Whether you are setting up a new warehouse or looking to increase the efficiency of an existing site, you will want to make sure that you can store the maximum amount of goods in the smallest amount of space without impacting productivity.
Available Space
Before you make any changes, make sure you know how much space you have available. This isn’t just square footage but vertical space as well. Measuring the space available should take into account any pipes or ductwork, power sockets, fuse boxes and vents so you can be confident any shelving and storage you order will fit correctly and meet health and safety standards.
Site Design
When designing your warehouse layout, look at how you can organise the storing of products to make your business as efficient as possible. Analyse sales and (if this is an existing site) where stock is currently stored. Make sure your most popular items are kept near the shipping area and close to each other, reducing the time staff need to travel across the warehouse and increasing productivity.
Storage Requirements
Taking time to design your warehouse layout will help you understand your storage requirements and how much stock you can manage. Think creatively to maximise the use of space, arranging shelving around narrow aisles, for example, or selecting a variety of shelving sizes so that you have the appropriate areas to store smaller goods.
Selecting Shelving
When selecting shelving you need to take into account the type of products you sell and the number of items you will be storing at any one time. Think about how the shelves are constructed, how easily you can access goods stored on the shelves, and their flexibility, meaning they can be used for storing different products at different times. Seek out companies such as https://www.rackzone.ie/shelving/industrial-residential-shelving, who offer industrial shelving Ireland, to help you make the right choices.
Preparing Orders
The less time staff spend travelling across the warehouse, the more productive your business will become and the happier your employees will be because they aren’t wasting time when they could be getting on with their jobs. As well as keeping popular items close to shipping areas, consider keeping small quantities of other goods there too, and make sure all the supplies staff need to package items are close at hand.
