience.

Here are top communication trends expected to impact the hospitality industry during 2019. Is your hotel up-to-date with these features?

Mobile and Room Phone Synergy

The prevalence of mobile phones has resulted in hotel room phones being limited to room service and wake-up calls, but technology is in the works to pair the two as a central communication hub. Guests will be able to use their mobile phones for functions such as TV remotes and message centers.

Guest Apps

Apps are a great vehicle for one-stop access to information. Hotel guest apps have the potential to host loyalty programs, special rate notifications, and other valuable functions while also providing data that can be used to personalize the guest experience.

Tech Lounges

Guests traveling for business appreciate the opportunity to work or relax in other parts of the hotel for a change of scenery. Tech lounges provide a comfortable spot where people can conduct business or unwind while keeping WiFi connectability.

Social Listening Tools

In a matter of minutes, hotel guests can share their experiences with a vast audience of social media users. Social listening tools like Hootsuite and Brandwatch let you monitor mentions of your hotel and other relevant keywords. You can then use the collected data to engage in conversations and fine-tune your marketing strategy.

Streamline Hotel Supply Movement with Powered Carts from DJ Products

Our hotel supply movement carts boost staff efficiency and reduce risk of job-related injuries. Contact us for more information.

Coffee: The Long Haul Driver’s Friend for Safety

Sleep has no substitute, but coffee really does help you drive safely. Long-haul drivers can focus better and reduce errors with the help of caffeine. Those prone to swerving out of lane should consider a caffeinated chewing gum or cup of joe every few hours.

Worker safety in warehousing and transportation has become a publicized issue lately. Distribution companies should consider all their options for improvement, including motorized trailer dollies for the shunting yard and driver education to reduce accidents.

Coffee Fights Cognitive Fatigue

In addition to keeping you awake, caffeine also produces an adrenaline response that helps with focus. Brain fatigue makes hours of driving feel so tedious. Coffee counteracts that feeling so truckers can have an easier time maintaining a consistent speed, checking their mirrors, and staying in control of the vehicle.

Hit the Road with Caffeinated Chewing Gum

Studies have found the best results with caffeinated gum. The effect kicks in faster and lasts for a predictable 90 minutes. Drinking coffee has less reliable effects (not to mention the associated pit stops).

Trailer Dollies Also Improve Safety

With so much emphasis on driver fatigue and safety protocols, it’s easy to forget that safety starts at the terminal. Drivers and warehouse workers often get injured at the dock while loading or moving trailers.

Replace your shunt trucks with motorized trailer dollies for better sight lines and more precise steering. Any worker can operate a TrailerCaddy, so your truck drivers can save their physical and mental energy for the road—after they’ve caffeinated of course.

Read up on the safety features of our motorized trailer dollies and call 800-686-2651 to speak with a sales engineer about how DJ Products yard trucks can make it very inexpensive to increase workplace safety.

It’s Time to Learn About Ergonomics in the Warehouse as an Injury Prevention Protocol

Our battery-powered tugger carts are ergonomically designed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries caused by repetitive motions. How much do you know about ergonomics and the role they play in maintaining a safe warehouse?

Observing ergonomic principles allows workers to be more productive while reducing physical stress. Here’s a look at how you can put ergonomics to work in your warehouse.

What Is Ergonomics?

Ergonomics, sometimes referred to as human engineering, is broadly defined as “the study of the relationship between workers and their environment.” The ultimate goal is to design the workplace for optimum efficiency and less physical wear and tear.

Whenever possible, work motions should be centered around the “golden zone,” which refers to the body’s core between shoulders and knees. Workers should rarely, if ever, have to reach above their shoulders or below their waists.

Types of Ergonomic Injuries

Ergonomic injuries tend to fall under two categories:

– Lifting and handling injuries occur when heavy boxes, pallets and other loads are placed too high or too low.

– Overexertion injuries result from repetitive motions, such as long walks during order-picking.

Ways to Improve Ergonomics

– Slot SKUs appropriately with high-volume items placed close by.

– Install pallet flow racks so a case is ready at the point of pick.

