For practically any business selling goods, an effective loading bay is key for a successful operation. The loading bay is absolutely integral to smooth goods in, logistics and distribution practices, so careful planning, strict safety practices and regular loading bay maintenance is essential for ensuring that loading bays operate as efficiently and safely as possible.
Maintenance for business efficiency
Loading bays or docks are where goods are transferred in and out of the warehouse and can feature a range of systems to help ensure that operations are efficient and safe, including:
- Dock levellers – to provide a level platform for goods to be transferred from a vehicle to the loading bay, and vice versa
- Dock shelters and seals – designed to help improve energy efficiency and provide shelter during loading and unloading
- Dock houses – standalone sheltering structures to save energy, reduce accidents and provide an efficient loading area
- Scissor lift platforms – to provide a safe loading platform for single and double deck vehicles
- Dock bumpers and wheel guides – to guide vehicles safely into the bay, and protect the building
As loading bays are a key point where goods enter or leave a warehouse, should the loading bay system stop working efficiently, this can have a knock on effect on productivity that can be extremely costly. If goods can’t be added to inventory quickly and safely, this can slow down production or distribution. If despatch of goods is delayed, not only can this slow down logistics, preventing lead times from being met, but a backlog may also slow down production if a bottleneck means there is not enough storage space.
In many businesses, loading bays see a lot of traffic, both from vehicles delivering or collecting goods, as well as foot traffic from workers. The constant use of equipment such as dock levellers or scissor lift platforms means that they are subjected to wear and tear, and are more susceptible to breaking down or malfunctioning. Needless to say, emergency repairs can be extremely costly, not only in terms of the labour cost of fixing them, but also the loss of productivity. To ensure that operations run smoothly and lengthy delays are avoided, regular scheduled loading bay maintenance is extremely important.
Changing requirements
Design never stands still, so loading bay equipment should also move with the times, or the development of the business.
The loading bay area should continually change to reflect the demands of customers as well as changing logistics.
In addition to ensuring that equipment functions properly, it should also be considered that business needs change over time. For example, if goods are shipped or received in larger quantities, a larger vehicle may be required, and in this case, loading bays must be equipped to receive the vehicle safely and efficiently. It could also be that larger shipping quantities mean much heavier pallets, so loading platforms should be designed to withstand this.
Regular maintenance means that needs can be frequently assessed, allowing for equipment to be modified, or new equipment to be installed where necessary.
Maintenance for safety
The loading bay remains one of the most dangerous parts of any warehouse. Large vehicles and fork lift trucks are constantly moving in and out of loading areas. In areas with high noise levels, and with many blind spots, the risk of harm to individuals, property and equipment is increased. Every year, there are thousands of accidents that involve transport in the workplace – taking loading bay maintenance seriously is vital for reducing the likelihood of such accidents.
Whilst training staff to operate loading bay equipment and to handle goods safely, loading equipment that is in need of maintenance and does not operate as efficiently as it should can considerably increase the risk of accidents, which as well as leading to downtime in terms of productivity, can also lead to injury, disability, or even death.
In order for a business to run efficiently, it has to safeguard its workers. With busy loading docks subjected to constant wear and tear, professional maintenance is required to ensure that the highest standards are met, both in terms of operation and health and safety. Without regular maintenance, workers may look to implement temporary fixes or short-term solutions that could potentially be extremely dangerous.
Loading Bay Maintenance Services
If you are looking for loading bay maintenance services in the UK to improve the efficiency and safety of your business, then you can contact Amber Doors and Loading Bay Services Limited by calling 0121 565 6161.