The supply chain is an essential system within most businesses. It determines how a company uses its resources to get products and services to its customers.
The effects of the pandemic as well as other factors amplified its importance. Disruptions in supply chains globally led to manufacturing delays, and high demand. This resulted in congestion at many ports and limited storage at most warehouses.
It highlighted the need for an increase in effective supply chain management. Many companies also began evaluating their current system. So what is supply chain evaluation? And how can it help businesses?
Does it start with more effective operations and supply chain management courses?
This article answers all these and more including What is supply chain training? and What kind of training does a supply chain manager need?
What is Supply Chain Management?
This is the management of the flow of production. It begins with the storage and movement of raw materials. This then becomes work-in-progress inventory until transformed into finished goods. The final component is the delivery of the finished product to the end customer.
What is Supply Chain Evaluation?
This should be a continuous process throughout the flow of production. It can help avoid some of the disruptions experienced by many businesses over the last two years.
Evaluation allows you to look at the positioning of your inventory. You can then plan out the most effective footprint for your distribution facility.
It also takes into consideration the transportation of goods. This is usually from your facility to suppliers and customers.
Each element should be thoroughly reviewed. This can ensure an optimal outcome for your business.
What is Supply Chain Training?
Evaluation can also help to determine the training required for employees. There are many interesting facets of supply chain management. This translates into many supply chain jobs.
All provide an opportunity for lucrative supply chain careers. Roles may include:
Production Manager
Inventory Manager
Logistics Manager
Planner
Buyer
Warehouse staff
You’ll first need the relevant training to successfully fill any of these.
What Kind of Training Does a Supply Chain Manager Need?
Supply chain managers oversee the activities within the production flow. He/She must have skills such as:
Coordination
Organization
Acquisition
Production
Distribution
They must also have the ability to foresee any issues or bottlenecks. Their analytical skills should allow them to provide viable solutions.
Operations and Supply Chain Management Courses
Introductory supply chain management courses start with the fundamentals and focus on logistics, management, and warehousing.
Next concepts such as financial management and business strategy will be introduced. There will also be a heavy focus on inventory and production planning. Also highlighted would be procurement and transportation.
Human resource management will also be an element for those seeking management roles.
The Ins and Outs of Supply Chain Management Training
Proper training is a vital asset for companies. This article gives you a headstart with answers to What is supply chain training? and What is supply chain evaluation? You also now know more about operations and supply chain management courses.
What kind of training does a supply chain manager need? It’s all in this article. However, it’s crucial to get training from highly qualified specialists.
Phase Associates are the specialists you can trust! Contact Phase Associates to learn more about our supply chain training and evaluation options.
The Complete Guide to Warehouse Distribution Assessments and Training
Late last year, US warehouse vacancy reached a record low of 3.6%, or basically zero. There was no space for new shipments coming in.
It was a direct result of the supply chain crisis that saw a backlog of shipping containers at many ports. A problem exacerbated by already inefficient warehouse and distribution operations.
US warehouses can avoid these issues by conducting an assessment of current operations. Warehouse managers need to know why and how to conduct a warehouse operations assessment.
Knowing this can help them use relevant tools. This includes a warehouse assessment checklist. It can help to ensure all workers have proper OSHA warehouse certification.
But this is only the start. This article will provide answers to many pertinent questions. These include – How can you improve performance in distributing and warehousing? and How do you assess a warehouse? Read on to learn the answers.
How Can You Improve Performance in Distribution and Warehousing?
You’ll first need to know what your shortfalls are. The best way to determine this is by doing an assessment. Doing this will help you to identify the areas that need improvement.
How Do You Assess a Warehouse?
The warehouse assessment process should evaluate four key areas. These key areas include:
Labor
This is usually the area you’ll spend the most on. Evaluating labor entails looking at its cost as well as overall productivity levels. Your turnover rate will affect both, as well as your investment in training.
This should also include warehouse safety training. This helps to reduce injuries and worker downtime. It’s also good to assess the current labor market.
Facilities
Is your space adequate for your needs? Evaluating your facilities will help determine this.
Your cost to occupy the building, and how effectively you use the space will also play a factor. Use is also affected based on seasonality.
Systems
An effective warehouse management system can provide optimal flexibility and functionality for your facility. This can help you to better manage your inventory. This includes packing, tracking, and replenishment.
Procedures and Workflows
Improvements in these areas are usually easier to make. It measures the number of steps during product handling. The aim is to lessen these where possible.
Why and How to Conduct a Warehouse Operations Assessment
There are many benefits of warehouse assessments. Increased productivity is a major one. It will also help you use your space more effectively. It means getting products to customers faster.
An operations assessment will involve:
Observing operations
Gathering information
Interviewing key members of staff
Analyzing current service and productivity levels
Using external benchmarks to determine potential areas of improvement
You must use companies close to your own for realistic benchmark comparisons.
Warehouse Assessment Checklist
One of the tools you can use to do this is an assessment checklist. It should cover specific areas to ensure your company adheres to OSHA regulations and standards. This includes up-to-date safety training for workers.
