Having steady product management and outbound shipments to customers can help any company be successful. But when products are being mishandled, or arrive defective from the manufacturer, it can but a damper on your warehousing and distribution plans, and cause you a lot of frustration. Taking up a product rework project for those items may be the first solution that comes to mind, but before taking the leap, here are three important areas to consider first.

The Cost of Product Rework

It is important to consider the cost on product rework before asking your supplier to take on the project. When it comes to the quality of a bulk of items, a major factor in fixing the problems is how much time you have. Inspection, undoing the error, and then fixing it will take time, so you must decide if the project is worth it. Time will be excessive if the order quantity is relatively small, and if the product is a low-cost promotional item. In some cases, rework can be expensive if the value of an order is low. If the issue is something simpler, such as untrimmed threads on a t-shirt, the factory staff can more easily notice and fix the problem without taking up too much time. Be sure to consider the cost to the factory and how much time you need before requesting a rework.

The Possibility of Quality Defects

In terms of defective goods, the risks are even higher. It is important to consider the possible negative effects of fixing these defective goods. Product rework almost always requires additional product handling by the production staff. Product handling is often the cause of quality defects in the first place. Weighing the benefits of product rework vs. the risks of new defects through this process can help you decide how to address quality issues.

How Rework Will Impact the Shipping Deadlines

Customers expect a certain level of product quality and their items delivered at a reasonable time. However, it can be a balancing act for importers as they try to fix problems with product quality before the date they must leave the factory. In some cases, you may feel the need to skip rework to meet a desired shipping deadline. This balancing act can be extra challenging if your supplier works with sub-suppliers and rework companies to manufacture different parts of the product. Some suppliers are unable to fix issues with parts that come from sub-suppliers, which means they must wait for their sub-suppliers to fix the issue, then once the items are received, the suppliers must then process and ship out the items, adding to the delay.

Outsource Your Product Rework Projects

If you’re looking for product fulfillment and shipping support for your product rework, a reliable option is to work with an outsourced order fulfillment service company. Lean Supply Solutions can help you find solutions for your product rework plans. We rise to the challenge of meeting our clients’ needs through our services which include product fulfillment, warehousing and distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, pick-and-pack services, and order fulfillment. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results. To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team, or to ask any questions, contact us at 416-748-8982.

More and more customers are turning to the Internet to find and purchase the items they need. Shopping online is convenient, often cost-effective, and less time-consuming as purchases can be made with a click of a button. The trend has even turned Cyber Monday into a more active shopping holiday than the in-person/in-store Black Friday. E-commerce and supply chain management can work hand in hand to help your business benefit from this increasingly popular customer shopping experience. Here are two ways e-commerce fulfillment services can help you.

Helps Cost Reduction

E-commerce in the fulfillment process allows transportation companies to exchange documents electronically. It also enables shippers, freight forwarders, and trucking firms to streamline their document handling without huge monetary and time investments. E-commerce helps companies reduce overall costs, improve data accuracy, streamline supply chain services, accelerate business cycles, and enhance customer service.

Impacts Demand Patterns

Technology, globalization, and e-commerce are becoming more intertwined, and businesses are taking this opportunity to increase their connectivity and boost their speed of conducting sales transactions. Thanks to the advancements in technology, businesses can instantly communicate with customers by providing for their needs and understanding their shopping patterns.

How e-Commerce Is Changing Logistics

More Room for Logistics

Due to the e-commerce-related increase of SKUs, buffer stock, returned items, and individual picking, packing, and shipping, e-commerce logistics demand more space. As your business grows through your digital marketing campaign, you can benefit from working with a third-party logistics (3PL) and pick-and-pack warehouse services. By outsourcing the bulk of your warehousing responsibilities, the job can get done right in a location with adequate space at an overall lower cost; plus, you will be able to directly focus on your marketing and sales.

Changed Relationships between Retailers and Service Providers

In the past, businesses had more power over their customers; however, the digital revolution and the rise of e-commerce have shifted the balance of this relationship. Today’s consumers have more power to direct and affect the way retailers and businesses operate to meet their needs and wants. E-commerce that incorporates same-day delivery is one option that has becoming almost necessary for some businesses in order to satisfy the customer.

Traditional Roles Have Changed

The traditional roles of stores, distribution centres, and transportation providers have changed dramatically as a result of e-commerce. Retail stores also operate as product fulfillment centres where online orders are picked, packed, and shipped to customers, often within the same day.

Get Logistics and Warehouse Management Support at LSS

If you’re looking for e-commerce fulfillment services and 3PL services in Toronto, Lean Supply Solutions can help you. We arise to the challenge of meeting our clients’ needs and aid them in getting the most out of their operations. Our third-party logistics, packaging, and supply chain management services can streamline your processes for better success. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results. Our services also include supply chain management in Vancouver and pick-and-pack fulfillment services in the USA (specifically in San Bernardino, California). To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team or to ask any questions, contact us at 416-748-8982.

