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How do you keep your warehouse employees motivated and to stay focused on the companies objectives?

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Question added by Wasi Rahman Sheikh , WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR , AL MUTLAQ FURNITURE MFG
Date Posted: 2016/03/13
Fadi Al-Minawi
by Fadi Al-Minawi , Warehouse in charge (Row Material) , Maani Prefab

Through the distribution of tasks by the SOP and action of plan 

Mentioned below are the steps to improving warehouse employee performance

Ensure a Form of Measurement Is in Place

This step takes place before the training even begins. The metrics established can drive the behaviors needed for organizational improvement. One aspect employers may not realize is that, even if they do not have a formalized assessment in place, their employees are likely already measuring themselves against some benchmark.

When it comes to tasks in a warehouse, nearly all tasks can be measured, such as receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing and shipping. When establishing key performance indicators (KPIs), make sure to document the process and eliminate any unnecessary steps using Lean process improvement tools. Securing employee buy-in is critical toward tracking performance, as it leads to a quicker adoption time and actually boosts employee morale as long as the measurements are deemed fair.

Set Goals for All Employees

Setting goals is the second component of the measurement. Not everyone performs the same tasks, and not everyone is in the same area or dealing with the same challenges, so goals should be unique to the task and the individual. The best way to set realistic goals related to employee performance is through the implementation of engineered standards in combination with a performance ramp-up plan. Goals in the workplace are the expectations for employees to work toward. Without them, there can be no basis for measuring improvement. Goals should be specific and convey exactly what is expected.

 

Deliver Easy-to-Understand Training

The idea of training can be overwhelming for employees who may envision a lengthy, boring process. But training should be done in relatively short increments of 45 to 60 minutes, after the previous two steps take place. The primary benefit of training is to ensure employees are performing the task as it was documented in step one, and ensuring any unnecessary motions and extra steps within the process were communicated and eliminated. The goal is for the employees to be working smarter, not necessarily harder.

When conducting training, make sure it is practical and easy to understand. For most organizations, it should be the supervisors who conduct trainings, although sometimes training departments or human resources (HR) tackle the observation task. Keep messages short and ensure employees know exactly what is expected of them. Ask for employee feedback. Those who are doing the job on a day-to-day basis often have great insights into barriers within the process and how to overcome them. Maybe one person is already using a tactic to be more resourceful that can be shared with the team at large and implemented across a company.

Provide Feedback, Coaching and Motivation along the Way

 

 

Employee performance is the key to warehouse success. And improving employee performance is not a one-time objective, it is ongoing. Supervisors should continue to monitor their employees on a regular basis—not for full days at a time—but long enough to overcome any discomfort an employee may feel being watched and short enough to not impact their entire day. After observation sessions, feedback should be shared. Feedback should be given in an environment that doesn’t feel intimidating. For example, rather than calling an employee into your office, you could ask to grab a coffee in the break room for a quick chat. When providing feedback, use the appreciative inquiry approach. This method suggests that positive feedback be shared first with employees before any areas of improvement are shared. This helps increase the adoption of suggested changes.

Reevaluate on an Ongoing Basis

Supervisors at warehouses should regularly check in and reevaluate processes with warehouse employees. Again, this starts with observing processes and activity. From there, a conversation should happen to discuss:

Whether or not the employee knows exactly what is expected of them.

If there is much variance from employee to employee in the amount of time it takes to complete tasks.

If someone is outperforming others, whether he or she is doing differently to see if methodologies can be adopted by other associates.

Conversely, if there is someone underperforming, it’s important to check in with that individual and determine why. Perhaps more coaching or motivation is needed.

Vinod Jetley
by Vinod Jetley , Assistant General Manager , State Bank of India

It’s true that a good job is hard to find, but it’s even truer that a good employee can be even harder to keep. As an employer in an ever-changing economy in today’s day and age, one must ensure his or her company is manned by workers who look forward to coming to work every day for more than a paycheck. 

 

Increased employee gratification, a safer work environment and significant improvements in production function as the benefits of an incentive plan for your warehousing employees. Ideally, the incentives give employees the gumption to improve their work habits. The result of coupling meaningful incentives with attainable objectives will be a win-win situation for both the employer and their warehouse employees.

Prior to Beginning

In order to achieve the effective implementation of the incentive plans, first outline the expectations to the employees, and give training or information as needed. For instance, if you want employees to improve their productivity, give them concrete examples that illustrate how they can improve it. For example, go over and cite examples of meeting and breaching of safety standards. Ensure that set goals are attainable - if most workers can't reach the goal with persistence, frustration may result and they will stop striving to achieve them, which defeats the purpose of the whole incentive program. Praise all employees for their efforts and offer constructive criticism to those who struggle.

Now for the fun part, effective strategies to increase employee motivation.

Avoid the Boredom Zone

Don’t allow staff to become bored. Get creative! Host a cupcake bake-off, plan a happy hour, start a push-up contest in the middle of the office on a Wednesday, or allow a different person to run the weekly meetings to break up the monotony.

Life’s a Celebration

Rejoice in your staff’s personal milestones. Everyone likes to be acknowledged, even with something as simple as a cupcake or a simple “Happy Birthday.”  Celebrate each employee’s birthday, work anniversary, engagement, and even personal milestones. Being acknowledged as a person by your employer, and not just another employee never gets old.

Time off with pay

Boost employee morale with paid time off. For example, all employees in your shipping department who don't infract any safety rules or have any accidents within a period of 60 days earn a day off with pay. Personal observations, camera footage, and a software tracking system can help determine which parties are due this incentive. Make warehouse rounds and take note which workers correctly implement safety standards and which do not and inform employees of their Make notes for future reference and inform employees of their progress.