Proper Training for OSHA Warehouse Certification
How can you improve performance in distribution and warehousing? Now you know the answer.
An inefficiently run warehouse can cost you a lot of money. If left unattended it could even lead to you losing your business.
You can avoid this with a warehouse assessment. This article provides you with the answer to How do you assess a warehouse?
It even delves further into why and how to conduct a warehouse operations assessment. There are many tools you can use, including a warehouse assessment checklist. This will also help to ensure up-to-date training of staff for OSHA warehouse certification.
You can meet these requirements with training by experienced personnel from Phase Associates. We help all types of companies in various industries. We can help your company too! Contact us to learn more.
In 2020, forklift accidents resulted in over 7,000 injuries. Seventy-eight of these were fatal. Most were due to operator error.
OSHA estimates that about 70% of all forklift accidents are preventable. It starts with the implementation of standard safety measures. Training and continuous evaluation can help to reinforce these measures.
When it comes to forklift operator performance evaluation, how often it’s done usually depends on the organization. However, OSHA has specific guidelines.
There’s also an OSHA forklift operator evaluation form that companies should use. This can also will help to ensure your forklift training meets OSHA standards.
If you’re new to evaluating operator proficiency read on. You’ll also learn what the forklift operator evaluation checklist entails.
OSHA Forklift Operator Evaluation Form
Wondering how to evaluate a forklift operator? Most companies use a forklift operator evaluation form. It outlines the type of equipment operated. It also details the activities involved in operating it.
The evaluator uses it to rate the operator on how to use a forklift. The main areas evaluated include:
Pre-use checks
Picking up a load
Traveling with the load
Putting down the load
Parking
Battery Recharging and fueling
The evaluator determines if the operator successfully completes the evaluation. If they have, he/she will sign the form indicating this.
Companies may send operators who don’t demonstrate the competence required for further training. During this time they may need to operate the forklift under direct supervision.
This means they must always be in the supervisor’s line of sight and hearing. Another evaluation can then take place upon completion of the refresher training.
Forklift Operator Performance Evaluation – How Often It Should Be Done
OSHA’s guidelines indicate the frequency of operator evaluation should be once every three years. However, most companies will conduct routine forklift operator evaluations.
Often they base this on the need to ensure higher safety standards. This helps to reduce the number of forklift accidents.
It can also determine the training needs of the operators. There are also many other benefits to having regular refresher training courses.
The Importance of Forklift Training
The benefits of forklift training may be obvious. But they’re often overlooked. Here’s a reminder of its importance:
It reduces the chances of accidents occurring
It increases the forklift’s lifespan
There’s less property damage
More proficient workers
Cleaner facilities
Less downtime
Increased productivity
Although training is a financial investment it provides long-term benefits. This includes fewer accidents. Operators also handle the forklifts better leading to timely completion of deliverables.
Making Your Forklift Operator Evaluation Checklist Work for You
When considering forklift operator performance evaluation, how often depends on the company. Most companies conduct more evaluations than the guidelines set by OSHA.
However, they use the OSHA forklift operator evaluation form. This ensures they meet the safety standard requirements.
It guides evaluators on the forklift activities they should rate operators on. They can then determine if the operator has the competence to operate a forklift or not.
These measures help to reduce accidents and increase safety awareness. Regular training can also reinforce them. There are companies you can hire to assist with your training needs.
Phase Associates forklift training can keep your operators proficient and safe. We can also help you with your forklift operator evaluation checklist. Contact us to learn more!
The CDC estimates that 5 million workers in the U.S. must wear respirators for their jobs. Respirators are a critical piece of protective equipment for working in hazardous conditions. Since 1990, they have been part of the federal HAZWOPER standard.
Complying with HAZWOPER is important for workers and employers. It keeps employees safe and helps employers avoid costly penalties. HAZWOPER respiratory protection training is one part of becoming compliant.
Learn more here about HAZWOPER respiratory protection training. You’ll see how you can start protecting your employees and your business.
What Is HAZWOPER?
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) contains guidelines for worker safety. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) administers these regulations. The HAZWOPER standard protects workers who could be exposed to hazardous substances.
HAZWOPER Training
HAZWOPER training is available in a 40-hour, 24-hour, or 8-hour course. Someone working with hazardous materials for the first time needs the 40-hour course. The 8-hour course is enough for experienced workers who need their yearly refresher.
All three courses include respirator training.
Who Needs HAZWOPER Respiratory Protection Training?
The HAZWOPER standard covers several groups of employers and their employees. It includes workers who handle, store, or transport hazardous materials. It also covers workers responsible for cleaning up or disposing of hazardous substances.
OSHA Definition of Hazardous Substances
OSHA defines a hazardous substance as one that could negatively affect workers. The definition includes materials that pose a health or safety hazard. Some examples are:
Substances that cause cancer
Corrosives
Chemicals that are combustible, flammable, or explosive
Materials that damage the lungs, skin, or eyes
Liquids, solids, gases, and other forms of material can all be hazardous.
