Cold Storage Warehousing Tips

Sep 11, 2020

Frozen food has become a big deal lately due to stock-up behavior and supply chain issues as a result of the current pandemic. Because of the rising demand and the specialized nature of cold storage warehousing, it’s a good idea to revisit the challenges, best practices, and operating tips for these types of facilities.

 

Cold Storage Warehouse Challenges

Between daily operations and optimization of processes, it’s not easy for cold storage warehouse managers to juggle their responsibilities. From highly regulated food handling guidelines to storage and temperature control, there’s a long list of considerations for facilities to keep running smoothly. The last thing you need is to have your reputation tarnished because of foodborne illness outbreaks that originated in the warehouse. 

There are plenty of steps to take from the time the food enters the warehouse until it leaves to go to customers or retail outlets, which opens up the supply chain to vulnerability. Time is (literally) of the essence in cold storage warehouses. Managers must keep everything running efficiently, especially when handling highly perishable items like meat, dairy, and seafood products. Furthermore, every product and their storage racks need to be labeled correctly and traceability — a huge and challenging undertaking.

Temperature control is also a challenge that cold warehousing managers face. Automation can help in this area, but only so much: Someone must be available to handle any emergencies or make adjustments based on predictive maintenance data or regular maintenance schedules. Scheduling the right employees at the right time can be especially tricky now as warehousing facilities may be running on alternative schedules to address social distancing or health and wellness initiatives. 

Additionally, the shipping and fulfillment processes must be expedited and packages should be handled within the warehouse properly and safely, using the right equipment by employees with proper training. OSHA and the FDA have strict safety and industry standards and staying compliant is key. Systems must be implemented to help cut down on waste, reduce operating costs, and focus on the safety of employees. Ultimately the bottom line needs to be preventing loss of both product and profit. 

 

Cold Warehousing Best Practices

Building a cold warehousing infrastructure that integrates both current processes and predicts upcoming challenges is no easy feat, and it takes an expert touch to keep your frozen food or cold warehouse or frozen food storage facility running smoothly. It’s a very smart idea to partner with equipment and materials handling pros like our team here at Benco to get guidance and insight. Below we offer some tips and best practices.

Come up with a plan: There are endless possibilities for problems to pop up and even with the right equipment, training, and experience in place, there’s no way for cold warehouse facility managers to predict those issues. Contingency plans are key to getting derailed operations back on track quickly, and those plans should be available and accessible to everyone throughout the warehouse.

Ramp up training: Plenty of factors go into mitigating delays that could cause food to spoil, but the most critical is training employees to understand food storage and cold warehousing management optimization. Make them aware of your expectations and build a total culture of food safety from top to bottom. 

Invest in equipment: Keeping temperatures consistent also means using the highest-quality equipment and maintaining it to operate efficiently. Outfitting your frozen food or cold warehouse facility and working with equipment experts to ensure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do is a smart investment with huge ROI. Thoroughly vet your equipment partners to find out if they’re up for the job.

Don’t skimp on storage: How you store and label products is just as important as how you handle it. The racks and shelving you use will dictate how employees can move inventory and how secure it will be while it waits to be shipped back out again. Don’t settle for subpar storage; this is another area of your warehouse management process that should include guidance from our team.

Depend on doors and docks: Safely and quickly transporting product in and out of your warehouse starts at the loading docks. Keeping that product fresh means having loading dock doors that help with temperature control. This area of your warehouse needs to be safe, properly functioning, and well-maintained.

Warehouse management is a complex job, but it becomes even more complicated in cold storage and frozen food facilities. Staying ahead of challenges and learning about best practices is a guaranteed way to keep profits high and product loss low.

