christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Sweep Out the Dirt and Dust from Winter – Summer Warehouse Cleaning Tips

Even if you run a tight ship, your warehouse needs an occasional deep-clean to get the dust and dirt that accumulates. A clean warehouse can boost morale, prevent accidents, and even operate more efficiently.

As experts in tools for warehouse efficiency, we’re happy to bring you warehouse cleaning tips for a good summer cleaning:

Clear Out Unnecessary Items

Before cleaning, throw away or recycle things you don’t need. This can include anything from surplus pallets and flattened boxes to obsolete office supplies like stationary on old company letterhead. See something that hasn’t been touched in ages? Stop hoarding it.

Deep Cleaning: Invest Some Time

An extra evening or weekend shift makes a great investment of time. Pull materials away from the walls for dusting and cleaning. This should be deep cleaning, not just the easy-to-reach stuff.

Get Around to Those Tough Stains

Take care of those lingering stains and sticky spots. Break out the heavy-duty cleaner and eliminate dirty stains from oil, lube, cleaning products, and other spilled materials.

Consolidate Where Possible

Stack more things vertically, consolidate items from half-filled containers, and do some rearranging. If you have shelves with mismatched containers that stack unevenly and create dead space, take it apart and start fresh with more streamlined organization.

Re-examine Your Cleaning Methods

While you clean, take note of why certain areas get dirty, dusty, or disorganized. Develop your own warehouse tips and new monthly protocols to keep things tidy and lessen the need for big cleaning projects in the future.

For an efficiency boost you can use everyday, check out our power movers and tuggers for the material handling industry.

A Happy Warehouse Staff Is a Productive Staff

Does your staff feel appreciated and valued? A happy staff is truly a productive one, and you can help ensure loyalty and boost motivation with the proper warehouse management tips and procedures.

How can you pep-up productivity and pleasure?

Take the time to train and they’ll be moving in the fast lane. Are your staccato training methods resulting in costly mistakes? Forcing staff into roles before they are ready is a surefire motivation murderer. Don’t throw new employees to the wolves. Invest the time in proper training essentials for the ultimate payoff.
Show your listening – prevent boos and hissing. Answering questions and acting on employee suggestions can not only spotlight and correct recurring issues, but offer a highly effective way of showcasing your team spirit. Your employees are in the thick of it, and may offer creative solutions you may not have considered.
If they pick and pack, make sure they relax. Productivity is essential to the distribution process, and exhausted, burnt out workers are anything but. It may initially seem counter-intuitive, but your pick and pack staff needs relaxation time off of their feet and away from the pressures of filling orders. Give your staff this opportunity. It will reduce pressure and errors as well as refresh them – body and spirit!
Keep ‘em keen by sharing some green. Bonus holidays and cash incentives will ensure a well-oiled warehouse team who happily aims for accuracy targets they know will pay off, double-checking orders and volunteering for overtime.

Looking for warehouse management tips that make a difference? DJ Products has you covered. Learn how to get your product moving today!

Material Handling Job Site Launched to Attract Workers

NA 2008 recently wrapped up in Cleveland. One of the more interesting developments to come out of the annual trade show sponsored by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) was increased industry interest in worker assist devices. “We’re finding a renewed interest in looking at the worker rather than just the workplace,” said MHIA Vice President Tom Carbott. “Companies that can find talent want to keep their employees safe and productive in the workplace.” Carbott said he expects more exhibitors to mirror this interest at next year’s show in Chicago.

In a related development, in response to industry concerns about attracting workers to careers in material handling, the first job posting website dedicated solely to recruiting students to the material handling industry was introduced. Designed and launched as a cooperative effort by the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), MHIA and the College-Industry Council on Material Handling Education the website is meant to serve as a bridge or gateway between students and industry professionals. Dubbed by MHEDA the Gateway Program, the website is located at www.mheda.org.

“The website was developed to attract and recruit students seeking employment in the industry, as well as to strengthen relationships between academia and industry,” explained MHEDA Executive Vice President Liz Richards. “We encourage all professionals in the industry to take full advantage of the resources on the Gateway site, as it is meant for industry-wide use.”

The site targets three groups: students, advisors and industry professionals, providing customized resources and publications of specific interest to each group. Free searchable databases allow users to review resumes and job postings. The site can be used by students and industry professionals to find/fill internships, co-op work opportunities and full-time employment. Employers can also indicate their availability for guest lectures and site visits.

Integration of Material Handling Components Lags

To the frustration of many, the material handling industry stills seems a long way from achieving the plug and play capabilities of common home electronics. The day when all material handling components will interface with each other still appears to be in the distant future. Material handling manufacturers remain focused on producing dedicated components that require purchase of their particular system. The goal of integrated components that can be easily and quickly installed and used in any setting with any material handling system lags far behind the profit-driven motives of the current marketplace.

