The warehouse is the pillar of every production activity, and as such, it must be strong to be able to support the work process.
We saw this during complex historical moments, for example, during the pandemic years when being forward-thinking with procurement allowed us to continue the production of electrical panels (as we discussed in this article).
Today, with the vision of Industry 5.0, a development that places data at the center of everything, we add that this pillar must be as digitized as possible. This allows the company to carry out its work smoothly and to have access to essential data for production analysis and beyond.
Data, data, data for better warehouse management
Warehouse management generates crucial data for the subsequent analysis of production, costs, and revenues. That’s why today, warehouse logistics must be seen as a valuable resource.
To achieve this, we need to abandon outdated management methods, especially those based on paper, which over the years have caused tangible management issues and a great deal of practical confusion.
In our opinion, managing a warehouse with paper resources today is unthinkable, both because of the waste of paper and the high risk of human error.
That’s why we decided to implement a fully digital warehouse management system, putting practices in place that minimize errors as much as possible, safeguard our clients’ privacy (which is essential to us), and allow all operators to work more smoothly, quickly, and easily.
This organization is essential to be able to maintain the ISO quality certification (we discussed this in another article) and includes operations such as, for example, numbering every order pallet, where the client’s name is not displayed but is identified with a specific code, which we print internally using specialized equipment.
A QR code with project information for the client
On the same topic, when a project is completed and ready for shipment, it is identified by a QR code that contains all the relevant information.
The client simply needs to scan it to instantly access everything they need.
This choice digitizes countless data and information, saving time and keeping documents organized and easily retrievable at any moment.
Label printing
Our warehouse is organized through a labeling system, with labels in different colors, as this is an easy-to-remember system for everyone. For example, yellow labels (the official color of ZD Electrical Panels!) are for internal use.
Using an advanced management system, the warehouse staff can consult the list of components and arrange to restock them as needed. The operator who requires them for their work, especially for assembling electrical panels, knows therefore exactly where to find what they need.
Operators are therefore equipped with handheld devices that allow them to indicate precisely the components that have been used. In this way, the system can update itself, and we know exactly how many components are used and when the threshold is reached for restocking.
This digitized system ensures that the warehouse is always stocked with the necessary elements, guaranteeing continuous operational flow.
Another logistical and technological improvement is the use of lasers to scan codes that provide access to data. Operators using this system speed up operations.
Ultimately, our warehouse management allows us to:
- automate every operation, from inventory management to knowing where components are located for the production of electrical panels;
- comply with ISO Certification standards for quality and be able to maintain it over time;
- minimize the possibility of human errors;
- minimize the use of paper in the company;
- centralize data thanks to a sophisticated custom management system, which saves them in an internal Cloud system, eliminating the need for physical storage or flash drives;
- obtain invaluable data that allows us to improve the company’s production, economic and financial management as a whole;
- provide customers with a product that comes with all the necessary documents, images, and data, ensuring traceability by simply scanning a QR code.
In conclusion, the amount of data which is generated by this warehouse management allows us to conduct a forward-looking analysis, which goes beyond the short-term, but by aggregating the data, offers a view of the work as a whole over a certain historical period.
This, in the context of Industry 5.0, is now essential to improve the overall quality of our service and to open the doors to greater competitiveness in national and international markets in our sector.
For more information about our services, contact us here.
