3 Things You Can Do Today to Make 2019 Your Best Year Ever

Happy Holidays, and congrats!  You made it through another Holiday Crush!

Now, are you ready for 2019?

In the short few minutes it takes to read this article, we will share three things you can set into motion today to make 2019 your best year ever.

Yes, there will be data. Yes, it will require honest reflection.

We will also suggest that you don’t move forward alone. If there is one thing that can be said about professional success in the 21^st century, it is this: we need each other, and the variety of skills that each of us bring to the world.   Some of those key players may be outside the four walls of your facility.

Each topic below includes two tips: “What can I do today?” and a “People First” payoff.

In our business, December is a natural moment to simultaneously look backward and forward.  Unfortunately, it is also a time when we can easily sugarcoat the past and the future.   Unsubstantiated accomplishments blur into “blue-sky” expectations for the new year.

You’ve taken a great first step toward a prosperous 2019 by making it past the previous sentence!  Now onward to three things you can do now to get in gear for the new year

1. Data: Knowledge is power

The first step toward your record-breaking year in 2019 is to begin with the facts about current system performance.   As much as it might hurt, you and your team need to understand the details about your performance.  Data is your friend.

What can I do today? Begin planning for a System Audit.

The scope and depth of the process can vary wildly between companies and industries.  However, here are a few tips to get started:

• Start with your own metrics. Pick a list of data points that are important to you: for instance, sortation accuracy, through-put, lines picked per team member/per hour, orders packed per hour, etc. Then make a promise to stick with this list next year.  The year over year comparison is priceless.
• Measure your performance against industry averages. Several industry groups provide industry averages each year.  Starting in January check-in with CEMA, MHI and WERC for their reports covering 2019.
• Need a little help getting started? SilMan has materials available to get you moving forward.  Reach out to David Rebata at davidrebata@silmanservices.com.

As you proceed, remember that honesty is the best policy.  Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions. What’s working, what’s not?  The goal is efficiency and profitability.  Keep your eye on the ball, and your team will follow.

People First:

Did you score any victories? Search the findings for opportunities to praise your team. Show them the hard numbers.  This concrete information is affirmation of their hard work and a great first step toward having your best year ever!

2. Nuts and Bolts

Your inbox is full of case studies and equipment demo videos of the latest technology for Fulfillment Centers.   In 2019, these topics are inescapable.  As a matter of fact, this article would be incomplete without discussing tech solutions (see #3 below).

However, for as much as these innovations shape our long-term planning, the basics of our craft have not changed.  Even in 2019 maintenance of equipment is a key component of your “Best-Ever in 2019” ambitions.

Proactive versus Reactive

A strong facilities maintenance program is a game changer. Again, hard data drives improvement.

What can I do today? Review maintenance and safety incident records.

• What time-sensitive situations your maintenance team consistently responding to?
• Review Down-Time reports for the year:
  • Is there a wear-&-tear pattern for key components?
  • Are you keeping records of parts purchased?
  • Did you have to wait for any key parts to arrive? What was the cost?

Challenge your maintenance team to develop a Maintenance and Spare Parts Strategy. Dig deep into your upcoming projects and equipment specs and develop an action plan to maximize Performance and Up Time.

Beyond 2019: With this approach your maintenance program will deliver increased Up Time in the short-run and over the long haul.

People First:

This approach can rally your maintenance team.  Make them part of your strategic plan instead of simply being the emergency rescue squad.

3. Technology

Like it or not, change is the new norm for the Distribution and Fulfillment sectors.  Technology continues to shape our work on a minute by minute basis.

The worst decision a business can make is to ignore trends and continue with a “business as normal” attitude.  And of course, the second worst decision we can make is to latch onto every new idea that is released.

The bottom line is that keeping up with industry trends and understanding advances in software and hardware, are now a basic element of leadership.

From the Real World

In today’s industrial environment it is no surprise that we see the rise of “partner” relationships.  In this model, management stays focused on their clients and products, while trusted relationships are developed to sort out the complexities of highly specialized solutions.

From our vantage point, most clients bring Integrators onboard far too late in the process.  Once a project has gone out for bid, the customer has skipped the opportunity to look at the project from a global perspective: to reflect on available solutions in light of over-arching business goals.

This is the place where magic is found, when the most amount of efficiency and savings can be achieved.

What can I do today? Gather your leadership team and sharpen your business objectives.

These goals need to be firmly established as a foundation and benchmark for making a strategic move into high-tech solutions.  Classic management principles have never been more important.

People First:

Start taking steps today to understand how deeply your network can affect your bottom line.  Telephone, text, email, LinkedIn: it is easy to research and connect with qualified specialists.  Maximize the value of your partners; these relationships are business assets.

Conclusions

2019 can be the best year you’ve ever had, and you can start today!  Any of the three points outlined are positive steps that are easily actionable and free.

A profitable Fulfillment operation is not a solo effort.  It always requires a team.  With these tips you can begin to experience the momentum and energy benefits of a mission-focused team. Nothing unites people more than being valued in the pursuit common goals.

From Vendor to Partner

Some team members are found inside the walls of your facility.  Others are 3^rd party providers who can provide up-to-the-minute insights into specialized solutions and how they can multiply your resources.

Relationships require trust.  Trust requires time.  2019 is a great time to reach out to your vendor community and industry groups to create a network of personal resources.

Anybody can use Google.  The pros get on the phone and call a pro.

Good luck with your 2019 ambitions!

#fulfillmentcenter #distribution #logistics #newyearresolution