Advanced analytics and accompanying technology has made supply chain services evolve more rapidly than ever before. Any e-commerce logistics company seeking to grow should observe the current and emerging trends in logistics to stay above their competition and optimize their systems. Here are some of the most popular supply chain trends of present day and how you can implement them to grow your business.

Technology and Digital Processes

Companies are turning to robotics technology in the supply chain, autonomous vehicles for shipping, and cloud technology software to streamline data, achieve supply chain sustainability, and gain visibility and automate processes in real time. The down side to technology and digital processes is that it includes cyber security vulnerabilities. With the rise of cyberattacks in supply chain services, companies should also consider software that boosts security to protect sensitive information.

Mobile technology is another current and future trend in supply chain management. Unfortunately, adopting such technology has been a slow process for many companies due to hesitation. Questions such as, “Will the drivers use them?”; “What are the legal ramifications?”; “Who will pay for them?”; “What about data security?”; and more have held companies back from exploring the full potential of mobile tech in the supply chain. Mobile tech can be used for asset tracking, real-time collaboration, information exchange, accurate insights to business performance, and increased productivity of the mobile workforce through scanners and other digital tools.

Social Responsibility in Supply Chain

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to sustainability, carbon foot reduction, and transparency in the supply chain. Instead of waiting for pressures of legislation and public opinion to start making CSR a priority, you can take this approach earlier on to increase revenue, secure customer and employee retention, and generate appeal for the brand. Social responsibility is not just a trend; it’s actually in style. These positive motivational factors drive organizations to grow.

Supply Chain Analytics

Supply chain analytic trends have moved from Lean principles alone or the Agile approach alone to a hybrid of the two. This approach allows for interactive flexibility that is necessary in today’s manufacturing environment. Technology is at the heart of analytics because it enables leaders within the supply chain to accurately predict possible challenges and react to the unexpected more effectively.

Supply Chain Sustainability

Rules and regulations on transportation and customer expectations have driven companies to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Logistics organizations around the world are finding ways to integrate sustainable strategies and processes into the supply chain. This can be done by going paperless, watching fuel consumption, being efficient with administration, and managing time more effectively. Companies can achieve this by working with a third-party logistics (3PL) company.

Get Logistics and Warehouse Management Support at LSS

If you’re looking for supply chain management in Toronto, Lean Supply Solutions can help you. We make ourselves aware of supply chain management trends and issues as they arise to help our clients get the most out of their operations. We can help your warehouse management goals work better than ever before. Our third-party logistics, packaging, and supply chain management can streamline your processes for better success. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results. To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team or to ask any questions, contact us at 416-748-8982.

One of the most important aspects of proper warehouse management is the implementation of warehouse labels and signs. Warehouse labelling systems provide order fulfillment service companies a variety of benefits that are crucial to the success of the system. Without proper inventory management, finding products and managing shipping and receiving will be much more disorganized and challenging. It also increases the risk of damage to property since hazards are not clearly labelled and identified. There are many benefits to using proper warehouse signage, and here are some of the most important ones.

Benefits and Advantages of Using Signage in Warehouse

Enhance Supply Chain Efficiency

Warehouse and distribution services work a lot quicker and efficient when signs are in place because it eliminates errors by making sure workers are in the right place to pick the right materials. Signage also improves warehouse time management, overall customer satisfaction rates, and overall margins. Traffic jams can be eliminated in warehouse aisles through the use of signs, which direct workers to the best routes to get where they need to go.

Product Visibility and Warehouse Location

Signage can lead workers to the site they need to go to in the most direct manner. Such signs include warehouse aisle signs, flat signs, floor signs, and rack labels, which let employees know their location, and where to go to fulfill their task. Signs are extremely customizable; they can be colour-coded, and include barcodes, making it possible for employees to see them from afar and allowing them to scan items from forklifts that aren’t necessarily close by. Properly placed signs take less time to scan, which will save you hours of time over the week that would normally be wasted.

Ensure Safety of Products and Workers

 
Pick-and-pack warehouse services can benefit from signage as it ensures workplace and product safety within the centre. In most cases, warehouse workers operate heavy machinery and can come across possible work risks especially during peak seasons. Workers should be properly aware of safety procedures on the job as well as any potential hazards in the warehouse. Signage available to distribution centres include forklift safety signs, clearance height and capacity signs, quality control signs, safety reminder signs, and more. Managers should look into safety signs for the workplace because it promotes safety and facilitates traffic with their high effectiveness. Aisle and pole marking signs also help forklift drivers navigate around corners and in tight spots without damaging their equipment and the storage racks and shelves. Improperly labelled and managed warehouses can be a breeding ground for workplace injuries. Signs should never be taken for granted when it comes to workplace safety.

Boost Warehouse Productivity

Endless mistakes with warehouse pick-and-pack procedures can be avoided with the use of warehouse labels and signs. Mistakes like shipping incorrect products to customers or mishandling items that should be treated with care have a huge impact on warehouse efficiency. Labels that include data such as expiry dates or security warnings can improve the organization of your operations and boost productivity.

