Different schools of thought exist regarding the best way to maximise plant efficiency.

Some say it’s best to address the picking process, others say it’s by maxing out available labour, others insist it all boils down to the facility layout.

One overlooked method of gauging a warehouses effectiveness is its level of cleanliness. It has been proven that cleaner facilities are more productive, safer to work in and also more organised.

Now, we know a busy warehouse floor cannot be spotless all the time, but taking the time to remove debris from packing materials, damaged goods, pallets is well worth it. Working in a debris-strewn environment affects both the mental and physical state of workers. They tend not to take pride in their work and hey are also more prone to trips and falls.

Allowing dust to accumulate on sensitive electrical components is a sure fire way to incur huge repair bills. Leaving pools of oil or spilled liquids can create spots where workers can fall. It is almost comical when you see someone get their feet caught in a piece of banding, but the subsequent crashing to the ground is anything but funny.

The following are some of our recommended tips for keeping your warehouse clean.

• Make Clean-as-you-go operations mandatory – It isn’t until your staff are mired in metres of shrink-wrap, wrapping bands and discarded pallets that you should ask them to clean up. Between the loading of parcels on the carousel, there will be periods of relative quiet, when they can pick up the debris created. This minimises the overall volume of waste needed to be cleared at the end of the shift.

• Assign cleaning zones to individual employees – Depending on the kind of operation you run, you can assign workers to clean up zones around their position. Picking up debris, sweeping, reorganising materials can all help improve efficiency as things become easier to find and use. It is also important that you don’t allow shift workers leave a mess behind for the next shift.

• Establish regular cleaning milestones – Assign cleaning tasks based on daily, weekly or monthly requirements. Create task lists and schedules, and make sure that staff are accountable. Floors should be swept daily, even hourly if possible. Pallet racks should be dusted or wiped down monthly. Electrical equipment should be checked for build-up of dust every two months.

• Make cleaning supplies available – If you have mandated staff to regularly clean their immediate surroundings, to improve efficiency, it becomes counter-intuitive to make them walk halfway around the warehouse looking for brooms and bins. Placing required cleaning equipment close by, can encourage people to actually use them.

• Regularly empty waste bins – Allowing the waste bins get to the point where they overflow is a no-no. Apart from creating a fire hazard, it can also be dangerous when people try to force more trash into it, especially if it is heavy or sharp. An overflowing bin also repels people from actually using it.

Who would have thought that cleanliness could be a measure of efficiency, but there you go. Implementing these cleaning tips in your facility will help guarantee a smoother operation, leading to increased profits.

Monarch Shelving Limited is a leading supplier of warehousing equipment in the North West.

Their knowledgeable staff can offer you a range of options and competitive quotes. Give us a call today.