Enhance Your Loading Dock Process

Have you considered enhancing your loading dock process? If you haven’t, perhaps it’s because you haven’t considered the benefits of doing so. Or maybe you feel that your loading dock process is good as is. Whether you have considered this matter or not, we believe that there is always room for improvement and in this article, Millennium Logistics Management provides useful insight and provides a few suggestions that can help you enhance your loading dock process!

Now, first of all, let’s discuss what the loading dock is. The loading dock is the access point for shipping and receiving. In order to reduce damage to cargo and optimize productivity, it is important to establish a well designed loading procedure (one which minimizes delays).

The following are a few effective ways you can improve your existing dock processes:

Take Advantage of Technology:

Transportation Management Systems and Dock Management Systems are great because they help identify problems inside and outside the facility. This technology works through the use of RFID and GPS technology which makes tracking the movement of every trailer possible. Improved staffing and better utilization of equipment is possible through the use of this technology, thanks to real-time performance reports and the opportunity to reduce delays. These systems are able to capture average length of a driver’s haul, loads built by hour, and dock status. This information is useful in helping you make the best use of your driver’s time.

Enhance Dock Safety:

Drivers, attendants, operators and employees all face safety risks while loading and unloading. With that in mind, in order to increase productivity and reduce injuries at the loading dock, follow these tips:

• Make sure to keep docks dry; water on the loading dock creates a dangerous situation.
• Evaluate security at the facility and examine safety before someone gets hurt.
• Make sure all equipment is upgraded and replace old or non-functional equipment as necessary.
• Dock lights, levelers, overhead doors and seals should be tested regularly to ensure reliability therefore and creating a maintenance schedule is a good way to keep track of their maintenance.

Eliminate Bottlenecks:

Oftentimes, inbound material comes faster than can be unloaded, or products and equipment aren’t properly labeled, which creates delays and when the flow of goods from the warehouse or distribution center is slowed on its way to the customer, bottlenecks occur. Piles of papers and long wait times are common bottlenecks.

In order to avoid wasted costs, delayed shipments, employee stress and unhappy customers, make sure to identify any bottlenecks in your supply chain. When bottlenecks are identified and effective solutions are applied, companies see a vast improvement in inventory management and load times. This results in improved shipper status and reduces detention charges.

In summary, following this steps will allow you to maximize the efficiency of loading and unloading at the dock with safer operations, you will reap from all the benefits of taking advantage of the technology available and experience fewer bottlenecks. For more information regarding the information in this article, or if you are interested in any of the professional supply chain services we offer, please contact Millennium Logistics Management.