Supply Chain – CAB Worldwide

Forklift Safety Tips For Distribution Warehouses

CAB Worldwide — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:32:33 +0000

Forklift Safety Tips For Distribution Warehouses

Proper safety in a distribution warehouse can mean the difference between life and death for employees. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), there are over 95,000 injuries from forklifts each year, with about 100 of these accidents being fatal. Of these deaths, about 42% are from the forklift tipping over and crushing the operator. The second highest death, at 25%, comes from people being crushed between the forklift and a surface.

To ensure safety at a distribution warehouse here are some safety tips that should always be followed:

Never allow someone to operate a forklift unless they are trained

Federal law mandates forklift operators be a minimum of 18 years old, and those operating a forklift must be trained prior to their use. Proper instruction on how to use a forklift is necessary to ensure the safety of all employees, not just the one operating the forklift.

Always use the right forklift for the job

Forklifts come in different sizes. If you have narrow aisles or other constraints, make sure to use the proper size for the area and the job.

Pay attention when steering, turning, or changing directions

The majority of forklift accidents happen when steering, turning, or changing directions. Steering should be done in a controlled manner at all times. Turning too fast can result in the forklift falling over, potentially killing the operator or any workers too close to it. Changing direction can also cause the forklift to tip over if it’s not properly stabilized.

Properly maintain the forklift

As with all mechanical equipment, a forklift should receive routine maintenance. This is especially true when it comes to keeping the tires properly inflated, as the balance of the forklift is necessary to keeping it from tipping over.

Drive safely

Forklifts should never be driven more than 5 mph. Operators should slow down when other employees are around and when conditions are less than perfect, such as with slippery or wet floors.

Do not haul loads beyond the limits set forth by the forklift manufacturer

Hauling loads that exceed the capacity of the forklift can result in tipping the forklift forward. This is the second most common tipping position, after tipping sideways.

Operators should always wear seatbelts

Seatbelts can save lives, even on forklifts. If a forklift begins to tip over, it’s natural for the operator to want to try and jump out. Wearing a seatbelt can save the operator’s life by keeping them in the safest place possible should the forklift tip over.

Don’t drive a forklift carrying an elevated load

Elevated loads can compromise the stability of the forklift. This can cause the forklift to tip over and drop the contents from the pallet, seriously injuring or killing anyone below. Driving with an elevated load can also hinder the line of sight of the forklift operator.

Proper use of a forklift can translate into safety for all employees and a reduction of costly damage to property. With proper training and attention to these suggested tips, forklift operators can utilize the equipment in an effective, efficient, and safe way for everyone.

Are You Accounting For The Total Cost Of Ownership Of Imported Goods In Your Pricing Comparisons?

CAB Worldwide — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:23:34 +0000

Are You Accounting For The Total Cost Of Ownership Of Imported Goods In Your Pricing Comparisons?

When it comes to total cost of ownership, there are a number of different factors that determine the real price of imported goods versus products that are made in the United States. The quickly rising tally of many of these costs has helped to drive some reshoring and nearshoring efforts in recent years. Some products, especially in industrial markets, will likely continue to be supplied from offshore suppliers because of lack of domestic manufacturing capacity. If you are going offshore, be sure to account for these costs and consider using a company like CAB Worldwide to handle your offshore purchases. We have teams on the ground overseas as well as in the U.S. to manage quality and logistics and minimize your risk with offshore goods – lowering your Total Cost of Ownership.

In some cases, these costs seem obvious, though you might not think of them right off the bat.

Cost of Process Management – When dealing with plants across the globe, a business will have to invest in a longer, more complex supply chain. This can mean a need for more powerful inventory management systems and extra staffing. The need to oversee such an extensive the supply chain can add cost, and stress.
Cost of Travel – Oversight of offshore operations is necessary. This can include flying staff members out for training, accountants to audit overseas plants, and management to tour plants and meet and greet workers. And the cost of travel is much more than just plane tickets and regular wages – it also includes housing, meals, rental cars, and other related expenses.
Cost of Shipping – Moving materials from one part of the world to another can add up quite fast. In addition to pure shipping costs, there are also the associated taxes and tariffs that may be applied to the final cost.
Cost of Quality – While offshoring can certainly increase the quantity of goods being delivered, there are often quality control issues. Many countries do not follow the same quality control standards as plants in America are required to do. Corners might be cut, or unapproved materials may be used. Correcting these quality failures can be even more costly than making sure they don’t occur in the first place.
Cost of Disruptions – A number of disruptions can occur in the course of doing business overseas. One factor that has been highlighted in recent times is shipping ports. The slowdown of work at West Coast ports held up thousands of deliveries, leaving shipments stranded for weeks. Disruptions can also come from embargoes, military actions, and regime changes in offshoring countries. All of these issues can add cost and time to your offshore supply chain.

