Globalization spiked the importation and exportation sector of every economy. This development led to the continued rise of the shipping and storage industry. Specifically, the cold storage warehouse industry is experiencing global growth. True to this, experts valued global cold storage at 107.18 billion in 2020. They also predict that this will further grow by 13.5% in 2028! The market for cold storage warehouses is promising if managed wisely. Here are some of the best practices for managing cold storage warehouses that you need to know to help keep your facility alive till 2028 and beyond! Use Insulated Curtain Walls to Control Heat Exchange Commercial warehouse facilities store various products. Hence, the need to cater to different temperature needs. Milk and dairy products, for instance, should be adequately stored above 1°C. Aside from that, the best temperature for storing vegetables should stay at 12°C. This difference in the range of temperature across products requires regulation. Your management should control the heat exchange from different zones. It will help prevent the movement of heat from high-temperature to lower-temperature zones. One good practice to control heat exchange is to use a modular insulated curtain wall system. Insulated curtain walls are plastic modular curtains similar to shower curtains. The difference is that these are on the scale of cold storage warehouses. These can effectively create and maintain temperature separations of 15°F to 40°F. Always Use Solutions Designed for the Cold Only use tools and equipment modified to withstand the temperature in a cold storage warehouse, particularly when it comes pallet racking systems. If not, your employees might experience difficulties operating them, decreasing productivity or even worse, collapsing pallets. For instance, it will be hard to operate a touchscreen device wearing gloves. Hence, it’s best to use devices with large buttons. However, note that although designed to fit the environment, it doesn’t mean these can last you a lifetime. The cold and condensation can take a toll on your tools and equipment. Condensation, for instance, can cause a short circuit in your electrical tools. Also, constant exposure to the cold can decrease the battery life of your equipment by 20-50%. This means that the average electric lift truck might only last 4-6 hours instead of 8 hours in the cold. As a solution, choose to invest in higher battery voltage equipment. Here, even if 12-hours battery life were to decrease, it would still last at least 8 hours which is a full shift. As a result, workers will be able to maximize the equipment and hasten their daily operations. Provide Employee Care and Safety This practice is often neglected in the management of a cold storage warehouse. However, providing comfortable gears, tools, and equipment have broad effects. For one, cold employees often linger in warmer zones before proceeding to colder ones. This can cause a delay in pick-up, inventory, and other operations. It can also be that employees will hold the door to keep themselves warm. This may violate the required temperature protocols for certain products as a result. Having the correct warehouse safety accessories is important to avoid incidents like this occurring. The provision of proper personal equipment also makes them feel cared for. This can further motivate your employees, increasing productivity. Aside from this, it’s also vital that employees receive adequate training. Automate Where Possible Compared to other storage facilities, cold storage warehouse is more expensive. This is mainly due to the high cost of maintaining a low temperature. This is also coupled with the fact that energy, land, and labour are increasing. Hence, to save on costs, it’s best to automate operations. First, automation reduces the need for human labour, thus, paying lesser wages. The use of automated palletizers, for instance, lessens operators. Second, automation can reduce costly human error. It also optimizes the space in your warehouse by improving your cube utilization. Furthermore, automation can help reduce heat loss. For example, automated warehouses can detect sudden increases of heat entering a temperature-controlled area. After detection, the system will put in place a smart-technology-powered solution to maintain the temperature in the zone. Maintain an Accurate Temperature Record What may seem like a minor temperature change can tamper with the quality of the contents of your warehouse. Therefore, keeping an updated and accurate temperature record is a good practice in cold storage warehouse management. Technology has a huge role in maintaining an accurate record. Temperature sensors, for instance, can automatically keep track of the temperature. They can even identify probable lapses based on the records and alarms managers. Make a Contingency Plan Employing the best warehouse storage solutions will not guarantee that you won’t encounter management jeopardies. What if the refrigerator unit in your Cold Storage Warehouse suddenly stops working? Do you have a policy that can help you mediate the consequences of such unplanned delays? Managers should develop a contingency plan to prevent delays and damages. This contingency plan should indicate the strategy for every probable unplanned situation. Start by creating a list of all situations that may impact the operations of your warehouse. After outlining, identify the risks and threats of each case. Categorize the situations based on the severity of the consequence. Also, decide while keeping in mind the likelihood of the situation. Then, identify the triggers that set this contingency plan into motion. Include the immediate response for each trigger and the timeline for each response. Make sure to identify the key players. Don’t forget to list the responsibilities of each player to increase accountability. Finally, disseminate this contingency plan to the responsible people. Ensure that everyone involved in the implementation masters it so that the response will be quick and seamless when the time comes. Get Effective Customized Solutions for Your Cold Storage Warehouse Today! News of the promising future of the Cold Storage Wearhouse business has already spread. Investors and managers are beginning to flock. So how will you stay ahead and maintain your cold storage warehouse in such a large pool of competitors? Employing the above-stated practices can help you. However, getting a customized warehouse solution will make an even bigger impact.
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