With booming population growth and a robust economy, Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) is a hub for all kinds of businesses. As a result, it’s also become a popular spot for warehouses that support business growth across a range of industries. But securing steady growth means business owners need to know how to make the most of their warehouse operations.

We’ll walk you through a simple set of strategies that can help your DFW warehouse eliminate downtime and operate more efficiently. With skilled techs, a game plan, and the latest smart tools, anything is possible.

Stop Reactive Maintenance

Reactive maintenance means you’re intervening only when a piece of equipment breaks down or operates inefficiently. Unfortunately, this approach to maintenance can cause delays and, in some cases, cost more money. Even the best business plans can’t recover from weeks of downtime when a key machine or vehicle is out of service.

Your better bet is to install Internet of Things (IoT) sensors that can alert you to problems before they snowball into bigger issues. IoT sensors can track anything from moisture levels to temperature swings. And if something seems off, you’ll know it since the data will go to a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

Maintenance crew members will receive an alert if a sensor detects readings that fall out of the normal range. Then crews can schedule repairs and help cut down on downtime. You’ll be able to steer clear of disastrous scenarios so your warehouse operations can keep humming.

Make Sure You Have the Workforce You Need

With so many warehouses, DFW needs a stable supply of skilled techs. Higher demand can translate to more lucrative pay and incentives for individuals who have the right training. Unfortunately, however, there aren’t enough skilled tradespeople nationally to meet this demand.

Savvy businesses are investing in training and upskilling programs to ensure that they have the talent pipeline in place. They’re working with Dallas trade school programs, too, to make sure training options align with workforce needs.

Warehouses need workers skilled in welding, electrical work, machine maintenance, and a host of other areas. Offering opportunities for employees to expand their skills in these areas and advance into higher-paying roles is one of the best strategies your warehouse can embrace.

Cross-Train Your Employees

Yes, sensors and data collection can help your warehouse run smoothly. But smart tech can’t do the actual hands-on fixing. You’ll need technicians with diverse skill sets.

That’s where cross-training comes into play. When you invest in training employees in more than one area, they can be more useful. Maybe an employee comes in as a welder but takes coursework in refrigeration, for instance.

With cross-trained crews, you won’t be relying too heavily on a single employee. You won’t have to wait around for contractors, and you can tackle problems right away. In short, you’ll speed up response times and empower your employees to work harder.

Shift Your Approach to Maintenance

When you think of preventive maintenance, you probably envision routine appointments to look at the condition of equipment. But switching to condition-based maintenance (CBM) can offer a more efficient alternative. With it, you won’t waste time with maintenance when it isn’t needed.

CBM uses IoT sensors to alert the maintenance team when equipment malfunctions. This approach to maintenance still focuses on oversight and management. And it can keep your equipment functioning at a high level longer.

But CBM also helps you use your resources more effectively. You won’t be diverting team members to non-essential maintenance checks.

Be Smarter About Scheduling Practices

It’s time to rethink how you schedule work hours. After all, downtime resulting from maintenance problems or inadequate staffing tends to happen beyond the normal business workday hours. That’s why it’s smart to stagger how you assign shifts and keep someone on-call.

Pay attention to when you seek peak activity so you can have more staffing there. And alternate shifts so you’re not always having the same people working overnight or staying on call. When you’re smart about scheduling, you can help address maintenance issues or operational problems that happen overnight.

Stay Prepared

Dallas-Fort Worth warehouses have the potential to flourish thanks to a robust economy. But for warehouses and businesses to remain competitive, they’ll need to be prepared to tackle problems. Placing IoT sensors on equipment, focusing on CBM, and ensuring techs have multiple skill sets can make a big difference.

With the right preparation, your DFW warehouse can minimize downtime and be competitive.