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The Warehouse Blog

High Piled Storage

3 min

High Piled Storage

What is high-piled storage and are there special requirements regarding it? What is the procedure if you want to start stacking freight higher in your warehouse? High-piled storage refers to inventory that is stacked higher than a predetermined height. High-Pile Storage Permits are required for any business implementing high-piled storage. Here is a summary of the general requirements. (source) When Do You Need a High Piled Storage Permit? In general, when non-hazardous freig

How to Make MRO Supply Businesses Better

3 min

How to Make MRO Supply Businesses Better

When it comes to staying on top of the game in distribution, everything revolves around the basics. The companies you serve need what they need – when they need it. If they can’t get it from you in a timely manner, they will look elsewhere. Here are some thoughts regarding staying on top in the competitive field of B2B distribution. The challenge exists between the electronic system in place and the employees that use it. Even if the system itself is advanced, the employees u

How to Improve Small Parts Picking Operations for Order Fulfillment or Manufacturing Operations

3 min

How to Improve Small Parts Picking Operations for Order Fulfillment or Manufacturing Operations

One of the greatest challenges facing order fulfillment and manufacturing companies is maintaining accuracy during small parts picking operations. Maintaining order accuracy during the picking process is critical to achieving client satisfaction and to ensuring that inventory is properly counted. When orders contain a variety of different small parts, the overall efficiency of the picking process is usually reduced and the likelihood for inaccuracy rises. Below are some of th

3 Ways to Improve Warehouse Order Accuracy

2 min

3 Ways to Improve Warehouse Order Accuracy

Accuracy and perfection are always needed to excel in any kind of work. But how do you really achieve accuracy? Adopting different methods and strategies can help you gain veracity. Some of the methods are cost effective, but some may seem to cost an arm and a leg but will definitely boost your productivity. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 3 ways to boost warehouse order accuracy. 1. Using Voice command System The foremost aspect of warehouse management i

Ways to Boost Warehouse Employee Productivity

2 min

Ways to Boost Warehouse Employee Productivity

The competition in the market has increased a lot as everyone is doing the best they can to get maximum productivity in the smallest amount of time; but it is not that easy, is it? Warehouse management is a major part of the business. It requires efficiency and a proper check and balance of every process that is being conducted there. You may find these pointers helpful in order to increase the efficiency and productivity of your warehouse: 1. Warehouse Inventory Maintaini

Are You Going to Modex?

2 min

Are You Going to Modex?

Just about every industry holds its own trade show to highlight innovations, showcase contributors, and offer its members a place to learn, share, and network in all aspects of the trade. Well… supply chain and material handling are no different, and our team at Xact Warehouse Solutions is MODEX-bound! From April 4th through 7th MHI, the nation’s largest material handling, logistics and supply chain association will sponsor MODEX, the industry’s leading conference event. The

How to Maximize Existing Warehouse Space

2 min

How to Maximize Existing Warehouse Space

The Real Estate market is booming and warehouse space is both expensive and surprisingly limited. For many business owners, expansion is either not an option or can be a dangerous risk to take as they consider the likelihood of impending market shifts. The cost of larger space combined with the cost of transitioning stock and diverted employee attentions is simply not going to benefit the bottom line. In the meantime, many distribution center operators are also noticing that

3 min

Warehouse Tech-Build the Supply Chain of Your Dreams Part 3 of 3

We’re still dreaming….remember you have an unlimited budget and an amazing IT department… So far in talking about building the supply chain of our dreams we touched on what robots and hardware could do to enhance the workplace, now let’s focus on Software. Aside from the physical logistics of handling materials and managing workers and product, the possibilities are endless in the form of software available to companies to improve every aspect of the business from trucking to

1 min

Warehouse Tech-Build the Supply Chain of Your Dreams Part 2 of 3

Let’s continue dreaming….remember you have an unlimited budget and an amazing IT department… Last week we began talking about building the supply chain of our dreams and touched on what robots could do to enhance the workplace, now let’s focus on Hardware. Surely, in your real life warehouse, you do have some pretty nifty devices: hand held scanners, computers, tablets and the like. But what about taking the efficiency a step further and going “hands-free?” Smart glasses are

2 min

Warehouse Tech: Build the Supply Chain of Your Dreams Part 1 of 3

Imagine you have an unlimited budget and an amazing IT department… what new technologies would you implement for your warehouse and supply management systems? Which would you choose to improve first? Inventory handling? Personnel management? Transportation efficiency? How does your own warehouse utilize recent advances in technology? Pretending you have that unlimited budget, here are some ideas where you can begin: Robots. No kidding. Robots are taking over, literally. From

