Warehouse storage is often one big balancing act – keeping enough inventory on hand while keeping products secure and accessible. The right warehouse layout design, racking system, and inventory management techniques can help.
Please review your racking and warehouse storage systems to ensure they work for you. A warehouse racking system that can reduce worker comp claims and maximize space is a wise investment.
Inventory Management
Handling inventory in a warehouse can open the door to customer dissatisfaction, shipping mistakes, and product damage. A few best practices can help warehouses optimize inventory management workflows to reduce manual mishandling, data entry errors, and costly mistakes.
Using an ABC analysis to rank warehoused products by revenue generation allows managers to focus space priorities on fast-moving products and improve access times for those items. This technique also helps reduce worker comp claims by reducing the number of people working in an area and allowing them to be reassigned to other tasks.
Choosing a warehouse storage system such as industrial warehouse space that maximizes cube density is essential. Drive-in racking, for example, requires one service aisle and works according to the LIFO stock management method, which is ideal for homogeneous product storage. In contrast, Drive-through racking requires two work aisles and works according to the FIFO stock management method, which is more suitable for high-rotation product storage.
Warehouse Layout
Warehouse storage best practices help to optimize warehouse operations and improve overall productivity. These practices include everything from warehouse layout to racking systems. Continual evaluation of warehouse operations helps to identify areas with room for improvement, such as order fulfillment bottlenecks.
Modern warehouse racking is engineered and designed to be safe. However, it’s still important to reinforce these structures with supplemental guarding equipment such as partitions, netting, rack guards, or Column Sentry (r), which can prevent injuries and damage to the construction of the warehouse. Hiring professionals to install warehouse racking to ensure adherence to OSHA standards and safety measures is also a good idea.
Choosing the right warehouse storage system allows you to maximize any horizontal or vertical space. For example, selective pallet racking uses space more efficiently, while wide-span shelving offers more flexibility and is cost-effective for storing smaller boxes and products. In addition, warehouse racking should always be properly labeled and organized to facilitate streamlined product access.
Racking Systems
Racking systems allow businesses to maximize floor-to-ceiling space. Warehouses charge by square foot, so using all vertical space efficiently is essential. Racks can double or triple inventory storage capacity without increasing the square footage you pay for. Rack types include selective racking, multi-tier racking, drive-in racking, and pallet flow racking.
Warehouse racking must be adequately maintained to ensure safety and efficiency. Regular inspections are essential for identifying and repairing problems. It’s also a good idea to post guides and reminders about safe loading practices throughout the warehouse. This helps prevent mindless mistakes and saves both time and money.
Implementing these warehousing best practices will help your business improve productivity and boost customer satisfaction. Consistency is vital to keeping your warehouse organized and effective, so follow a plan and stick with it. If you’re uncomfortable managing your warehouse, consider working with a professional third-party logistics or warehousing services company. They can provide all of the storage solutions you need while allowing you to focus on your core business.
Storage Solutions
As a warehouse storage best practice, utilizing racking systems in your facility can double or even triple your inventory holding capacity while decreasing your square foot costs. Racks are typically a one-time investment that pays for themselves through improved efficiency and lower labor costs.
Ensure your warehouse’s racking is safe and stable by following all the necessary best practices, including regular inspections and employee training. Marked emergency exits, fire extinguishers, routine fire alarms, and sprinkler system testing are critical for keeping your team safe.
To maximize storage space, use dividers and totes that keep products organized and prevent them from shifting around during handling or transport. Prioritizing items using the ABC analysis hierarchy (A being most valuable, C being least) can also help improve access to popular SKUs. Also, regularly reviewing SKU velocities may reveal that some SKUs move faster than others, allowing you to relocate them for better access.
