If you’re new to pallets, or if you’re an expert, you can still benefit from remembering the following tips.
Wooden pallets make up the foundation of many different types of supply chains across the globe. Pallets carry much of our world on top of them. While they can seem simple at first glance, there is a lot that goes into optimizing the way that they are used. Whatever their use, there are a few things you should remember about pallet users.
Pay Attention To The Specifications
The dimensions and other specifications of your pallets can have a huge impact on how well they will work for your specific type of operation and applications. The pallet type can affect the following:
- The pallet performance and rate of failure
- The unit load efficiency and ideal weight distribution
- The pelletization process
- The interactions with your racks, equipment, and automated systems
- The pallet costs
These are only a few things that different choices in pallet types can have an influence over. The overall size of the deck board width and fastener type can have different effects. Since pallets and their interactions within your operations and how they are utilized can and should be optimized in a lot of different ways, it is recommended that you receive a pallet audit every couple of years. Getting detailed reviews like this can help you collect a variety of information about your facility, application and pallet need to find the best pallet for your operation.
Understanding Your Clients Is Key
In the average supply chain, there are several steps and at every one of those steps, the customer might have different requirements for the pallets on which they receive their products. If you distribute food, it is likely that your grocery store customer will have a specific type of pallet that they will accept. This is true for each different industry that you deal with.
These interactions are why you need to take the time to understand your client’s needs since this will influence what pallets are best for you and your continued business with your clients. Choosing pallets that will meet your needs and the needs of your clients will help you reduce any friction in your logistics processes, and even help you improve your business relationships.
In some cases, your clients will want to use their own pallets and will simply remove any inventory when they receive their pallets. In this situation, knowing this can also become a valuable way you can enhance your pallets and know that they are for your use only.
The use of pallets is incredibly complex and technical. They are involved in almost every single step of a supply chain facility and clients. Those who are new or experienced will benefit from the knowledge of understanding pallet specifications and understanding the needs of your clients and more. You can build better business relationships with your clients as well as take advantage of cost-saving strategies for your business.