If speeding warehouse operations was one of your New Year's resolutions, obtaining more accurate inventory information should be your first step. It is easier to quickly move orders out of the warehouse if you have accurate, high-quality data on inbound shipments, according to Steve Sensing, group director of customer logistics, Ryder System Inc. Sensing offers the following 10 tips for making your warehouse faster.

Manage inbound orders prior to execution within the warehouse. This eliminates unnecessary steps. Think beyond merely storing goods and moving orders out of the facility, and develop or implement a system to process customer requirements, carrier requirements, and delivery specifications in advance.

Forecast correctly for demand planning. Make sure you have the necessary data to plan warehouse operations according to demand. Staffing your warehouse to meet inbound and outbound shipment volume is critical for maximizing warehouse speed.

Slot inventory properly. Understand what products move frequently through your system, and slot inventory based on demand planning and actual use. This is key for improving warehouse productivity. Having the right product in the right storage media close to receiving and/or shipping locations maximizes operations efficiency.

Consider hiring a logistics engineer. To best achieve proper storage media and warehouse layout, seek the expertise of a logistics engineer when designing your warehouse.

Coordinate with your carriers. Be sure your warehouse management team coordinates with inbound carriers and drayage companies, among others, to ensure staffing is properly aligned with inbound receipts. It is important to have the ability to efficiently move products through your facility and directly into the correct transportation mode.

Train a core group of employees in all warehouse processes. Having the right employees in the right department to process time-sensitive receipts and/or shipments is crucial.

Invest in radio frequency (RF) equipment. Placing RF guns throughout the warehouse is key to increasing throughput. Make sure you have the correct number of devices in receiving, putaway, picking, and shipping, as well as ample backup guns for temporary workers to use during busy times.

Make teamwork and communication a priority. Make sure team members are well informed and prepared to achieve daily goals. Consistent and frequent communication about upcoming events, as well as feedback from frontline leaders and management, is key for responding to the operational changes required to meet customer demands.