Training Based on Worker Exposure Levels
HAZWOPER regulations have three levels of training. The levels are based on an employee’s potential level of exposure. The three training levels are:
Emergency response
General site cleanup
Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) treatment, storage, and disposal facilities
Workers who earn their HAZWOPER certification must complete a yearly refresher course. The refresher keeps the certification valid.
HAZWOPER Respiratory Protection Training
Workers must wear respirators to protect against environments with insufficient oxygen. Respirators also protect against harmful substances.
HAZWOPER respiratory protection training teaches workers how to use respirators properly. Correct use of the right respirator is essential for getting full protection.
HAZWOPER respiratory protection training covers topics such as:
Hazardous substances in the workplace
Classes of respirators
Choosing the right respirator
How to use the respirator
OSHA regulations for HAZWOPER respirator protection
Workers and supervisors in many industries will benefit from respiratory protection training. This training is important even if employees use respirators voluntarily.
PHASE Associates HAZWOPER Respiratory Protection Training
PHASE Associates offers the quality HAZWOPER respiratory protection training you need. We understand OSHA regulations for respiratory protection and HAZWOPER.
Our expert professionals will evaluate your current practices. We’ll develop a protection program and a program to test how well your respirators fit.
PHASE Associates provides customized hands-on instructor-led training. Our expert instructors offer supervisory, 40-hour, 24-hour, and 8-hour courses. These OSHA-based courses comply with federal, state, and local regulations.
Protect Your Workers with HAZWOPER Respiratory Protection Training
You can rely on PHASE Associates HAZWOPER respiratory protection training. Your workplace will be safer. We’ll help ensure you comply with OSHA regulations.
Contact us today to learn more about our training options. Start giving your workers the protection they need.
The Benefits of Using a Qualified Asbestos Surveyor
Did you know that there are over 3,000 products that contain asbestos? And those are just the products we know about! The trouble is that this material, widely used in construction materials for all types of infrastructures, including homes, commercial, industrial, warehouses and more, is harmful to human health.
Before we discuss the benefits of using a qualified asbestos surveyor, let us explain what asbestos is, where it can be found and the dangerous effects it has on human health
What is Asbestos?
There are two groups of asbestos “fiber” based on its chemical and physical properties: amphibole and serpentine. Amphibole fibers are stiff and straight, which limits their commercial use. Serpentine fibers are curved, flexible and extended and are the main types used in manufacturing.
Where Asbestos Can Be Found
Before 1990 asbestos was primarily used for insulating homes and buildings against noise, cold weather and fireproofing. Because it is resistant to fire, heat, chemical and biological breakdown, asbestos was used in products such as:
Building materials: ceiling and floor tiles, house siding, roofing shingles and sealants, and cement and plaster products
Industrial heating systems such as furnaces
Electrical, heat and sound wrappings and insulation
Packing materials, coatings, gaskets and linings
Thermostat reinforcement
Textiles and fabrics
Human Health Effects of Asbestos
When asbestos is dry, it can crumble, pulverize and powder. In addition, its tiny fibers can release into the air as dust. Therefore, inhaling asbestos is a significant health concern.
The human health effects of long-term asbestos exposure include asbestosis and changes in the lining of the lungs (pleural abnormalities). In addition, all forms of asbestos have shown to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can occur in both the linings of the lungs and abdomen.
For these reasons, it is crucial to hire an expert asbestos surveyor to test and assess the entire space thoroughly.
So, let us now take a look at some of the benefits of hiring a qualified asbestos surveyor.
An Asbestos Surveyor Helps You Identify Asbestos
It is hard to know if a material contains asbestos by merely looking at it unless it has a label stating it contains asbestos.
An inspection and assessment carried out by a trained and accredited asbestos surveyor will be able to identify any asbestos-containing materials. And depending on the results, they will be able to offer you a safe and effective asbestos removal solution.
Asbestos Surveyors Provide Written Documentation
A well-qualified asbestos surveyor will provide you with a written assessment. The assessment will describe the exact location and extent of the asbestos. In addition, it will also offer the best recommendations for elimination.
This document is essential, so the asbestos removal team knows where to focus their efforts and what steps to take.
They Help You with Follow-Up Procedures
A professional asbestos surveyor will keep in contact and follow up with the asbestos removal professionals to ensure the project is completed safely, correctly and efficiently. In addition, they can recommend frequent post-remediation checks to ensure the area remains safe.
Get Started with an Asbestos Surveyor Today
Working with an asbestos surveyor can be the difference between a healthy environment and a dangerous one.
Do not wait! Contact an asbestos surveyor to keep your residential, commercial, industrial and other spaces safe and healthy for those who live in or visit.
Let’s help you to get started with a thorough asbestos inspection. Get in touch with Phase Associates to learn more about us, our asbestos survey services, and book an inspection today.
The Phase Associates asbestos surveyors service the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware.