While integration isn’t the bug-a-bear it was a decade ago, it still “typically takes between 8 and 12 weeks to install a piece of material handling equipment in a distribution center,” said Steve Martyn, CEO of GRSI, a systems integrator. Even products that bill themselves as “plug and play” generally require that specific coding instructions be written for at least 40% of the integration before successful installation can be completed.

The problem, say experts, appears to be a lack of interest in creating industry-wide data-exchange standards that would allow for instant interface of varied material handling components. “The only way to have true plug and play is if you have a body of industry leaders that define a standard,” explained Daniel Ahrens, client support manager at Fortna, Inc., a material handling consulting firm. That would require that hundreds of companies come to agreement as the electronics industry did in choosing the USB as the standard interface device — a difficult, but not impossible, task. “The trouble with standards is you have to get hundreds of companies to agree,” said material handling consultant Sam Flanders, president of 2wmc.com. “You have to have a driving force to make this happen. And nobody thinks it will result in extra revenue.”

At present there’s no pressure on the industry for anyone to step up to the plate; however, that’s expected to change as small providers of warehouse management software fall to the giants like SAP and Oracle. “The big ERP (enterprise resource planning) guys probably will eventually set standards,” said Martyn. Until they do, beware the material handling supplier that advertises “plug and play” components — they probably won’t be what you’re expecting.

Ergonomics Can Significantly Decrease Worker Injuries

Material handlers and laborers suffer more injuries and illnesses than construction workers, truck drivers or, indeed, any other category of workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Material handlers and laborers miss more work days and therefore cost U.S. businesses more money in lost man-hours and higher insurance and healthcare costs than any other worker class.

Numerous studies have proved that ergonomically-designed equipment and systems can significantly decrease worker injury. Many manual tasks necessary during the handling of materials require repetitive motions — pushing, pulling, bending, lifting and carrying — that place undue strain on the human body. These actions can result in sprains, strains, back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Back pain is by far the most commonly reported workplace injury in the material handling industry. Treatment is generally lengthy and expensive, gobbling up the lion’s share of healthcare and workers’ compensation costs.

The implementation of an ergonomics program can significantly reduce injuries and their associated costs while improving productivity and worker morale. The Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) has published a 68-page booklet of tips for improving ergonomics in the material handling industry. Click this link to download MHIA’s free Ergonomic Guidelines for Manual Material Handling. For more information on ergonomically-designed electric and motorized carts, pushers and tuggers, visit the DJ Products website.

Next time we’ll share some of MHIA’s best tips for improving ergonomics in the material handling industry and reducing worker injury and its associated costs.

Electric Tuggers Improve Ergonomics in Material Handling

Improving the ergonomics of material handling decreases worker injuries, improves workplace efficiency and leads to a healthier bottom line. Medical costs, insurance premiums, workers’ compensation payments and lost man-hours soar when ergonomics are ignored. Material handling is one of the most injury-intensive industries, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Every effort you make to fit the demands of work tasks to the capabilities of your workers (i.e., ergonomics) will decrease costs and ultimately improve profit margins.Material handling requires many actions that can result in serious and expensive musculoskeletal injuries. Repetitive motions, awkward postures and the application of force as workers lift, push, pull, carry and handle materials create daily opportunities for injury. Attention to ergonomics in designing tasks, workspaces and equipment can dramatically decrease the physical demands and injury potential of many material handling activities.Carrying and lifting are the two actions that present the greatest potential for worker injury when handling materials. Today we’ll address tips for ergonomic carrying; on Friday, we’ll share tips for lifting ergonomically.Carrying tasks place stress on the back and shoulders and create contact pressure on the shoulders and hands. When repeatedly strained or overstressed, the effort and force needed to carry materials can cause injury. To decrease injuries caused by carrying, follow these suggestions:

Eliminate unnecessary carrying.
Minimize the distances materials must be carried and use electric tuggers to carry materials over longer distances.
Organize work tasks so that physical demands and work pace increase gradually as muscles warm up.
Rotate workers or alternate carrying with non-carrying tasks to prevent overstraining the body and give muscles a chance to rest between efforts.
Wear properly fitting gloves to improve grip stability.
Reduce load weights and test loads for stability and balance before carrying.
Slide, push or roll materials. These actions place less stress on the body than carrying.
Use conveyors, slides or chutes to move materials.
Use electric tuggers to transport heavy loads.

Watch Our Trailer Caddy in Action

You’ve seen those guys at the truck shows who strap a rope around their chest and pull a mega-ton truck across the ground, their muscles bulging and popping with every step. Well, you can do that too, and you’ll only need one hand! With the aid of the DJ Products’ TrailerCaddy, anyone can move multi-ton trailers with ease. Just click here to watch a You Tube video of our TrailerCaddy in action.

