Methods of Increasing Productivity in Modern Grocery Warehouses

Excerpts from the report Summary: The number of man-hours required in the warehousing operation was reduced an average of 13 percent in 6 modern one-floor wholesale grocery warehouses studied, through improved work methods, better utilization of equipment, and balanced work crews. Projected man-hour savings of an additional 8 percent, for a total saving of 21 percent, can be expected after new equipment is installed and in operation. Since labor accounts for more than 50 percent of the warehousing cost, methods of increasing productivity are of major concern to warehouse management. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate present methods of grocery warehousing and to study methods of increasing the productivity of warehousemen in the receiving, order selecting, checking and loading operations. These operations were observed in 63 grocery warehouses in various sections of the country; and in 6 of the firms, operating in modern one-floor warehouses, these operations were studied intensively.