If you’re in charge of operations for a warehouse, chances are you understand how important the right storage system can be. A storage system that is custom-made to your needs can help improve productivity, enhance efficiency, and create a more effective workspace for employees. A key component of any storage system is high-grade racking. At Concept Storage Solutions, we understand that more than just about anyone. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the best tips and tricks to help you make the most of your storage system and warehouse.
1. PLAN EVERYTHING
Don’t leave anything up to chance – especially with the efficiency and operation of your warehouse. When investing in a storage system, plan everything. Leave no detail up to chance. In fact, we recommend that you also plan for the future. Think about the bigger picture: is there room for growth in the company? If so, it might be worth your while to plan for that growth ahead of time and create a warehouse that’s ready for the change.
While planning the layout, you should absolutely take every aspect of the workplace into consideration. This includes everything from the location of receiving and shipping, to where the manager’s office will be, and everything in between.
2. BUDGET YOUR PROJECT
We cannot emphasize this enough. Any significant project should have a well-developed budget, especially when it comes to your warehouse storage. Planning for all your expected expenses is one thing, but it’s important that you budget for the unforeseen as well. You never know if something is not going to work out as expected. Better safe than sorry!
When investing in a warehouse storage system and brand-new racking, less is not always more. Meaning, that the cheapest option might seem like a great idea to cut costs in the beginning but can result in costly repairs and upgrades down the line.
3. UTILIZE VERTICAL SPACE FIRST
Rather than expanding horizontally, think about how you can utilize your vertical space first. This can help you save space, improve efficiency, and help boost the operation throughout your warehouse. By maximizing your vertical space, you can avoid having to expand your warehouse or moving to a new location altogether.
4. ARRANGE RACKING IN LONG ROWS
Arranging your racks in long rows can prove to be a more optimal solution than short bursts. This can help you get the most out of your available space. If you’re planning to add pallet rack systems to your warehouse, you can also use dynamic storage systems like push back racking or pallet flows to increase storage density without increasing the difficulty to access inventory.
5. PLAN A LARGE SHIPPING AND RECEIVING AREA
The shipping and receiving area is one of the most important areas of your warehouse.
While planning your warehouse layout and racking, create a large area for shipping and receiving. Even if you end up moving things around later or using the available space for something else, this can help you and your warehouse employees understand just how important space is. Mistakes made in this area can be quite troublesome, which is why it’s extremely important to create an efficient shipping and receiving area right in the beginning.
6. CALCULATE STORAGE EFFICIENCY
Do the math!
Calculating the square footage of your facility, versus the amount of space it can take to store just one pallet can help create an extremely efficient and operational warehouse. You want to ensure that there’s enough space on the ground to store inventory both horizontally and vertically.
7. ORGANIZE LIKE BIG DISTRIBUTORS
Taking cues from some of the most successful distributors like Amazon can help improve the productivity in your warehouse. They got to where they are for a reason, so why not look at some of their strategic moves? For example, some distributors use aisle signage similar to Home Depot to improve organization.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
8. LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS
We can’t emphasize this one enough. And that’s not just because we classify ourselves as “the experts”. No, it’s because it’s true. You wouldn’t have surgery performed without the green light from your doctor or have a renovation company make a change to your house that they didn’t think was a good idea. So why should your warehouse storage system be any different?
The experts are experts for a reason: they live and breathe storage systems. Our team at Concept Storage Solutions is included. Each of our storage systems has been customized to meet the needs of the warehouse and consists of high-quality materials that are built for durability.
We’re the experts for a reason, after all!
9. USE DYNAMIC RACKING
Dynamic racking systems are a great way to keep your inventory accessible and organized while also reducing honeycombing and empty pick faces. Solutions like push back racking, carton flow racking and pallet flow systems allow you to fully utilize your available storage space and ensure the faces along the picking aisle remain regularly stocked.
Speak with one of our specialists to learn more about our options for dynamic storage systems today.
10. PROTECTING YOUR RACKING
Warehouse racking is an investment worth protecting, so it’s important to equip your warehouse with the appropriate safety and guarding solutions to keep your inventory and your employees safe. Without proper guarding, your warehouse racking can become compromised due to damages incurred from equipment collisions. Proper safety equipment can help prevent falling debris, injuries, and other preventable accidents.
To learn more about our warehouse storage solutions and high-quality racking for sale, contact us today. Our experts at Concept Storage Solutions would be more than happy to help you find a solution that meets your every need.
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