Smart fulfillment with advanced labor tracking and reporting
Labor tracking and reporting are a critical solution for one of the biggest problems fulfillment organizations face: attracting and retaining workers.
High turnover and the time needed for new employees to get up to speed can impact warehouse efficiency.
Today's fulfillment organizations seek ways to enhance productivity and tackle turnover issues head-on—think injuries, mistakes, and higher costs.
Discover how technology plays a role in labor standards, how to implement them, and their benefits for your fulfillment center. ??
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First, let's define labor standards...
In warehousing and fulfillment, a labor standard is the time a trained employee takes to complete a task under normal conditions. These standards are crucial for evaluating worker efficiency.
Previously, setting accurate labor standards was challenging due to limited data collection. Many companies used arbitrary benchmarks or historical data from warehouse management systems.
Today, AI and predictive analytics simplify establishing realistic labor standards with precise data.
The Role of Tech in Labor Tracking
Technology is transforming warehouses by boosting worker performance, safety, and efficiency. Advances in AI and predictive analytics now provide powerful tools for optimizing job performance.
Analytics and automation improve labor forecasting and capacity management. Software analyzes orders, seasonal data, and performance metrics to optimize scheduling and processes, reducing errors compared to manual methods.
AI’s role extends beyond generative tasks; it significantly enhances forecasting and data accuracy, benefiting warehouse operations.
Developing and Implementing Effective Labor Standards
Establishing new labor standards requires a thorough approach. Here's how to start:
?? Assess Current Conditions
Start by evaluating overall worker performance. How do workers handle their tasks? Are there better techniques that could save time or improve warehouse safety? Establish key standards or best practices for employees to follow.
? Hold Employees Accountable
After determining the best practices for each role, explain them to your team. Everyone, from pickers and packers to warehouse managers, should have a standard to meet. Communicate how you plan to track adherence to these standards and why you’re implementing them. When workers understand the reasons—saving time, reducing costs, enhancing productivity, and improving safety—they’re more likely to adapt.
?? Provide Incentives
Encourage established workers to adopt new practices by offering incentives for meeting or exceeding labor standards, such as small bonuses or personal recognition.
?? Measure Individual Performance
As you establish new labor standards, collect data to evaluate individual performance. Set key performance indicators for average performance based on historical data, then compare actuals to benchmarks to identify top performers and those who may need additional training.
Benefits of Optimized Labor Standards
Setting clear labor standards and implementing them throughout a warehouse simplifies evaluating employee and location performance. The benefits trickle down from the overall company to individual employees.
?? Increased Productivity: Clear best practices improve job performance, boosting efficiency and reducing picking and packing mistakes, labor planning discrepancies, and worker injuries.
?? Cost Savings: Improved employee performance can reduce inventory carrying costs. The savings from labor standards make investing in further enhancements, such as AI, predictive analytics, and automation, easier.
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Check out the full article on labor standards and how implementing them enhances warehouse performance.
?? Does your warehouse struggle with labor issues and picking methods? Explore our guide on batch vs. wave picking for efficient fulfillment.
?? Discover how predictive analytics and AI enhance warehouse labor planning. Read the blog.
??Staying up to date and maintaining a “safety first” culture is a continuous activity. Do right by your employees and check out this article on Warehouse Safety!
??Want to see how Logiwa IO handles Jobs & Waves? Watch this short video. ??
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