InTents October/November 2022 - 29

departments. In general, people are
inconsistent with counting and our
business is all about counting, " Farrell says.
" If systems like RFID and barcoding are
used to eliminate those inconsistencies,
inventory control, loss prevention and
labor will all be improved. It is very
important to make sure the RFID system
you choose will integrate with your ERP
software. Ease of operation for warehouse
and inventory staff is a must. "
CYCLING " DEAD " INVENTORY
Event rental warehouses are notorious
for becoming a hoarder's paradise.
Farrell has been through countless
event rental warehouses and says they
all seem to have this in common.
" Event rental companies are natural pack
rats and it is important to assign inventory
personnel to monitor this situation. ERP
software should identify slow-moving
inventory and steps should be taken a few
times per year to dispose of that inventory
through sales networks, auctions or
social media outlets, " Farrell says. " Dead
inventory does not produce revenue yet
takes up valuable warehouse space. "
Some rental companies, including
Tents for Rent, tend to be slower to jump
on trends, which minimizes the potential
to accumulate unused inventory. " We
do make an effort to sell inventory, so
that our rental items are fresh and new, "
Sensenig says.
In inventory management there is
a concept called " hits. " A hit refers to a
transaction against a particular stockkeeping
unit (SKU) within a 12-month
period of time. A quantity of 10 or 100
is each counted as one hit. The reason
Bader evaluates an item over 12 months is
because he wants to eliminate seasonality.
" When we are looking at the popularity
of our stocked products, we simply
count the number of hits each SKU has
accumulated and rank accordingly. The
items at the top of the list are the items
our customer base loves and we should
SAFETY FIRST
mong the most common hazards warehouse workers are
likely to incur are slips, trips and falls, as warehouses often
have uneven surfaces and very little signage. Accidents can
also occur due to inadequate footwear or poor lighting. These
incidents often lead to worker's compensation claims that can not
only increase a company's insurance premiums but trigger a visit
from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
But many workplace accidents are preventable, either through
staff training or by taking pre-emptive action to reduce common
risks. It's far better and easier to increase signage for trip hazards
and install more lighting than it is to replace an employee who is
out of work due to an injury.
A
Another way to prevent workplace injuries is to implement
policies surrounding where items are stored. As Jason Bader,
managing partner of the distribution and warehouse
management consulting irm The Distribution Team in Portland,
Ore., explains, strains and severe sprains are often caused by
where frequently accessed products are placed in a warehouse.
" They can also occur when we place heavy objects above or
below the 'strike zone' (from shoulders to knees) of our picker. If we
change the placement of frequently accessed products, or heavy
products, to the strike zone, we can eliminate certain repetitive
motion injuries. "
The best way to reduce injuries is to help warehouse
associates develop a " safety sense " for themselves, enabling
them to recognize dangers. But, of course, repetition is key.
" I have found that weekly huddles, about 30 minutes, work well, "
Bader says. " During the huddle, invite an associate to give a fi veto-seven-minute
talk on a safe working practice. When a manager
presents, it will have less impact. When a peer shares, the team
tends to pay better attention. When the task is rotated around to
each associate, they tend to become more invested in the message. "
InTentsMag.com 29
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InTents October/November 2022

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