Efficient Inventory Management

Signs can improve inventory management and streamline the supply chain by making scanning and organizing easier. Signs also reduce the amount of time spend finding products to prepare for shipments and simplify the sorting process. Sending and receiving shipments have a huge impact on the supply chain, so it is a great place to begin improving. If your warehouse struggles to meet deadlines, you will experience drops in customer satisfaction and brand reputation. But the solution is simple: With proper signage in place, you can eliminate most errors, improve supply chain productivity, and produce better margins overall. The benefits of signs and labels are endless, and businesses can experience terrific benefits in productivity and profitability through proper use of them.

Better Durability and Readability

Warehouse labels are easy to instal and durable, so even if you are boosting productivity by using floor labels, you can be sure they will stand up to the wear and tear of foot and forklift traffic. They are easily readable and easy to replace if they do suffer any damage over time. The endless variety of warehouse labels can meet the needs of any distribution centre; there are long-range retro-reflective barcode labels, multi-level warehouse rack labels, aisle signs, floor labels, and more. These examples and more are available and can provide solutions to the unique needs of each manufacturing or warehouse company. Other types include bent warehouse signs for narrow pathways, high ceilings, and low-light conditions; flat signs printed with long-range barcodes to easily scan; and floor signs that are fixed to floors and are an often-overlooked spot for barcodes or information.

Eliminate Record-Keeping Processes Errors

You can eliminate errors with record-keeping processes through the use of warehouse rack labels. Manual inventory tracking and record-keeping can cause errors, but labels with barcodes and speed up the process for employees. They include accurate data, which eliminates errors within the chain that cause delays.

Get Logistics and Warehouse Management Support at Lean Supply Solutions

If you’re looking for warehouse labeling ideas to boost productivity and efficiently within your supply chain, there are experts who can do the hard work for you. Lean Supply Solutions offers outsourced warehousing and distribution, and pick-and-pack fulfillment services in Toronto. We can help your warehouse management goals work better than ever before.

Our third-party logistics, packaging, and supply chain management can streamline your processes for better success. We live by the Lean Methodology: a proven philosophy focused on eliminating any operations, equipment, or resources that are not capable of adding value to clients’ supply chains. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results. To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team or to ask any questions, contact us at 416-748-8982.

In the terms and conditions section on web sites that sell products, the terms “shipping” and “delivery” are often seen. Most customers assume the terms are interchangeable and synonymous; however, despite their similarities, there are important differences to recognize between the two. The terms have risen in popularity with the rise of e-commerce, and online shoppers assume they mean the same thing. Retailers and business owners should clearly make the differences known to customers to prevent complaints.

Customers who are excited about a short shipping timeline may be frustrated with your business if their items arrive weeks later. Making sure they understand the difference between shipping and delivery will go a long way. If you’re unsure of the specific differences, keep on reading.

What Is Shipping?

The term “shipment” or “shipping” refers to the packaging and dispatching of small items that can be sent using the local postal service. Often when shoppers place an order, there is a shipping timeline displayed. For example: “Dispatched within four business days.”

The shipping timeline represents the number of working days it will take the warehouse staff to dispatch the product from the company’s end and shipping charges may vary. It also refers to the date on which the shipment will leave the warehouse of the retailer or supplier.

What Is Delivery?

Delivery refers to the estimated date larger items are sent to the customer from the distribution centre. These items may include major appliances and furniture or products that require installation by personnel.

Delivery also refers to the date the package will arrive to the customer. Delivery charges may range depending on the distance required to get from the warehouse to the customer.

Comparison between Shipping and Delivery

To put it as simply as possible: shipping is the date the product will leave the supplier’s warehouse while delivery is the date the package will make it to the customer’s doorstep. The terms are often confusing for customers; however, you can avoid this by providing two dates: the shipping date and delivery date.

This way, customers will have a clearer understanding of what each term means and how long it will take for their product to arrive. Companies can make this process simpler by e-mailing shipping and delivery tracking information to the customer. The shipping date would let customers know the product has left the warehouse, and the delivery date would give them clarity as to when they should expect their order. Shipping was originally referred to as “dispatching” and delivery is still sometimes known as “distribution.” These previously-used terms give customers a better understanding of their meaning and the process involved.

Get Logistics and Warehouse Management Support with LSS

Lean Supply Solutions’ order fulfillment services in Toronto, ON, and Vancouver, BC, can help your warehouse management goals work better than ever before. Our third-party logistics, packaging, and supply chain management can streamline your processes for better success. We live by the Lean Methodology, a proven philosophy focused on eliminating any operations, equipment, or resources that are not capable of adding value to clients’ supply chains. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results. To learn more about outsourcing to our 3PL distribution team, or to ask any questions, contact us at 416-748-8982.

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Last Mile Delivery