Archive for April, 2024

Solving The Puzzle of Warehouse Storage: Tips and Tricks

Warehousing is one of the key components of many business organizations (both large and small), acting as the foundation of supply chain management. Optimised warehouse storage is not only about utilising space effectively but also improving the throughput and efficiency as well as boosting customer satisfaction.

Yet, resorting to warehouses for storage is a bit like chess, you have to be strategic and precise when making decisions. To help businesses successfully address this problem, let’s explore a few tips and tricks that will help you to optimise warehouse space.

Implement a Layout Plan

First of all, develop a floorplan that makes use of the available space and brings efficiency to the warehouse. Think of things like main aisles that have proper breathing room as well as shelving lines that are configured to ensure that different types of products are properly stored.

Using a purposeful layout plan will enable optimisation of the operations, reduce travel time, minimise the number of picking mistakes made, and maximise storage spaces.

Utilise Vertical Space

Give extra consideration to the space in your warehouse which is vertical instead of horizontal. Consider investing in tall platform shelves, mezzanine floors or pallet racking systems to enable the use of vertical storage space to your maximum advantage.

Through the use of storage racks, a warehouse footprint can be easily prolonged by increasing the amount of vertically stacked inventory instead of having to physically build more space.

This strategic approach optimises storage density, increases picking efficiency, and reduces clutter on the warehouse floor. By making efficient use of vertical space, businesses can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and improve overall warehouse efficiency.

Implement FIFO/LIFO Systems

If you have different inventory management needs, then it is important for you to have FIFO (First In, First Out) or LIFO (Last In, First Out) storage systems in place.

FIFO ensures that older inventory is used first, reducing the risk of product spoilage or obsolescence. LIFO, on the other hand, may be more suitable for non-perishable goods or situations where inventory turnover is high.

Utilise Bin Location Systems

Adoption of bin location systems will allow for inventory to be systematically organised, ensuring smooth product pickup and replenishment.

Assign unique identifiers to storage bins or locations and use barcode or RFID technology to track inventory movement accurately. This not only reduces errors but can also speed up order fulfilment processes.

Optimise Palletisation

Proper palletising methods can really help to control warehouse storage operations. Unify pallet sizes and employ palletising software for intelligent pallet building according to the shape and weight of products. This way, stacking can be stable and there will be less wasted space between the pallets

Implement Cross-Docking

Look into cross-dock procedures for reducing inventory storage and quickening order fulfilment. In cross-docking incoming goods are distributed from receiving docks directly to outbound shipping docks, bypassing long-term storage. This leads to a lowering of handling costs, and inventory holding costs and reduces the time of order processing.

Utilise Slotting Optimisation

Implement slotting optimisation techniques to strategically assign products to storage locations based on demand patterns, product characteristics, and picking frequency.

The most demanded items are those that would have to be located close to the packing area and are easily accessible; on the other hand, those of low demand may be stored in less accessible sections to save on space.

Regularly Review and Adjust

Warehouse storage requirements evolve over time, so it is essential to regularly review and adjust your storage strategies accordingly.

Conduct periodic audits to assess inventory levels, SKU velocity, and storage utilisation rates. Based on these insights, make necessary adjustments to optimise storage layouts and processes.

Invest in Training and Education

Last but not least, spend time and money to train and educate your warehouse employees so they can practice implementing the best storage practices.

Provide training on proper handling techniques, inventory management principles and safety protocols to minimise errors, reduce accidents, and maximise warehouse efficiency.

Solving the puzzle of warehouse storage requires a combination of careful planning, strategic implementation, and continuous optimisation.

These simple ways of thinking will help businesses to squeeze more out of their storage capacity, to improve operational performance and to stay relevant in today’s dynamic marketplace.

For more advice on making improvements to your warehouse, get in touch with Logical Storage Solutions. Our expert team are on-hand to find a solution to any storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Offering a consultative approach and nationwide service for all single and multi-site operations, we are your one-stop provider of all storage, workspace and maintenance solutions.