Proper material handling equipment (MHE) is an essential component of any successful distribution center. Having the correct types and quantity of different MHE in your fleet is imperative to proper material handling, reducing product loss and damage, and increasing efficiency.
When warehousing is not a company’s core competency, choosing equipment compatible with your business requirements can be challenging. If this is the case, outsourcing your MHE selection to a supply chain engineering consultant may yield better results.
Outsourcing your MHE Selection
The MHE market is vast, with new, innovative options becoming available almost every day. Similarly, many businesses have ever-changing equipment needs as their operations grow. Navigating these investments can be difficult without the knowledge and resources to ensure your tools and equipment provide a competitive edge for your facility. Furthermore, companies risk purchasing equipment with limitations that cannot accommodate business changes or operational needs.
When you outsource your MHE selection, experts will help you find the right solutions for your company’s needs. Logistics engineers understand your specific business objectives and fulfillment needs and utilize their specialized knowledge to create custom solutions. They analyze:
- Product requirements
- Storage capacity
- Inventory flow
- Racking
- Current and future business needs
- Warehouse Layout
This analysis produces a data-driven strategy to help you make informed decisions when choosing your equipment. Using this information to select the right MHE for your facility yields economical, efficient results.
Benefits of Choosing the Right MHE
The upfront cost of MHE poses a significant financial burden. While it is tempting to cut corners to reduce costs, there are several benefits to investing in the right equipment for your operation from the start, including:
- Reduction in operational costs
- Boost in productivity
- Increased efficiency
- Improved inventory flow
- Enhanced customer service
- Decreased accidents
- Maximized capacity
These benefits are realized when an operation’s equipment matches inventory types and the frequency and flow of product movement, streamlining your facility.
WOW Logistics’ MHE Solution
selection from our experienced engineers. They possess extensive knowledge of warehouse operations, uniquely qualifying them to design layouts yielding streamlined results. Additionally, they understand the detailed requirements of warehouse equipment, allowing them to select optimal MHE for your operation and can even spec flexible equipment that can adapt to business changes and boost labor productivity.
With this expertise, they evaluate a company’s product specs, inventory data, and picking characteristics to create multiple layout designs in CAD. Each plan outlines storage capacity, racking type, handling efficiencies, tools and equipment, and other factors that can hinder efficiency. As a result, daily workflows become streamlined, increasing productivity and reducing product damage incidents via proper transport methods. Furthermore, WOW’s standing relationships with MHE vendors allow for quick, competitive bids using a comprehensive template with details inexperienced individuals often miss.
In addition to consulting services, WOW Logistics offers Operations, Real Estate Development, Inventory Financing, and Technology Solutions.
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