Roundup: Catalog Fulfillment and Operations

5. Transition full-time workers to permanent flex-time by hiring people willing to work four- to six-hour shifts, three to five days a week.

6. Try to maintain near-zero backlogs, which, besides improving workflow, can increase productivity by as much as 40 percent.

7. Hire a freight auditor. Outbound shipping costs often can be reduced by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Auditors charge 30 percent to 50 percent of your savings the first year, but they’re still an excellent deal in the long-term. (FYI: Auditors are available for all cost areas, including your company’s phone bills.)