CAB has more than 35 years of experience working with offshore vendors. We are able to drive out the risks and keep the lowest overall cost possible.

The Amazon Effect: How Robots Are Changing Warehousing And Distribution

CAB Worldwide — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:54:29 +0000

The Amazon Effect: How Robots Are Changing Warehousing And Distribution

It’s no secret that Amazon has been in the spotlight lately. Between their connected-home innovations such as Alexa, the recent purchase of Whole Foods, and automated technologies changing the distribution landscape forever, this is one company that’s cornered the market on inter-connectivity.

In the warehouse, this means that robots are playing a greater role in product sorting, packaging, and distribution. Amazon fulfillment centers are known to bridge the gap between robot and human workers. Miles of conveyor systems run throughout these facilities, getting materials wherever they need to go. Computers monitor and control much of the process, ensuring speed and efficiency.

But while there may not seem to be much room for human workers, they’re still a crucial element in the process. Though technology is making huge strides in computer vision and the ability to grasp objects, they still can’t compete with humans’ intuitive knowledge when it comes to identifying hard-to-spot items in a bin, and knowing how best to grasp each item without damaging or dropping it. Robots still lack the dexterity and poise of a human hand.

So while robots can certainly boost the productivity of a warehouse, they still rely on human help for more precise tasks. And with the growing popularity of Amazon, that leaves room for many, many human workers.

That being said, robots also have advantages when it comes to space savings and finding the most optimal routes within a warehouse. Many robots are much smaller than people, allowing them to fit in areas where other workers cannot. They can also analyze the floorplan of a space to determine which paths will get them to each destination quickest. In this way, the robots greatly improve the flexibility of the workspace, adding to shorter lead times.

Another way automation is improving flexibility within the workplace is by incorporating more modular structures, including conveyance systems. We mentioned earlier how integral conveyors are in moving products from one area to another. But as a warehouse changes to accommodate new or more products, the conveyors used to move them need to change, too. For this reason, we’re seeing more modular conveyance units that can be modified over time to adapt to changing floorplans.

Overall, the warehouse is seeing an increasing need for technological advancement and flexibility. Amazon is definitely leading the charge, but soon every warehouse and distribution center will need to adapt to remain competitive.

Has your warehouse already implemented some of these high-tech changes? We’d love to see what you’ve done! Show us some pictures on Twitter, and we’ll share them with our followers!

WHAT IS DOOR TO DOOR LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT?

CAB Worldwide — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 13:01:25 +0000

WHAT IS DOOR TO DOOR LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT?

When a company is working with exporters or other suppliers, it can be difficult to keep track of products through production, shipping, and delivery. For this reason, door to door logistics services are very attractive in a distributor.

Door to door logistics services “ensure a direct flow of goods from the exporter to the importer with a minimum of interruption and delay,” according to Business Dictionary. When you work with a company that provides total supply chain management services, there’s better oversight and quality control.

At CAB Worldwide we provide our proprietary CABPORT supply management solution. This includes analysis and design for packaging and palletizing alternatives, port breakdown and redirection of freight, customs management, and just-in-time inventory capabilities.

We also provide training and supervision of port and trucking employees to ensure proper handling of oversize loads and specialized products. We look for sustainable packaging solutions when possible, including choosing reusable materials. And for convenience, we offer full and partial container loads in addition to air freight.

All of these services provide added value and peace of mind to our customers, who don’t have to worry about a package getting delivered improperly. We prefer to get things right the first time, which is why we offer such personalized service to our customers.

The benefits for a door to door logistics system include fewer delivery delays, and reduced risk of damage from improper handling.

For additional information about our supply management solutions, feel free to submit a request for information online. We look forward to hearing from you!