Setting Up a Pallet Distribution Network: A Guide
Posted on: 31 May 2019
If you have recently set expanded your business and you need to ship products from one location to another, you will need to set up a pallet distribution network. While setting up your distribution network may seem complicated, by following a few simple steps, you can ensure that pallets move around your business in an orderly way. Read on to find out everything you need to know.
Establish pallet collection points
The first thing you will need to do is to organise pallet collection points at each site at which your company conducts operations. A pallet collection point doesn't have to be something which in incredibly high-tech. You simply need to designate an area at each location where pallets which are not in use can be stacked and counted. You should also appoint a member of staff who is responsible for counting and logging the pallets as they are collected. The reports filed by this person will allow you to keep track of pallets as they move around the distribution network.
Organise the transportation of pallets from one location to another
You will need to think about what you will do if the number of pallets at each site becomes unbalanced as they move around your transportation network. If you identify this as an issue, you will need to organise trucks which can transport empty pallets from a collection area to the site where they are required. Again, having a strong inventory will help you to foresee this before it becomes a serious issue.
Create an inventory of lost or damaged pallets
Pallets don't last forever. Due to wear and tear, you may find that some pallets become damaged to the point where they aren't safe to use. Sometimes, pallets may be misplaced or may be used to ship goods out to a customer and not returned. If this is the case, the pallets will be lost. Good monitoring of the pallet collection points and strong communication between teams will allow you to account for lost or damaged pallets so new pallets can be ordered from your supplier. If you do not keep track of loss or damaged pallets, you could find yourself running out of pallets.
If you are interested in finding out more about pallet distribution, you should make contact with a local company which supplies pallets to commercial operators. An agent will be happy to offer further help and advice.
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