– Use tilted pick trays for items stored higher in the rack.

– Train employees in the proper operation of tugger carts and other equipment.

– Encourage workers to report unsafe conditions or inefficiencies in workflow.

– Prioritize regular housekeeping to eliminate cluttered aisles and other hazards.

Ergonomically Designed Tugger Carts from DJ Products

Electric tugs such as our best-selling CartCaddyShorty reduce the risk of both lifting and handling and overexertion injuries. Visit our website and learn more from our helpful sales engineers.

Beyond the Dumpster: Technology and Innovation are Changing Waste Management and Recycling Efforts

At DJ products, we know how important technology can be in addressing waste management issues, whether it’s a trash hauler to make toting trash safer, or a dumpster mover to more efficiently shuttle waste. And we’re not alone.

Every day, product designers and industry professionals are changing the waste management landscape. How are their innovative new ideas paving the way for a brighter future?

Waste as a Renewable Energy Source

The capacity to turn waste into power is one of the most significant innovations in the industry. Rather than breaking down in the landfill, new machinery called ‘digesters’ can convert waste and the biogas that it produces and turn it into energy for use on-site.

This process is compatible with food waste, animal waste, agricultural byproducts, and more. Bioreactors, micro-turbines, and fuel cells can likewise achieve similar results.

Improving the Recyclability of Precious Metals

New recycling methods, such as plasma arc recycling for platinum, can recover greater amounts of this precious metal, making them available for reuse in the automotive, technology, and chemical sectors. Look for new technology to achieve the same with palladium, iridium, and other metals.

Boosting Route Efficiency

Advanced software that optimizes collection routes improves fuel efficiency and reduces energy usage.

Recycling Screening Technology

Sensors that alert waste management pros when bins are full reduce the likelihood of recyclables being tossed in the trash. New screening technology also sorts recycling, taking this task out of the hands of consumers and increasing recycling rates.

Looking for a way to solve your waste management woes? DJ Products has a wide variety of dumpster movers and waste haulers to make your life easier. Learn more today.

Experienced Long Haul Truckers Share Their Top Driver Tips

Your yard trucks are hauling cargo destined for a dangerous journey. Are your long-haul truck drivers prepared to make it to their destination safely?

Experienced Long Haul Truckers Share Their Top Driver Tips
Truck driving is a lifetime skill that requires refinement over time. Here are a few lessons from seasoned veterans for those new to the arena:

Look at your truck after leaving it.
Are your hazard lights or blinkers on? You’re not done after parking.

Know where your trailer is at all times.
Drive your trailer like your cab. If it wanders outside the lines, you aren’t driving safely. Lives are at stake.

Don’t shirk pre-trip inspections.
Check the lights, tires, pins, valve stem covers, the fifth wheel, and be mindful of inspection dates. You never know when a DOT officer will be verifying your work.

Have an exit plan.
As you exit for a truck stop, take the time to look at signs to see how you get back on the highway, otherwise you could miss it and end up lost after taking a wrong turn.

Don’t swerve to miss that animal.
Not only is it often a safety department policy, that animal is not worth your life or that of the family in the vehicle next to you. Your vehicle is 80,000-lbs, and the odds of swerving quickly enough to miss it are stacked against you. It’s a sad reality, but holding the wheel tightly and slowing down are sometimes the best you can do.

Ask for help when you need it.
No one is in it alone, and it feels good to pay it forward when others are in need.

Keep your employees safe. Learn more about yard trucks from DJ Products today.

A Look Ahead into Barcoding and Labeling Usage in Warehouses for 2019

The rise in E-commerce has resulted in customer demand for greater speed with less room for error. Reliable material handling equipment and accurate barcoding and labeling are necessities to stay ahead of the competition.

Here are the barcoding and labeling trends experts are seeing today. How does your system measure up?

Flexible Usage

Product demand, return volumes and seasonal fluctuations cause frequent changes in product slotting for maximum efficiency. Many barcoding and labeling systems are moving to materials that are easy to remove and reposition.

