Page 15 - Logistics News - September October 2023

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Inventory management. Retailers and manufacturers Managing employee leave and absences
should make a concerted effort to secure inventory well in Peak season can put pressure on your workforce, and it’s vital
advance. This means placing orders for holiday and back-to- to manage employee leave and excuses effectively to maintain
school merchandise early to guarantee availability. Additionally, operational efficiency.
it’s crucial to manage existing inventories efficiently by removing
non-required items such as winter ranges and heaters from the Leave policies. Establish clear and fair leave policies
distribution centres to make room for peak season products. that outline how and when employees can request time
off during peak season. Encourage employees to submit
Equipment and machinery. As the demands on your their leave requests well in advance to allow for proper
distribution centre increase during peak season, it is vital planning.
to ensure that all equipment and machinery are in optimal
working condition. Regular maintenance and servicing is Flexible scheduling. Consider implementing flexible
essential to prevent disruptions during the busiest times of the scheduling options, such as staggered shifts or temporary work-
year. Getting the machines serviced during the quiet months from-home arrangements, to accommodate employees’ needs
is simple logic, but most people will wait until a breakdown, while maintaining business continuity.
which is then too late.
Cross-training. Cross-train your employees to perform
Staff training. Preparing your staff for peak season is equally multiple roles within your organisation. This ensures that you
important. Offer training programmes to equip your team with have a versatile workforce capable of stepping in when others
the skills and knowledge necessary to handle the increased are absent.
workload efficiently. This includes training on new processes,
customer service and safety procedures. Temporary staffing solutions
I’ve already mentioned temporary staffing as part of contingency
Contingency planning: Expect the planning, however, here are two points to further consider to
unexpected ensure your DC is adequately staffed and prepared for peak
Despite careful preparation, peak season can bring unexpected season:
challenges. It is essential to develop contingency plans to
address potential disruptions and ensure that your supply chain Recruitment agencies. Collaborate well in advance with
remains robust and resilient. recruitment agencies that specialise in temporary staffing.
They can quickly provide you with qualified and experienced
Identifying weak points. To create effective contingency temporary employees to meet your needs.
plans, start by identifying potential weak points in your supply
chain. This could include delays in shipments, equipment Onboarding and training. Streamline the onboarding
breakdowns or an unexpected surge in demand. process for temporary staff to get them up to speed efficiently.
Provide clear instructions and training to ensure they can
Alternate suppliers. Having backup suppliers or alternative contribute effectively during peak season.
sourcing options can prove invaluable during peak season.
Ensure that you have established relationships with multiple Therefore, successful preparation involves
suppliers to minimise the risk of supply chain interruptions. meticulous management of inventory, equipment and
staff, along with contingency planning for unexpected
Temporary staffing. Given the unpredictability of peak disruptions. By proactively addressing these challenges,
season, having the ability to hire temporary staff to manage your distribution centre and supply chain can thrive
the increased workload is a crucial component of contingency during the busiest times of the year, ensuring that you
planning. Ensure that you have a pool of reliable temporary meet customer demands while maintaining operational
employees on standby. excellence. •

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