An indispensable piece of equipment in warehouses, the packing workbench has a strategic dimension: the efficiency of your packing processes and productivity of your teams partly depend on it. As such, it must enable efficient and fast packing but also guarantee ideal conditions for the comfort and safety of your employees. Here are our 4 tips for choosing the right packing workbench.
1. Place the emphasis on ergonomics
Having ergonomic equipment is essential for preventing MSDs, the notorious musculoskeletal disorders that result from bad posture. In the long term, they can have a major impact on the health of your employees and cause considerable disruption to the productivity of your teams.
To create ideal working conditions, opt for height-adjustable workbenches. Ergonomists recommend an adjustment range of between 81 cm and 107 cm in height, which can be adjusted according to the size of the operators. The table must, of course, be big enough to have all the equipment required for packing parcels. Ideally, this equipment must be accessible within a range of 60°. If the workbench is equipped with a control screen, this must be positioned at an angle of 40° from eye level. All these precautions will prevent the operator repeating movements that would cause, in the medium or long term, discomfort that could eventually become a genuine health issue.
2. Opt for a modular workbench
The activity level in a warehouse can vary according to the days of the week or times of the year. For example, the famous December rush, accentuated by the upsurge in e-commerce, is often the high point for logistics. A modular packing workbench makes it possible to respond to all situations and adapt your equipment to your present needs. Install an extension to expand the table, add drawers or a shelf to easily access all the packing tools etc… A modular workbench will enable you to easily operate these various additions. They will save your teams time and prevent you having to change equipment according to the circumstances.
3. Optimise the workspace
Modularity is an indispensable part of optimising the workspace. As well as being directly accessible from the packing workbench, drawers and shelves must also be adapted to all of your equipment. In a nutshell, your packing workbench must have a place for each tool.
From this point of view, the overall layout of the packing workbench must be based on the 5S methodology. Initiated in Toyota’s Japanese factories, this methodology aims to create a perfectly functional work environment where there is no place for unnecessary things or imprecision. Your packing workbench must have a specific storage area for cutters, another area for adhesives etc… Equipment used the most often must be stored in a separate area from less important tools. And indispensable equipment must, of course, be directly close at hand.
4. Diversify your equipment
Different types of equipment round off the triptych of ergonomics, modularity and optimisation. A swivel arm helps to position the control screen correctly, a seated / standing chair and an anti-fatigue mat reinforce the ergonomics of the entire packing station. A storage area with shelving, a dispenser with a cutter, efficient lighting – all these elements will increase the operator’s comfort and efficiency. Finally, installing a conveyor at the end of the packing table will enable you to easily dispatch the packed parcels directly to the delivery area.
Looking for a packing station or workbench?
Rapid Racking has a wide range of packing workbenches and tables to suit your business’s needs.
If you’re not sure which packing workbench is right for you or you have any questions about our products, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly sales team who will be happy to assist you with your enquiry.