The logistics industry is a fast-paced environment where things can be difficult to keep under control.
With so many moving parts, it’s almost inevitable that some accidents will happen, the main thing is to keep those accidents to a minimum.
One of the main ways of achieving this is through a thorough quality assurance system.
Here, we explore some of the main issues you’ll need to consider when it comes to quality assurance. From adopting a QMS to working out how you can minimise incidents, this is what you need to be aware of.
Quality management systems
When it comes to quality assurance, one of the most important things to implement will be a quality management system (or QMS).
There are plenty of different options to choose between, each of which will provide more or less functionality in different areas.
To choose one, try to have a chat with their reps, and ask for a demonstration of the system.
In addition, ask your business partners and associates which systems they’re using, and take a look at reviews in prestigious industry journals.
Which standards are you adhering to?
In quality assurance, there are a range of different standards – some national, some international, some niche-specific – to which companies can either choose or may be forced to adhere.
The most common of these is ISO 9001, which is intended to help organisations achieve a consistently high level of quality, by helping them to establish and then adhere to a QMS.
It’s important to look at both the standards that you’re required to adhere to, and the standards that could help your business to thrive.
Meeting multiple different standards can be difficult, but in many contexts, it will be worth it.
Minimising accidents
Accident minimisation will always be a point of concern in the context of logistics, but quality assurance measures can have a positive impact on how you approach that process.
Through quality assurance, you will start to compile large datasets that provide extensive insights into how why and where items are broken during the logistics process.
Based on that information, you can then choose solutions to minimise those risks.
Whether that’s a new shelving system, or an automated loading solution from Joloda Hydraroll, quality assurance processes can allow you to take a data-driven approach to these important issues.
Employee training
Lastly, no matter which measures you choose to implement to facilitate quality assurance, you need to make sure that your employees are fully trained to use these tools.
This training will need to be provided across the board, with varying focuses depending on which role the individual in question is carrying out.
Improving quality assurance in your organisation isn’t something that you’ll achieve and then be able to forget about.
You should keep an eye on the data, to make sure that your current approach remains effective in the long run.
On top of that, you need to make sure that you’re not missing out on any potential game-changing innovations that hit the market.
