As a new industrial warehouse manager, you may have a lot of questions when it comes to your laydown yard or warehouse.
How will it be organized? What exactly makes industrial supplies “industrial”? How can I keep myself and my staff safe in an industrial setting?
These questions are major priorities. Every situation is different and only you can answer those questions for your own work zone. But, the advice we’re providing here can help.
Keep reading to find out how!
How Industrial Supplies Are Different from Consumer Goods
Industrial supplies are supplies needed in the creation of consumer goods and products. They could also be construction materials for an industrial facility such as a power generation facility. They could even be raw materials, in some cases, such as steel billets.
Industrial goods are things like raw materials, machinery, professional tools or instruments, and manufacturing plants.
That being said, industrial supplies are distinct from consumer supplies in four major ways.
- Higher purchase value
- High level of investment
- Complex product lines
- Rational buying power
Consumer goods are commodities to satisfy an emotional desire, in most cases. Even for products that are necessary for life, such as clothing, these product choices are based on emotional motivations.
Industrial supplies, industrial tools, and manufacturing supplies, on the other hand, rely on a rational assessment of specifications.
Because components and tools for working on specific manufacturing machines are often quite narrow in scope or market, the price tag for these industrial goods tends to be high. The level of investment required in buying these industrial supplies is also high since it almost always means buying in bulk.
These products generally have a high level of complexity and require training to use them.
Industrial goods are generally not available to the average consumer because of these four barriers, not including possible licensing and permits that could be necessary.
What a Manager Needs to Know
The things a manager needs to know about industrial supplies and industrial supply chains are very different from what a general consumer has an interest in.
Industrial products can be broken into several classifications such as:
- Capital goods
- Raw materials
- Operating supplies
- Services
- Major equipment
- Accessory equipment
- Component parts
Capital goods are assets such as plants, buildings, machinery, and other installations. Accessory equipment includes tools of the trade such as copiers, office equipment, precision measuring tools, and the like. Take a look at this accessory equipment, to get an idea.
It isn’t just the different kinds of products that a new industrial supply manager or warehouse manager should know, but also their safe storage and OSHA regulations.
Organizing your facility for a logical arrangement will provide a good workflow. Pickers will love you for making often-used products easy to find and easy to reach. Having MSDS on hand for every product and material will give staff peace of mind in handling any product in the supply chain.
Speaking of productivity and safe working environments, continued training and education on industrial supplies is a must for any manager to provide. That means you need to have the latest training in handling and storing your industrial supplies yourself, setting the example.
Supplied: The New Manager’s Guide
Let’s be honest, there’s a lot more to cover when it comes to industrial supplies. This guide only briefly covers some of the most important considerations that apply to industrial supplies, as well as identifying what makes those supplies “industrial.”
Looking for more advice on management and business practices you can use in industrial supply or any industry? Keep browsing our articles on branding, career advice, and management today!