Inviscid Consulting

Here's Steve Hopper's latest article, just published in the current issue of 𝘗𝘈𝘙𝘊𝘌𝘓 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 magazine.

At Inviscid, one problem we consistently see in warehouses and DCs is that company leadership and management blame high labor costs and service issues on the workforce, when the real problem is often the lack of an effective system that defines good work, measures it fairly and objectively, coaches workers consistently, and creates a performance culture.

Poor labor performance is usually more of a management problem than a labor problem. In this article, Steve outlines six practical ways to move from firefighting to real performance improvement.

https://issuu.com/rbpublishing/docs/parcel_march_april_2026/26

Parcel March/April 2026 Parcel March/April 2026

Most warehouses don’t “break.” They just quietly bleed.

Costs creep up. Cycle times stretch. Accuracy slips. Returns pile up. And then one day, someone in a cushy corporate office asks, “How the heck did we not see this coming?”

We published a quick piece on why a vendor-neutral “warehouse physical” (operations assessment) is one of the simplest ways to find hidden leaks and build a practical plan to improve costs, speed, accuracy, and capacity.

No stool sample required. 😄

You Need Physical Exams—and So Does Your Warehouse Most warehouses don’t “break.” They just quietly bleed. Costs creep up. Cycle times stretch. Accuracy slips. Returns pile up. And then one day, someone in a cushy corporate office asks, “How the heck did we not see this coming?” A thorough operations assessment is the warehouse equivalent ...

Your warehouse or DC is a lot like your kitchen: the reason your labor productivity is lagging might be the same reason that dinner would take forever if you kept your spatulas in your bedroom closet.

Quite often, warehouses don’t need dramatic investments to improve productivity. Done right, simple steps can pay big dividends.

Is your spice rack organized better than your warehouse? In our latest blog post, Chris Barnes discusses the 7 Deadly Sins of Slotting. He shares a simple self-test, explains "sweet slotting," and offers a practical action plan.

Don't miss it.

https://www.inviscidconsulting.com/post/the-sweet-slot-what-your-kitchen-can-teach-you-about-warehouse-productivity

The Sweet Slot: What Your Kitchen Can Teach You About Warehouse Productivity Your warehouse probably leaks productivity for the same reason your dinner would take forever if you kept your spoons in your garage: stuff isn’t where it should be. This issue explains “sweet slotting” (putting fast movers in the easiest-to-pick locations); why it’s usually one of the lowes...

Do you think you know where the economy is headed? Prove it! You could win a $200 Amazon gift card from Inviscid.

We’re having a contest to predict inflation in 2026. It takes 15 seconds to enter.

So, pull out that crystal ball, and enter your prediction. Let's see how your guess stacks up against the rest of the prognosticators!

For bragging rights, we’ll share the results and award the prize at the end of the year. And there will be quarterly updates and prizes along the way, too.

Here's the link to enter:

https://www.inviscidconsulting.com/industry-predictions-survey

Industry Predictions Survey | Inviscid Consulting The winner will be determined based on the non-adjusted Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the 12 months ending December 2026, as published in the official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release. The decision of Inviscid Consulting, LLC, is final.

What can Santa teach us about highly effective warehousing and distribution?

More than you might think.

We had some fun when Inviscid Man interviewed Santa about his North Pole DC operations. Beneath the Holiday theme, we took a playful but practical look at how Santa consistently handles his "big day" every year. After all, he doesn't want to disappoint his customers (good boys and girls) with late or inaccurate deliveries!

Behind the twinkling lights and sleigh bells are real industrial engineering fundamentals that apply to any warehouse, DC, or fulfillment center. The principles and philosophies Santa relies on are what separate high-performing operations from the underperformers.

If your warehouse or DC operation struggles during peak periods—or even average days—take a tip or two from Santa.

https://www.inviscidconsulting.com/post/our-interview-with-santa-how-the-north-pole-dc-sleighs-peak-season

What’s the biggest challenge in your warehousing and distribution operation?

Our Interview with Santa: How the North Pole DC Sleighs Peak Season Inviscid Man recently sat down at the North Pole with everybody’s favorite jolly old elf, Santa Claus, to talk about something even more mysterious than how he fits down chimneys: how the North Pole DC manages to have a perfect peak season, year after year.