4 Material Handling Best Practices Every Warehouse Should Follow

The supply chain is the backbone of nearly every industry, which is why warehouses strive to be as safe and efficient as possible. Fortunately, by using high-performance equipment and following industry best practices, warehouse teams can prioritize safety and stay on schedule. 

Here are four best practices that every warehouse team should follow.

Prioritize Safety Training

Safety is the foundation of every warehouse, which is why consistent and thorough safety training should be the first step when onboarding new team members. When warehouses are operating safely, it’s easier to stay on schedule and organized. However, the most important reason to prioritize safety is to prevent workplace injuries.

Great safety training should ensure that team members:

  • Understand the safety features of their hand trucks and other material handling equipment
  • Use proper lifting techniques
  • Wear personal protective equipment
  • Know the importance of keeping floors clean, clear, and dry.

Choose Easy-to-Maintain Equipment

Material handling tools are the backbone of smooth, efficient warehouse operation, which is why choosing the right equipment makes all the difference. When choosing a hand cart or another essential piece of equipment, look for durable materials and modular designs.


When equipping your warehouse with a new fleet of hand carts, choose models built with lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum. This quality material delivers an impressive strength-to-weight capacity while being rust- and corrosion-resistant. While durable materials ensure your warehouse equipment is built to last, choosing modular hand carts makes it easy to upgrade your equipment with new features and perform routine repairs and maintenance.

Optimize Your Warehouse Layout

A well-organized floor plan makes all the difference when receiving shipments, organizing storage spaces, and creating efficient shipping procedures. A warehouse's layout should be designed with the flow of materials in mind to keep procedures running smoothly.

Inventory should be strategically organized so frequently used items are easily accessible, and aisles should be easy to keep clear and clean. With a layout that improves efficiency, it’s easier for warehouse teams to stay safe and on schedule.

Listen to Team Feedback

Safe and efficient warehouses rely on standardized procedures, but there’s always room for improvement. Warehouses can quickly address concerns and improve operations by giving team members opportunities to give feedback on daily operations and big-picture issues. Weekly team meetings, an anonymous suggestion form, and regular one-on-one meetings are great ways to make sure each team member feels heard and to find ways to improve operations.

A team member might suggest a more efficient way to receive shipments or identify a safety concern that went unnoticed. Or someone on the team might realize that a convertible hand dolly that transforms from a two-wheel hand truck to a platform truck would make receiving and organizing bulky shipments easier. Team feedback can improve warehouses in countless ways, from resolving safety concerns to finding new equipment.

With these four best practices, warehouse teams can stay safe, efficient, and on schedule.

About Magline

For over 75 years, Magliner moving equipment has raised the bar for the material handling industry. With cutting-edge designs, industry-specific models, and innovative safety features, Magline manufactures route distribution tools and material handling solutions that make life easier. With the right tools for any job, it’s easy to boost efficiency and safety. Whether your full-service moving company needs a new hand dolly or your big box retail store needs a fleet of new hand carts, Magliner equipment has you covered. These tools are built to last, but the unique modular design of Magliner equipment makes routine repairs and maintenance easy and efficient. With tailored tools, high-quality construction, and constant innovation, it’s easy to see how Magliner equipment rises to and exceeds the needs of countless industries.

See why warehouse managers trust Magliner equipment at https://www.magliner.com/

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