Monetary Bonuses

Free Stuff

Free tickets to popular sporting or entertainment events are often a great enticement for warehouse employees. Once the benchmarks has been set to determine the winners, inform staff what they need to do to win tickets. For instance, figure the current average picks per day by workers - such as 100. Give warehouse workers a goal of increasing overall average productivity by 10 percent consistently for one week. If you have 20 workers picking with an average pick of 100 items per day, it equals 2,000 picks per day. Create a goal for workers to achieve 2,200 picks per day. Set up a monitoring system to help you track the results. Post visual reminders, updated daily, of goal progress in employee work areas so staff can see their progress as their daily motivation.

MASOOQUE ALI
by MASOOQUE ALI , PAYROLL OFFICER , Arabian Bemco Contracting Co. Ltd

Regular motivation and table talk.

Mladen Lekic
by Mladen Lekic , Strategic Procurement Officer , Messer Tehnoplin Ltd. Part of Messer Group Germany

Goals give employees a framework for excelling in the workplace, but some staff members may need assistance in reaching those goals. Success begins with the writing of the goals themselves, which should remain challenging yet achievable. A goal that is out of reach, nonspecific or irrelevant causes employees to lose interest in working toward the achievement. Once effective goals are in place, you serve as a motivator and monitor of the employees' progress, with more direct involvement required for employees who struggle to stay on track independently.

Step 1

Write the goals initially with the employee to get her more invested in achieving them. Help her narrow down each goal to specific objectives that are measurable. Define the time frame for completing the objectives.

Step 2

Meet with employees individually on a regular basis to evaluate where they are in reaching their goals. Provide suggestions for getting back on track if the employees are having difficulty. Adjust the details of the goals as necessary to make them more realistic.

Step 3

Set your own goals both individually and for the company as a whole. Demonstrate your own efforts and motivation to reach those goals.

Step 4

Use a recognition system to celebrate the employees who reach their goals. Announce the achievements, make a recognition bulletin board, publish the information in the company newsletter or offer a small incentive like a gift card to a local business.

Step 5

Encourage creativity in employees to help them achieve goal objectives. Create a supportive work environment that promotes risk-taking while showing employees that you trust their talents and ideas. The ability to get innovative may motivate some employees to continue working toward their goals.

Step 6

Pair up employees with similar career goals. The staff members may feed off one another for a push toward their objectives.

Step 7

Provide the tools for employees to reach their goals. This might include training, informational tools or software programs to make the tasks easier.

 

 

Ahmed Mohamed Ayesh Sarkhi
by Ahmed Mohamed Ayesh Sarkhi , Shared Services Supervisor , Saudi Musheera Co. Ltd.

agree with all expert answers

 

Rafi Shajahan
by Rafi Shajahan , Supply Chain Coordinator , QATAR AIRWAYS

Interacting with them  by daily briefing about the task allotted and new ideas for process improvements. and also the value of Working in Warehouse environment ans recognisation

MUBARAK INAYTULLA KHAN
by MUBARAK INAYTULLA KHAN , Procurement Manager , UNIT7 CONTRACTING EST. RIYADH.

 This is most important question in Warehouse Management.  The main focus goes to the team who is managing the team work is  senior store keeper / Store keeper  /Asst. store keeper.  The main Warehouse Manager must keep on eye on the performance on their work and daily activities.  And evaluate the worker monthly and 3 months  evalution and percentage of marks obtain will be given some insentive or Gift from the managment. And for the storekeeper we have also to evaluate  and keep the record for 12 months and give him good Bonus and increament in his basic salary.   Next the main key of warehouse and responsibility is a Operator Forklift  which is the heart of the warehouse.  He must have good knowledge of arranging the material as per the location and also in High racking system.  otherwise all the inventory will show the wrong location and make big issue.  Dont make workers to do work only because he must do 8hrs. complete without any work.. 

Impotant note. A. We must have weekly meeting with the warehouse team.

                        B. We must take a note of warehouse problems with our store keeper complain.

                        C. Dont take fast action on the workers without any reinspection of that worker.

                        D. Give good knowlege of Handling the material to our team.

                        E.  We must  work as a team work and maintain all as one team. And all a responsible for  

                              the material store in that warehouse.  

 

Mahmoud Bedawi
by Mahmoud Bedawi , Global Shipping and Transportation Capability Leader , Procter and Gamble

step 1: Clearly define your vision. Make sure that your vision is provided as a roadmap for your employees, and that they know each twist and turn

Step 2: Give employees what they want and need. Don’t just assume that each and every one of your employees has all the tools, training, and support from supervisors they need –check in with them personally and find out.

Step 3:  Communicate well and often. Training sessions, memos, newsletters, FAQs, and regular meetings can all be used to present your vision to your employees. Make sure to ask questions, and if they are confused, redesign the way the information reaches them

Step 4:  Get everyone engaged. Figure out a way to get all of your employees engaged in planning and decision-making. That way the project becomes their baby: something they’re willing to fight for.

Step 5: Coach for success, and practice random acts of kindness

Step 6: Act fairly, respect, and create trust (don’t be a jerk). Use your judgment, wisdom, and experience to create a supportive environment.

Step 7: Trust and verify, but also try to make work fun

Step 8: Give special attention to high-potential employees

Step 9: Be creative to avoid downsizing

Step 10: Implement incentive programs

Sathish Prabhu.V
by Sathish Prabhu.V , Manager - Operations & Process Improvement , Revolution Valves

Agree with the experts views. Great explanations

Agree with experts answer  _____________________________

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