Common Warehouse Mismanagement Mistakes

A warehouse supervisor needs to consider many things in their day-to-day duties—the safety of workers, the process of sending and receiving products, and typical organizational matters.

With these responsibilities comes the risk that several aspects of management will slip through the cracks and result in mistakes. These common warehouse management mistakes are all too easy to make and can be difficult to fix if left unaddressed for too long.

Not Performing Cycle Counts

People often skip cycle counts due to the perceived idea that it’s a waste of valuable time and effort. However, you never know when your own records may be inaccurate, or whether they incorrectly state that you have too much or too little of a product.

Long-Term Problems

While it may not be an issue immediately, this miscounting can result in wasting products or unknowingly using up too much space. The problem will only get worse over time, and the sooner you address it, the easier it is to fix it.

Not Utilizing Space Properly

While it can be a symptom of failing to perform cycle counts, improper use of space can result from a variety of reasons.

Too Much Inventory

You may possess too much inventory and not have enough space to store it all. This can be dangerous, as it may result in overloading racks to fit more products and ignoring the weight limits. Or it can mean using floor space and making it harder for workers to do their job. Forklifts and pallet jacks will have difficulty transporting inventory.

Too Much Space

While not posing as much of a threat as excess inventory, having unutilized space means wasting money. This can affect your warehouse’s profit margin.

Incorrect and Unsafe Racking

Your rack and shelving system is the backbone of your warehouse. It’s important to maintain them and ensure they are up to proper safety standards.

Catastrophic Failure

Allowing racks to deteriorate, mixing and matching parts, or placing too much weight on one rack will end in the collapse of that rack. In the best-case scenario, the product falls to the ground and no one gets hurt. But a falling rack can cause serious bodily harm or even death. Always be aware of the condition of your racks and how much weight they can hold.

Open To Solutions

Be willing to hear out the grievances of workers on the floor. They may have insight into problems with warehouse management—issues that you may not even realize.