Providing a stellar customer experience and delivering excellent service – while keeping people safe and making a nice profit.
That’s the mission of almost every third-party logistics company (3PLs) on the planet.
States Logistics, one of the most dynamic 3PL solution providers today, shares how they flawlessly deliver on that mission to drive maximum value and control costs.
Watch the on-demand session with Ryan Donovan, the President of States Logistics, and Nick Palczynski from OneTrack, here or read on for the key takeaways.
So, world-class warehouse operations is the goal.
But how do you do that when the deck is stacked against you?
Reliable blue-collar labor is harder than ever to find, train, and retain. Leading to higher costs, turnover, and increased safety risks.
The rising costs of doing business impacts every facet of operations, from overhead (labor is often the most expensive line item) and squeezing margins.
Customer expectations also keep rising. And you risk your hard-earned reputation when products and facilities are damaged, but you don’t know why.
Visibility into what’s actually happening inside a warehouse is a rarity. And that lack of visibility makes it nearly impossible to correct and plug profit leaks.
For States Logistics, the answer is an unwavering commitment to innovation.
Here are 3 ways to build world-class operations despite rising and costly challenges:
1. Identify your pillars to define and measure success.
For States, safety is number one.
They want to ensure that all their associates leave the same way they came into the building.
But only happier because, at the end of the day, they've had a great shift, done their work, are safe, and are going home!
Forklift safety is one of the most important aspect of any warehouse. After all, a single forklift can weigh over 6,000 pounds, and pallets of product can be just as heavy. But by implementing a forklift safety program, and using technology to help coach your associates, you can ensure every warehouse employee clocks out safe after every shift.
The next pillar is service.
As a 3PL, States doesn’t own, design, or create the products that they move every single day. Instead, they provide warehousing, transportation, and value-added services to customers.
So, they operate with a customer-focused mindset and strive for excellence and continuous improvement. As Ryan says, being "perfect performers" is of utmost importance.
The final pillar is financial value, or profit.
Ryan notes: “We need to have financial success for our company and our organization so that we can keep investing and keep growing and do well. Our associates need to be fairly compensated so that they can enjoy their work here and they can keep creating the value that they create and doing what they do. And then it's got to have value for our customers.”
For ways on how to capture ROI and prove value from your forklift safety program, check out this ultimate guide to forklift safety.
2. Invest in technology – it’s like steroids to supercharge your operations.
A lot has stayed the same in the warehousing world over the past 65+ years.
However, the difference today, according to Ryan, is technology.
Technology has changed demand and expectations, the speed at which warehouses can operate, and deliver greater accuracy and improved performance. All of which warehouse operators need to be successful today.
Yet, most warehouses run on technology that was invented in the 1950s: the barcode.
While barcodes are very good at telling you when something happened, they don't provide context into what happens between barcode scans. Without deep visibility, you can't fix the hidden hazards in your operations and make data-driven improvements.
3. Foster a culture of safety and trust.
Whether you're a new associate or a warehouse veteran, mistakes happen.
But it's about creating a relationship of trust so employees can share what's going on. And, in turn, supervisors can go out and help train them to be better.
The challenging reality, though, is that supervisors cannot be on the floor 24/7 to see everything happening inside every warehouse across your entire network. So, how can you expect your team to solve problems they can't see?
To encourage accountability and turn proactive coaching into your supervisors' superpower, you need the right technology that brings full visibility into what's happening on your warehouse floor.
3PLs Need Deep Warehouse Network Visibility
Modern 3PLs like States Logistics invest in leading-edge tech to equip their associates and customers with the information they need to succeed.
OneTrack is proud to be one of those partners working with States Logistics to keep their people safe. In fact, we've helped States improve warehouse safety by 72%.
OneTrack brings critical, AI-powered visibility to warehouse operators at the world’s largest companies, improving workplace safety, labor productivity, and shipment quality.
See for yourself how companies like States Logistics, Rinchem, and Holman Logistics use our Warehouse Operating System to create world-class warehouse operations.
Content created in partnership with IWLA, the go-to resource for warehouse logistics.
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