If you’ve been struggling with lost items, delayed packages, or constant frustration with the movement of goods at your location, then the problem might lie with your shipping and receiving areas. Without an organized setup, keeping tabs on goods, managing inventory, and moving items through your business can become an endless headache. In this guide, we’ll show you how to best set up your shipping and receiving areas to get your operations back on track.
Why Shipping and Receiving Areas are Important
Whether you’re running a warehouse, distribution center, or a manufacturing space, it pays to be organized, which is exactly what shipping and receiving areas are for.
Discrepancies in stock, delays, and searching for lost materials are all familiar symptoms of a disorganized operation. It goes without saying that this hurts your bottom line, wastes time, and is a major source of frustration for both managers and employees.
When an area is organized, and when goods are tracked and handled properly, businesses see improvements in morale, productivity, and even profits.
How to Set Up a Receiving Area
To get your receiving area running smoothly, let’s focus on a few considerations that will make organizing, tracking, and processing goods more straightforward.
1. Consider the Docking Space
The first factor to consider is the docking space, especially ensuring it’s large enough for delivery trucks to unload. Choose a layout that best prevents congestion and keeps the unloading process safe and efficient. Remember, the goal is to make sure the whole process is as smooth as can be.
2. Separate Unloading and Receiving Areas
In most cases, it’s beneficial to separate areas for unloading and receiving. Goods can be unloaded in one area and then moved to the receiving space where they can be labeled and organized.
3. Use a Barcode or Inventory System
Using a barcode or other inventory system will help save on time and improve accuracy. Tracking inventory as it moves through your location is a no-brainer. Keeping accurate tabs on goods prevents errors and time wasted down, and it makes it much easier to find items when they are needed.
4. Invest in the Right Equipment
Depending on what kind of operation you’re managing, you may also need equipment to help you unload, such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and more. Such equipment can make organizing goods much easier.
5. Set Up a Central Management Space
A central space to manage receiving is also important to handle paperwork, track inventory, and oversee the area without taking up too much space. Many businesses also find that setting up quality control checkpoints is helpful for them, as they are more able to quickly and accurately identify mistakes/damaged goods before they’re moved into storage.
How to Set Up a Shipping Area
After you set up your receiving area, it’s time to add a shipping area as well. Both of these work in tandem to make your operations as efficient as possible. Here’s how to best go about setting up a new shipping area:
1. Consider the Proximity to Storage and Packing Stations
The first factor to consider is how close the shipping area is to storage and packing stations. This will help you to reduce time spent moving items, and it will help your team quickly prepare and transfer items for shipment.
2. Set Up a Space for Packaging and Labeling
As we alluded to already, having a set space for packaging and labeling is better than lumping them all in one place. Keeping important supplies like tape, boxes, and bubble wrap in one space can make your operations much more efficient.
3. Add a Modular Shipping Office
To create a centralized space, add a modular shipping office to control outflow, manage necessary paperwork, and of course, track orders. Shipping offices can give coordinators a place to oversee all shipping activities, which, as you can imagine, helps keep everything on track.
4. Implement a Tracking System for Outgoing Packages
To make sure that everything ends up in the right place, it’s important to implement a tracking system of some kind for outgoing packages. Barcodes or other tracking methods will work, and employees can check off items as they are packed and prepared for delivery. All of this reduces the risk of shipping mistakes and ensures that outgoing shipments are accurate.
The Benefits of Modular Offices as Shipping and Receiving Areas
When setting up shipping and receiving areas, modular offices have clear advantages over traditional buildouts:
- Flexibility: If you operate a busy industrial facility, you know that layout changes are sometimes needed. Modular offices can be disassembled and moved to a new location with ease. They can also be expanded, downsized, and reconfigured as times/needs change.
- Customization: With modular, you can customize your building however you need, from custom colors, windows, soundproofing options, and more. (Check out some of our interior product options!)
- Quick Installation: Everyone knows that construction can cause disruptions to businesses. The loud noises and the dust can be distracting for workers, and it can even disrupt a business’ normal operations. But with modular, all these disruptions are kept to a minimum. Most of the work is done off-site, and when we do come to assemble the building, it’s done quickly. Traditional construction may take months to complete a project, but we can do it within weeks (or less!).
The Bottom Line
Organized shipping and receiving areas can reduce delays, prevent errors, and keep packages moving in the right direction. Modular shipping and receiving offices can help your business stay organized and efficient. They are flexible, highly customizable, and can be installed quickly with limited disruption. With the right set up, you can help your shipping and receiving operations on track and avoid expensive mistakes.
Interested in setting up modular shipping and receiving areas? Reach out to the experts at Allied Modular today and get a free quote on new buildouts.
