Man power is critical in warehouse operations. Without the correct amount of workers a warehouse can’t function to its highest capabilities. With too much manpower a warehouse is not cost efficient. So as a warehouse manager how do you handle manpower in a warehouse?
The best way to handle manpower in a warehouse is through building a staffing system. The best staffing systems are built with a mix of full time employees and warehouse temp staffing. Hiring core staff and leaders in full time positions ensures the foundation of the staffing plan is solid. Using temp labor to scale up or down based on demand ensures that the staffing plan is cost effective and productive.
Common Challenges in Warehouse Staffing
There are a few common challenges in warehouse staffing. The first is unpredictable demand and seasonal surges. Warehouse demand varies greatly from season to season or even day to day. Each warehouse has its own unique demand to meet.
The second is high turnover rates and no-shows. Because warehouse work can be physically demanding there is typically a high turnover rate.
The third challenge is finding qualified and reliable workers to fill the spots of workers who turnover. It can be challenging to find warehouse workers who are qualified to do the work and reliable employees.
Lastly, warehouse managers must balance cost efficiency with productivity. There is a balance of being productive and being cost efficient warehouse managers have to be mindful of both.
Why Traditional Temp Agencies Fall Short
Temporary labor near you is a smart tool to use for warehouse staffing. But finding temp staff for my business can be difficult. Traditional temp agencies near you can be slow and inflexible.
Labor agencies near you often lack visibility into worker quality or reliability and have a time-consuming onboarding process.
These types of staffing services are not ideal for warehouses wanting to build a staffing plan around flexibility and speed.
Online Staffing Platforms are a Smarter Alternative
Online staffing platforms are a smarter way to find temp employees. With online staffing platforms warehouses post the shifts they need filled for when they need them. Managers have complete control over their shift details including headcount, requirements, and shift wage.
Online staffing platforms are tech driven which allows them to be much faster than traditional labor agencies.
5 Tips for Managing Warehouse Manpower
- Forecast labor needs based on order volume and seasonality.
- Create a reliable labor pool using a mix of full-time and flexible labor.
- Use an on-demand staffing platform to source temp workers near you
- Use worker performance data, like The Bacon Score, to refine hiring decisions.
- Schedule proactively to prevent understaffing or overstaffing.
Don’t Just Fill Shifts, Build a System
Rethink your labor strategy and consider building a system to staff your warehouse. Staffing apps can fill all kinds of general labor staffing and give warehouse managers the tools to handle manpower in a warehouse. Check out online staffing platforms to build your workforce for your
