New to Warehousing Operations? 3 Things to Consider in Sourcing the Right Material Handling Company

New to Warehousing Operations?

3 Things to Consider in Sourcing the Right Material Handling Company

Yippee! You just landed a job as a warehouse manager. Maybe it was a well-deserved promotion and you already know the warehouse workflow by heart. Maybe you just earned your certificate in Logistics and Warehouse Management (click here for other courses http://education-portal.com/articles/Warehouse_Management_Classes_Courses_and_Training_Programs.html). But for whatever reason you are in this path, by choice or by fate, your first step in ensuring that your operations flow as smoothly as it can go, is to know who and what your available resources are.

GATHER INFORMATION   Are you taking someone else’s post? Make it a point to get a hold of all the contact information of the vendors, suppliers, technicians, etc. whom he has worked with. Make sure it is readily available and accessible because more likely than not, you will need that list. Without these information, you’ll be flying blind. Here’s a sample of a quick reference list http://www.scmh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Directory-for-SCMH-Key-Contacts.pdf

Are you a business owner establishing a new warehouse? Solicit at least three proposals from reputable material handling companies and compare them against:

a.      Expertise & Experience How long has the company been around? Are they local? Can other customers attest to their quality of work? Would you choose a company who has been around five years over one that has been around 70 years? Check what their customers say about them. Do they have a BBB rating? Check even their social media pages. Do they have bad reviews? You’ll be surprised what you can dig up with customer reviews—good or bad, little things count. Here’s an example of a company with customer reviews and has been around for over 75 years http://www.scmh.com/testimonials/ 

b.      Responsiveness and professionalism     Consider this: How many times have you had to call a company before they provided you a quote? Did you have to follow-up? Imagine it’s only the beginning of a probable deal and you’ve already been made to wait. Suppliers who are not prompt may reflect probabilities of not meeting deadlines. So be observant about these little things. Get a referral too. See if you know anyone who has worked with and can vouch for material handling suppliers—be it a storage racking job, or warehouse products and supplies. Check out this Southern California local http://www.scmh.com/warehouse-systems/ they have an online catalogue where you can find most warehouse supplies. Their WPG manager Jim Neidhart is known for his responsiveness and expertise.

c.       Pricing  Why did we not put price on top of the list? Because cheaper does not always mean better. Especially when your entire warehouse operations depend on a reliable equipment and a well-flowing lay-out. While it is good to compare pricing, what is cost-effective must always be your first consideration. Would it be worth buying electric forklifts for a little bit more $ if your productivity is driven higher and if you save more on LP/Gas in the long run? You can contact news@scmh.com to help you determine what is the best forklift for your warehouse. They can come to you and they can advise you on the best truck capacity, make, model, type that is best suited for your warehouse. 

If you’re in Orange County, call Jim Nolan. He is always ready to drop by your office early in the morning 562.244.2076. If you’re in San Fernando Valley, Chris Key is your guy. He runs a satellite office in that area dedicated to customers in the Valley. They have their own technicians, parts, and inventory of trucks. Chris can be reached at 818-612-1916. You can also browse their brand new inventory here http://www.scmh.com/category/new/. 

Budgetary concerns? Have you considered renting? Maybe you have not decided yet what to buy. Maybe you want to try what works best. Since you’re new on the job, we recommend you go with a company that rents out brand new or newer trucks. Well-maintained and feature-packed means less things for you to worry about. Here’s a rental solutions company that rents out newer trucks in Southern California 1-877-752-3425. Yes, new, but the price is the same as the old trucks John Doe rents out next door. So don’t worry about the price. It’s NOT more expensive. Here's a sample of rental rates http://www.scmh.com/rental/forklift-rentals-los-angeles/pneumatic-tires/

So remember, gather information on experience and expertise. Gauge the responsiveness and professionalism of the material handling company. Solicit at least three quotes, do your research, and seek referrals. Cheaper is not always better.

Want more? Visit http://www.scmh.com/blog/