The DJ Products TrailerCaddy is a powered mover designed to push or pull trailers that require lifting on one end before maneuvering. Designed to move equipment short distances, the TrailerCaddy makes it possible for any employee to move an equipment trailer, RV, camper or boat across a show room floor, from one point to another in the plant, into position at a trade show or to a new position in the lot. The TrailerCaddy does not require bulging muscles or super-human strength. The caddy does all the heavy lifting. All your employee does is steer.

Our powered TrailerCaddy is less bulky and more maneuverable than traditional electric pullers. This cost-efficient electric puller will decrease fuel and maintenance costs. Maximum operator control and maneuverability, particularly in tight spaces, means minimal damage to surrounding parts and equipment. Ergonomically designed for easy use, the TrailerCaddy decreases accidents and prevents worker injury associated with muscle strain. You’ll save in decreased medical expenses, insurance costs and workmen’s compensation claims. Visit our website for complete information about the TrailerCaddy.

Efficient Wheel Design Reduces Friction

Friction occurs when two surfaces come into contact, as when a wheel rests on a floor. Friction is the force that resists movement between the objects. Under theoretically perfect conditions, the ideal wheel environment would be a hard, smooth wheel rolling over a hard, smooth surface. In real life, perfect conditions never exist. In a typical work environment, using a hard wheel will often result in higher rolling resistance, as well as increased noise and vibration.

Both static and dynamic forces affect friction. The initial push force necessary to place an object in motion is the static force. Static force is generally greater than dynamic force which is the exertion necessary to keep the object moving. Wheel design must consider bother static and dynamic force.

In a wheel or caster system, there are three places where friction can affect force:

at the point where the axle and wheel interface;
if a swivel caster, in the swivel housing; and
at the ground/wheel interface, particularly at any points where the wheel will slide or pivot on a surface.

The efficiency of a wheel or caster in reducing friction is dependent not only upon the appropriate design of the wheel itself, but also on the materials used in its construction and the placement of the wheels on the equipment to be moved.

Lifting Tips that Prevent Back Injury

In our last post we talked about the exorbitant cost of back injuries to industry. In both human and financial cost, back injuries take an expensive toll. Application of ergonomic principles to the work space and use of ergonomically designed equipment can reduce potential back injury significantly. But sometimes materials must be manually lifted and moved.

It’s important to train workers in proper lifting techniques. Musculoskeletal injuries, particularly to the lower back, can result when items are improperly lifted. The key to developing good lifting habits is to think about what you plan to do before picking up an object. Practice these safe lifting tips:

Size up the load and check surrounding conditions. Get help with the lift if the object looks heavy or awkward. Make sure you have good footing and enough space to maneuver easily. If the object must be carried, may sure your path is free and clear of obstacles.
Balance your body. Your feet should be shoulder width apart and beside each other. To provide maximum balance and leverage, your feet should be positioned somewhat behind the object to be lifted.
When lifting, don’t stoop. Bend both knees and keep your back straight but not vertical. Tucking in your chin will help you keep your back straight.
Use your hands and fingers to grip the load. Called a palm grip, this grip provides maximum security. Remember to tuck in your chin before you lift.
Use your body weight to get the load moving. Lift by pushing up with your legs, your body’s strongest muscle group.
Keep arms and elbows close to the body while lifting to provide better balance and maximize lift force.
If you must carry an object, carry it close to your body and don’t twist. Shift your foot position and turn your whole body to change direction.
Remember to watch where you’re going.
Bend your knees when lowering an object. Avoid stooping which places unnecessary strain on your lower back. Place the object on the edge of a shelf, bench or other surface and slide it back into position. Keep your hands and feet clear as you let go of the object.

Even when lifting or moving light-weight objects, it pays to develop good lifing and carrying habits. Your back will thank you!

Part 1: Why Businesses Fail

Almost daily I read about the failure of one business or another in the business section of my local newspaper. The economy is down, credit is tight and fuel prices are through the roof. Naturally these conditions place an additional strain on businesses. But generally when a business fails there were already underlying fissures in its structural foundation that caused it to crack and break under the pressure.

Businesses fail for many reasons, the most likely being one or a combination of the following:

Lack of a business plan or failure to update the business plan to account for changes in the industry, economy and society. Business is not static. You should review your business plan annually and adjust it to take advantage of changing markets, new products and technologies, financial incentives, and customer preferences.
Lack of current financial data or failure to fully understand financial reports. Finance is the language of business. You don’t have to be able to write it (that’s why you have an accountant or CFO, but you do have to be able to correctly read and understand financial statements.
Lack of capital. If you’re starting a business, minimum start-up capital should be enough to cover your first six months of operation. However, once you’re up and running, don’t confuse capital with operating funds or cash flow. Growth capital should be used to grow, improve and expand your business. You should generate enough monthly income to provide a healthy cash flow and cover operating expenses. If your business is in trouble, borrowing more money isn’t the answer. If you can’t service your current debt load, you won’t be able to service an increased debt load.

To be continued

Author: christopher Harper