Common Hazards in Your Warehouse (And How to Avoid Them)

08 Apr, 2024
Warehouses are the backbone of many industries, storing and distributing goods to keep the economy moving. However, behind the scenes of this logistical hub lurk various hazards that can pose severe risks to employees and property. Let's investigate some of the most common warehouse hazards and explore proactive mitigation strategies. Slips/Trips/Falls Slips, trips, and falls are among the most prevalent hazards in warehouse spaces. Spills, cluttered aisles, and uneven surfaces can easily lead to accidents if not adequately addressed. To prevent such incidents, warehouses should prioritize proper housekeeping, including regular cleaning and maintenance of floors. Additionally, using signage to highlight potential hazards and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the facility can significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Fires Flammable materials and electrical equipment in warehouses make them susceptible to fires. Faulty wiring, improper storage of combustible materials, and lack of fire suppression systems can all contribute to the risk of fire outbreaks. Implementing preventive measures such as regular equipment maintenance, proper storage protocols for flammable materials, and employee training on fire safety procedures are crucial in mitigating this hazard. Harmful Substances Warehouses often house various chemicals and hazardous substances, which can pose risks to employees' health if not handled properly. Exposure to harmful substances can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other serious health problems. To mitigate this hazard, warehouses should properly store and label hazardous materials, provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure adequate ventilation systems, and conduct regular training on safe handling procedures. Falling Objects With shelves stacked high with merchandise, falling objects present a significant hazard in warehouses. Poorly secured storage systems, improper stacking of items, and inadequate safety measures can all increase the risk of objects falling and causing injury. Warehouses can minimize this risk by adequately securing shelves and storage systems, using barriers or guardrails to prevent objects from falling, and conducting regular inspections of overhead storage areas. Overexertion The physical demands of warehouse work can lead to overexertion injuries if employees lack adequate training or don't perform tasks ergonomically. Lifting heavy objects, repetitive motions, and working in awkward positions can all contribute to overexertion injuries such as strains and sprains. To prevent such injuries, warehouses should provide comprehensive training on proper lifting techniques, encourage the use of mechanical aids such as forklifts and pallet jacks, and implement ergonomic workstations to reduce strain on employees' bodies.

Common Inventory Management Mistakes

08 Mar, 2024
Effective inventory management practices influence the success of each warehouse, the supply chain, and the business at large. Inventory management involves many moving parts and elements – everything from the product catalog to the warehouse space to tracked KPIs. Experienced warehouse managers know that no matter how fool-proof your inventory management systems are, there’s always room to improve and prepare for unexpected circumstances. Let’s discuss common inventory management mistakes (and what to do instead). Overstocking or Understocking One of the most prevalent inventory management mistakes is maintaining too much or too little inventory. Overstocking ties up valuable capital and warehouse space, leading to increased carrying costs and a higher risk of obsolescence. On the other hand, understocking can result in stockouts, backorders, and dissatisfied customers. Businesses should leverage historical sales data, market trends, and advanced forecasting techniques to accurately predict demand and optimize inventory levels. Inaccurate Demand Forecasting Businesses are prone to making costly inventory planning errors without precise demand forecasting. Relying on outdated data or flawed forecasting methods can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. By utilizing advanced analytics and predictive modeling, businesses can better anticipate shifts in demand, seasonal fluctuations, and emerging trends, allowing for more informed inventory decisions and improved responsiveness to customer needs. Lack of Inventory Visibility Poor visibility into inventory levels across multiple locations or channels can result in operational inefficiencies and errors. Without real-time data on stock levels and movement, businesses may struggle to fulfill orders on time, leading to customer dissatisfaction and lost sales. Implementing integrated inventory management systems that provide comprehensive visibility into inventory across the supply chain can help businesses optimize inventory allocation, reduce stockouts, and improve overall operational performance.

A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Forklifts

By Denis Benden • 08 Feb, 2024
Efficient material handling is crucial for businesses of all sizes and industries. It directly impacts productivity, cost-effectiveness, and overall operational success. Effective material handling ensures that goods are moved, stored, and transported in a streamlined and organized manner, minimizing delays, damages, and errors. Electric forklifts play a significant role in effective material handling, transforming the […] The post A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Forklifts appeared first on Benco Industrial Equipment.
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