If you manage a manufacturing business, you likely know the importance of maintaining productive, secure operations.
Security breaches, production slowdowns, and other mayhem are bound to happen. Because of this, you should be equipped with an effective warehouse security camera system to deter malicious activity and monitor day-to-day operations.
Here’s your guide on the why, what, how, and who’s who of manufacturing security solutions and services.
Why Are Warehouse Security Cameras Important?
Operations can be slowed down, halted, or rendered inefficient by a number of factors. This makes proper warehouse video surveillance essential for managing possible roadblocks such as theft, property damage, and other incidents.
Prevent Theft
Theft can occur in any industry, by anyone, at any time. Security cameras placed in clearly visible locations in warehouses can deter employees from stealing, as well as any vendors or outside parties.
Other than general theft, time theft can be mitigated by monitoring when employees arrive or leave for shifts. This can help resolve discrepancies with timecards, and encourage honesty if all activities are recorded.
Property damage & Accidents
When assets are damaged, it’s important to be able to look back at the footage to find out when and where the damage occurred. This can assist with insurance claims, as well as aid in investigations into potentially fraudulent worker's compensation claims.
Industrial surveillance cameras are equipped with advanced technology that can make out faces, license plates, and more from a distance. This can make a huge difference when incidents occur, so you can actually identify thieves or perpetrators of suspicious activity.
Operational Efficiency and Eliminating T.I.M. W.O.O.D.
Reducing waste is one of a manufacturer’s top concerns. Security systems for warhouses can help you monitor processes and operations.
T.I.M. W.O.O.D. is a common acronym to describe the seven types of waste most often experienced in the manufacturing industry:
- Transportation - wasting resources moving goods around
- Inventory - excess unused materials taking up space
- Motion - wasted effort spent moving place to place, perhaps due to inefficient warehouse layouts
- Waiting - downtime due to delays in approvals, information, or materials
- Overproduction - an excess of quantity or quality of production resulting in wasted time or resources
- Over-processing - adding additional unnecessary steps to processes, wasting time or energy
- Defects - problems with products that render them useless, wasting time, money, and materials fixing or discarding them
Proper surveillance can allow you to focus on these details, and identify ways to improve production efficiency. Reducing downtime through careful monitoring can also alleviate stress on employees caused by delays and roadblocks.
What to Look for In Security Cameras for Warehouses
The manufacturing plant camera that's right for you will depend on the durability, image quality, and number of angles you need to monitor. There are several types of cameras on the market for large facilities.
For example, bullet cameras can swivel to survey multiple angles. Dome cameras, on the other hand, are much less delicate and might work better for an environment prone to hazards like debris, dust, or tampering.
When you’re looking for warehouse cameras, the factors to consider include:
- The size of your facilities
- Any restricted areas or places of specific security concern
- How you want to access footage, be it on-site or via remote access with the cloud
- Environmental conditions like dust, glare, temperature, and debris
- Necessary storage space and number of days you need to retain footage for
Other details to talk to your security provider about would be the level of high-quality recording you need from your warehouse security system.
For example, many modern cameras have image-enhancing technology to produce vibrant and accurate color and detail such as license plate numbers.
Motion detection is another useful feature to look for in security systems for warehouses. By only recording movement in the environment, this feature can reduce the amount of footage taking up space.
Access Control Systems for Warehouse Safety and Security
Another important aspect of manufacturing plant security is having quality access control systems. This can look like PIN pads on doors, keycard access systems, and more.
Especially when your manufacturing facilities have potentially hazardous materials or specialized machinery, it's important to ensure only authorized individuals enter your facility.
With access control, you can decide where every employee is allowed to go, and restrict areas that may house sensitive information. This can also help with physical cybersecurity, preventing staff from accessing computers and other devices without authorization.
How to Find Providers for Warehouse Security Solutions
With the right security devices, you'll be able to properly manage, monitor, and secure your manufacturing business. To find the right mix of devices for your situation, a security provider is a great place to start.
A managed security consultant will help you identify the must-have features you need. An experienced service provider will also advise you on an ideal fleet size so you have enough surveillance without overspending.
If you're ready to optimize your manufacturing video surveillance and security strategy, click the button below to speak to one of our experts about your business.