Advance Planning

When planning a warehouse layout, the barcoding and labeling process is often regarded as a secondary issue that can be handled on the fly. Putting it off until later can result in confusion, errors and delays. Make sure barcoding and labeling is part of the initial planning process for any new construction or renovations.

Color-Coding

Colored barcode labels are more visible, making them particularly helpful with tiered racking systems. Color-coding also provides consistency across a network of warehouses or distribution centers.

Environment-Specific

Different conditions present different challenges for barcoding and labeling. For instance, a label that works in ambient temperatures may be insufficient for freezer use. Consider the environment that labels will be used in and be sure they can stand up to the conditions.

Full-Service Suppliers

As warehouse space grows to accommodate inventory levels required for E-commerce, barcoding and labeling becomes more complex. Full-service suppliers can handle the project every step of the way, from planning and preparation to creation and installation.

Modern Material Handling Equipment for Today’s Warehouses

As a satisfied customer put it, our battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers are like adding another person to your warehouse staff. Contact DJ Products to learn more about our full selection of material handling equipment.

Five Important Fleet Safety Tips All Managers Need to Embrace

Fleet safety protects more than just cargo. It’s about keeping your drivers safe even when they feel rushed or pressured to meet the demands of the job. You can control some things at your location, such as by using terminal tractors to safely tow trailers around the lot. Managers should also be hands-on when it comes to safe dock areas and safe driving.

Time to conduct an in-house safety audit? Implement these five tips for fleet safety.

Safety orientations: Teach new hires and refresh veteran employees annually with a little classroom training. Everybody should know the best safety practices for their job as well as the workers they interact with so that everyone is on the same page.

Regular feedback: On at least a monthly basis, review your drivers’ and warehouse employees’ safety and performance records. This takes away the feeling of confrontation when you need to address things like customer complaints or aggressive driving.

Technology and equipment: Make use of fleet trackers, telematics, and boots-on-the-ground equipment like electric terminal tractors. Focus on solutions that are easy to use and which your employees will actually want to use.

Team effort: Ask top employees to host those safety orientations or conduct ride-alongs. Make safety a team effort. Offer prizes for clean safety records or other goals.

Corrective action: Make your policies well-understood, and follow through with corrective training for bad driving or reckless behavior.

Easier, Safer Trucking with Terminal Tractors

A disproportionate amount of worker injuries occur around the dock. The Electric Yard Truck’s safety features streamline the task of backing up trailers to the dock and towing them around the lot. They can be operated by non-CDL workers with easy speed control, braking, and steering.

To learn more about the safety benefits of electric terminal tractors, contact DJ Products.

Warehouse Management Tips: How to Be Prepared for When Predictions Fail

Technology has put more information than ever before in the hands of warehouse managers. Unfortunately, not everything is as reliable as quality warehouse equipment. Even the most knowledgeable predictions can fail to materialize.

How do you keep erroneous predictions from throwing operations off course? Follow these three helpful tips to be prepared for curves in the road.

Manage Costs Carefully

The boom in online retailing has been something of a mixed blessing. Sales have gone up, but profits are shrinking due to free shipping, competitive pricing and other costs of gaining customers.

– High-tech improvements are necessary but expensive, so focus on the long-term return on investment.

– Don’t be afraid to let shoppers bear some of the costs. Stricter return policies, free-shipping minimums and focus on high-value items are strategies to indirectly reduce costs while still providing customer satisfaction.

Maximize Square Footage

When is the last time you reviewed your warehouse layout? Do a careful analysis to identify dead space, optimize placement of high-volume SKUs and make any other changes needed to ensure full productivity of the entire footprint.

“Listen” to Your Customers

National news and market data provide an outlook on the general business climate, but it paints a picture in broad strokes that may not apply to your business. Take advantage of the detailed customer data that you have to watch for even slight changes that may indicate an upcoming positive or negative trend.

Cost-Effective Warehouse Equipment from DJ Products

Labor is your costliest and most important resource. Maximize productivity and reduce disruptive warehouse injuries with safe and efficient warehouse equipment like our best-selling CartCaddyShorty.

Visit our website and use our convenient chat feature to let our cheerful sales engineers find the best solution for your specific application.