Summarize the following:
Your primary goal as a warehouse manager is to manage products, namely by ensuring that the right products go where they need to go when they need to go there. To save employees time in searching for products, create a logical organizational system that can be easily interpreted and used. For starters, you should place the most-moved products in an easily accessible area such as the center of the warehouse. Additionally, group products that are often shipped together near each other.   Make sure your warehouse is easily navigable by clearly labeling aisles and product groups.   For example, let's say your warehouse stocks computer components. You have everything from memory and processors to accessories like keyboards and webcams. However, the items you move most are replacement power cords. In this case, you should keep your stock of power cords closer to the loading area and easily within reach at waist or shoulder height so that they can be moved quickly and easily. This area should be labeled clearly as "power cords" or something similar. Picking, or gathering products into shipments, can take up a large amount of your workers' time. However, you can make changes to your picking process to speed it up. For example, if you regularly ship large orders to a few key customers, consider organizing pick lists so that similar items are grouped together. For smaller orders to a large number of clients, you can set it up so that the pick lists are grouped, and the actual products are divided at a later stage.   Imagine that your computer-components warehouse regularly ships small numbers of your power cords to a large number of electronics stores. Try organizing your picking lists so that the total number of power cords is taken from the power cord aisle at one time and then separated before shipping. This will avoid having your pickers go back and forth all day. Some managers choose to implement a system of color-coding on picking lists that can either organize items by warehouse area or by customer priority, where certain colors indicate high-volume clients. Ideally, any movement of an item should be recorded with all relevant information, including time, product status, and product code. An effective management system can be implemented through the use of RFID tags or barcodes linked to an inventory-management-software program. Make sure that all of your employees are thoroughly trained in the use of this system.  In some cases this system will have to comply with overall company policy. Make sure to learn this policy so that you can correctly implement it in warehouse operations. Walk around and make sure storage areas are neatly maintained and contain the appropriate products.  Use only designated areas for merchandise storage. Make certain employees have clearly marked these areas and are storing only the specified items according to the markings. Check pallets for damage, and make sure staff know how to load pallets properly for stability. Record inspection dates and any damage you find. Start the repair process or discard items as needed. Organize monthly or weekly meetings with important upper-level staff members. These include managers and supervisors of warehouse inventory, storage, and purchasing.  Discuss new ideas, improved procedures, equipment replacement, budgets, staff promotions, recommendations and all other work-related topics. Address questions relating to damaged merchandise or to purchasing concerns regarding vendors, pricing, quality, or merchandise availability. To keep the warehouse running smoothly, you may have to make changes to product storage or product movement processes. Take time every six months or so to assess storage areas and each individual process. Note areas where you can make improvements.
Establish a consistent and efficient organization system. Make picking more efficient. Establish an inventory-management system. Do a visual inspection of storage areas regularly. Meet regularly with key staff. Make changes when necessary.