When you have the best equipment in your warehouse, it can improve efficiency and productivity. You won’t have as many repairs from broken-down and aging equipment to deal with. You can also help your workers get their jobs done faster and better. However, warehouse equipment comes at a high cost, so you have to think and plan carefully before making a move.
How can you tell it’s time to invest in new equipment for your team? Here are a few questions to ask yourself first:
Is equipment impacting your company’s ability to compete?
Not only does old or outdated technology or equipment slow down your people, but it also makes your company less competitive on the market place. With more and more warehouses becoming state-of-the-art and “smart,” you have to keep pace if you want to remain in business. When you’re assessing your equipment, look for those areas where you’ll get the most return on your investment in terms of efficiency and productivity.
Is equipment hampering production requirements?
Whatever products you make or manufacture, your equipment should be supporting productivity, not getting in the way of it. If there is an issue, it could be due to obsolete equipment or a lack of worker training. Before you invest in any one area, make sure you understand the root cause of the problem.
Is safety an issue with your current equipment?
You must keep employees safe while they’re on the job. If someone gets injured, it not only leads to downtime, but extra workers’ compensation costs for you. In addition, if employees don’t feel safe while working on your equipment, it will cause a high turnover and low retention, further impacting productivity.
Are mistakes and breakdowns becoming a problem?
When your equipment is old, it can wind up costing you more in the long run than if you invested in new equipment. Breakdowns that need to be repaired, as well as slow technology, can all lead to longer turnarounds and lower performance during high-demand times.
Is your equipment stopping your company from reaching long-term goals?
Times are uncertain, so it can feel unwise to invest in new equipment. However, if you want to keep your business viable, you need to remain goal-oriented, and that requires the right tools. So if you have certain goals that are being hindered by lack of equipment, then consider which areas make the most sense to invest in now and plan to upgrade the rest in the near future.
If you have all the equipment you need but need to upgrade your workforce instead, Future Force is here for you. As one of Orlando’s top temporary hiring agencies, we have the people you need for a range of warehouse positions, prequalified and ready to hit the ground running. Contact us today to get started!
