The 5 good resolutions of the logistics manager for 2023

The year 2023 is off to a great start and you, as a logistics manager, are wondering how you can further improve your supply chain management.

You are in the right place to do this, and to determine what your resolutions for the year will be!

In this article, we’ll look at 5 good resolutions for: more productivity, a better Quality of Life at work for your teams, and controlled customer satisfaction.

Resolution #1: Manage your stocks in an even more agile way

The year 2022 has been punctuated by crises that have probably affected your role as Logistics Manager: global supply concerns, the Covid-19 pandemic that persists, war in Ukraine, trade agreements between countries that are changing, etc.

In 2023, the economic crisis is likely to continue to deepen, and will require you to manage your stocks in an optimal way, even more agile than before. The objective? To avoid stock-outs and to ensure that your supply chain remains fluid from end to end.

To do this :

• Implementa Warehouse Management System (WMS ) if you haven’t already done so, or improve the processes at work within it. Find out everything you need to start your WMS project here.
• Review your logistics warehousing method to make sure it meets your needs.
• Put in place the tools that are essential for good stock management, such as shelving and bins adapted to your type of goods, to make stocking and the picking phase more fluid.

Resolution #2: Improve the productivity of your warehouse

As we enter 2023, one of the key resolutions for the Logistics Manager is to take stock of his or her logistics processes, to ensure that each phase of the order picking chain is as fast as possible, without compromising the final quality of the orders.

Once you have done this, you will probably find that your handling and picking phase can be improved by equipping your operators with key equipment. Trolleys and rolls should be chosen with care.

But the logistic phase that can gain the most productivity is often the order picking phase. To do this, you can :

• Optimise the packing station of your operators. At this station, the equipment that your pickers often use must be within reach. They should also be as comfortable as possible. Install sit-stand stools or anti-fatigue mats for this purpose, to help your pickers adopt a better working posture.
• Choose time-saving packaging, such as those that can be assembled automatically at the touch of a button, to make the packing process even faster, without compromising the protection of your goods.
• Automate or mechanise your order picking where possible, to improve the productivity of your operators, but also to reduce the drudgery and repetitiveness of their tasks.

To dig deeper into the subject, discover our 7 keys to making your warehouse more productive.

Resolution #3: Ensure the well-being of your operators

On average, an order picker travels 10 to 15 km per day in the warehouse, and a handler carries 1 to 10 tons per day. These figures prove, if proof were needed, just how hard logistics jobs can be.

Faced with this observation, your role as logistics manager is clear: to make life easier for your teams, in order to reduce this drudgery. By doing so, in addition to improving the Quality of Life at Work, you will benefit from reduced absenteeism and turnover, and increased productivity on the part of your operators!

First and foremost, taking an interest in the well-being of your teams means ensuring their daily safety. To do this, equip them with equipment that enables you to actively combat Musculoskeletal Disorders, such as wrapping machines for filming pallets, or adapted handling equipment.
But don’t forget toimplement a QWL-oriented management of your warehouse. An “open door” policy to talk about the concerns they have, and team building moments will allow you to ensure optimal team cohesion. And make sure you take into account their expectations in terms of career development: you’ll keep them even more loyal!

To go further, read our article “How to improve well-being in your warehouse”.

Resolution #4: Work even harder on your customer experience

This resolution is crucial to the satisfaction and loyalty of your company’s end customers. Good news: your logistics division has a crucial role to play in this!

First of all, you can work on the experience your customers have with an adapted packaging strategy:

• Make sure that your packaging offers an optimalunboxing experience, by making it easy to open the packages and by integrating little touches that make all the difference.
• Making it easy to return orders, with packaging that can withstand two shipments, can also be a key part of a good customer experience, especially in e-commerce.
• Personalising your packaging can also create a new experience for your customers.

For more inspiration on the subject, check out 6 examples of successful customer experiences with packaging.

But you also need to work on the customer experience by focusing on your delivery strategy. This should include the selection of reliable carriers, who give customers a choice of delivery method(click-and-collect, point relais, home delivery…), and who ensure flexibility of deliveries.

And don’t forget to think about the eco-responsibility of the modes of transport you offer your customers! Choose service providers who are committed to environmental protection, especially in the last mile, which is the most polluting stage of your entire supply chain.

Resolution #5: Make your warehouse more eco-responsible

Last but not least, the logistics manager’s good resolution for 2023 is to improve the eco-responsibility at work in your warehouse. This is a key to pleasing your company’s end customers, but also to building loyalty among your employees, who are also more environmentally aware.

To do this, you can focus on controlling the energy consumption of your warehouse. For example, install a fleet of LED lights that consume less energy than traditional lighting, or reduce the number of trips through the warehouse by rethinking your picking methods. Also take the time toimplement a waste management policy in the warehouse, sorting the 5 waste streams emitted by your warehouse as appropriate.

Finally, one of the easiest keys to achieving green logistics is to implement an eco-responsible packaging strategy.

To do this, use the 5Rs of packaging, which require you to :

• Reduce the weight and volume of shipments to limit over-packaging
• Reuse packaging, both internally in the warehouse and externally with customers
• Replace environmentally unfriendly packaging with packaging that has a low impact on the planet
• Renew by using packaging made from renewable (bi-sourced) materials or designed from recycled materials
• Recycle as much packaging as possible in the warehouse, and give customers the opportunity to do the same with their shipping packaging

If you follow these 5 good resolutions, you will have a more productive warehouse with a focus on well-being at work, and a successful year in 2023!