In the modern logistics industry, efficiency is key.  Incremental improvements in productivity in any warehouse settings can contribute to increases in profitability and reduce losses. 

Two key areas that warehouses can focus on to improve their efficiency are reducing pick times for each item and improving the overall picking accuracy so that fewer trips are required.  This can help to speed up the operations of the warehouse and as a result contribute to lower staffing requirements that reduce costs over time.

Better warehouse lighting can help with both accuracy and speed.  By improving the way the warehouse is illuminated, labels are easier to find and scan, and overall safety also benefits, as hazards are clearer for staff to see.

Warehouse lighting and accuracy 

Our eyes are tuned to work optimally in natural light, and where possible, the use of daylight in any working environment should be prioritised.  Aside from reducing unnecessary energy consumption, it promotes wellbeing and maintains our circadian rhythms.

In warehouse environments, where high racking creates dark areas, artificial lighting is essential.  High quality overhead lighting above racking walkways makes it easier for staff to read labels and find items faster and more accurately and improves colour recognition which makes it easier to differentiate between items. 

With better lighting, errors are reduced, which has several benefits to any logistics function:

• Fewer incorrect items dispatched
• Reduced return rates
• Reduced number of picking runs where errors are identified prior to dispatch 

These improvements in accuracy will contribute to better customer satisfaction as well as reducing waste.

Boosting productivity through lighting

Workers benefit from improved lighting in the workplace.  Well designed lighting systems improve focus and alertness as well as reducing glare and fatigue.

Poor lighting can contribute to fatigue.  Dim lights, poor colour quality, hight levels of glare and flicker caused by low quality drivers can be problems, particularly in roles where staff are required to search for items leads to eye strain and tiredness, which progressively affects performance over the course of a shift. 

By using task specific lighting plans that use brighter lighting in picking zones and lower intensity lighting in rest areas, the lighting system can mimic circadian rhythms for staff.  Better quality rest between picking runs contributes to better productivity and faster turnaround.

Improving Health and Safety

Time lost to workplace accidents negatively affects productivity across the whole team.  A well-lit warehouse environment is much safer.  Hazards are easily spotted, and forklift operators are better able to see staff as they pick.

Efficiency considerations

Smart lighting control systems can further optimise the workplace and build on better staff productivity and accuracy by helping to reduce energy consumption.

As noted above, a lighting system that is complemented by natural light uses less energy, so implementing controls that adjust the use of artificial light as required means that luminaires in areas where natural light is available can operate at lower intensity.

Incorporating motion detection into the lighting controls is also beneficial in warehouse environments.  In large warehouses, areas which are less frequently visited do not need to be illuminated at all times.  Motion detecting high bay sensors in warehouses turn off the lights when staff are not present to reduce energy use, and then on as staff approach, maximising daylight usage, to ensure that they are working in a safer and well-lit environment.

Find out more

With modern LED warehouse lighting supplemented by smart light controls, it is possible to create a safer, more productive, and more energy efficient logistics centre.  Speak to a member of our team today about how Whitecroft Lighting can help you.