2 min

U.S. Veterans in U.S. Logistics

As American presence in Iraq and Afghanistan dwindles, more and more members of the armed forces return home and prepare for a new season in life. Some of these men and women will continue domestic military careers but many seek a fresh start in the private sector. In this month’s edition of DC Velocity senior editor Toby Gooley illustrates the how veterans may be some of the best prepared supply chain logistics employees. Gooley reports that, proportionally, more veterans

2 min

Shrinking the Globe (Somewhat) Locally

Logistics Management’s Patrick Burnson wrote this month about alternative distribution networks on the rise as global shifts prove traditional off-shoring to no longer afford the savings it formerly did. With contributions from several logistics experts, Burnson has provided much food for thought. Dr. Dale Rogers, co-director of the Center for Supply Chain Management at Rutgers University details the cause and some of the effects that have set these coming changes in place.

1 min

Changes for Leading Supply Chain Organization

The group formerly known as Material Handling Industry of America will now be referred to as simply Material Handling Industry. Interestingly enough, this change is not only indicative of a broadening of horizons, but also a return to origins. MHI was founded as such in 1945. The MHI of today will continue to focus on material handling, as well as “manufacturing, distribution, logistics and transportation,” as quoted by Jeff Woroniecki, Executive Vice President of Business

2 min

2013 Supply Chain Industry Predictions

Clifford Lynch, of C.F. Lynch & Associates, has looked into his crystal ball (and called upon years of experience) to make predictions for the supply chain industry yet again this year. In this month’s edition of DC Velocity, Lynch has drafted a top-ten list of changes (or lack thereof) we can expect for 2013. 1) The Usual; driver shortages, high fuel costs, infrastructure and sustainability struggles. 2) Treatment of Truck Drivers; Shippers and receivers will become more wel

1 min

ProMat 2013 Begins Today!

This week tens of thousands of material handling and supply chain professionals will gather in Chicago for ProMat 2013, the largest material handling exposition in the U.S., which runs from today to Thursday, January 24th. This event is actually a combination of two shows as attendees are also eligible to attend Automate 2013, which spotlights automation technologies. Between the two shows there will be over 900 exhibitors showcasing new technologies, discussing the future of

2 min

Job Opportunities Expected to Exceed Number of Qualified Workers

This month’s edition of DC Velocity is packed with it’s usual material handling news, product information, and supply chain surveys and statistics, and one particularly encouraging forecast. Mark Solomon presents food for thought in regard to upcoming changes in the industry -both celebration-worthy and challenging. Solomon’s reporting of recent findings published by the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics is an industry-specific light at the end of the tunnel. Though

1 min

Post-Sandy Supply Chain Support

As children return to school, power returns to many homes and businesses, and people begin the long return to normalcy, super storm Sandy’s destruction remains scattered about the northeast United States. Thanks to many in the supply chain industry, there has been rapid movement to bring aid to those in need and to jump start the economy throughout the region. With some freight carriers arriving the day after the storm, Lynn Adler of Reuters.com asserts that many lessons lear

Xact at WERC!

1 min

Xact at WERC!

On Wednesday, October 10th, Xact Warehouse Solutions joined approximately 40 other material handling leaders for the 11th Annual NorthTX WERCouncil Warehousing Convention. This was a great time of networking, idea-sharing, and, for many, was an opportunity to learn about new solutions for their warehousing needs. As an exhibitor, Xact Warehouse Solutions greeted hundreds of event attendees and spent valuable time discussing with them practical applications for many of the ser

1 min

Upcoming Material Handling Convention!

On October 10th, the North Texas Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) will hold its 11th Annual Warehousing Resource Convention at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Xact Warehouse Solutions would like to invite you to join us for this event featuring more than 40 exhibitors, including ourselves. We will be hosting a booth with the Hilmot Corporation, in Hallway C, just outside the presentation hall. If you have not already registered for this

1 min

Rack Protection

It can easily be said that an individual, a group, or even an idea is only as good as the legs on which it stands. The same is true for your warehouse. If your equipment is not reinforced it is vulnerable. Leaving your equipment vulnerable leaves you, your employees, your product and your business vulnerable. To protect the integrity of your warehouse we recommend a prepared approach -rack guarding. From bollards to guardrail we offer an abundance of rack protection soluti

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