Logical Storage News

How The Correct Storage Solution Can Increase Warehouse Efficiency

An efficient warehouse is essential to ensuring a quick and accurate flow of products in and out of the warehouse. So, how do you achieve optimum warehouse efficiency? Well, one of the main contributors to warehouse efficiency is its storage systems.

Your storage solution can either hinder or increase warehouse efficiency. Ensuring you have the correct storage systems for your business model and stock is critical to the efficiency of your warehouse and customer satisfaction.

Read on to discover how having the correct storage solution can increase warehouse efficiency.

Utilising all available space

If you are running low on storage or have a lot of overspill, you may feel like the only option is to expand your warehouse or relocate to a bigger premises. However, this will be costly and can take a lot of time, so it is not always a viable option.

Before investing in more space, study the layout and dimensions of your warehouse and consider whether you are utilising all available space in your warehouse.

Storage systems should maximise and optimise all available space, including vertical space. Making better use of vertical space by adding taller storage units can significantly increase your storage capacity without increasing your square footage.

You should also look at how and where items are stored. Make the best use of the space available by ensuring all items are stored methodically, and on appropriate systems. Storing small items on pallet racks wastes space and can make it easy to misplace items.

If you are storing the same items in multiple locations, consolidate them into one area to increase efficiency and make it easier to track stock levels.

To help you select the correct storage solution for your business and increase warehouse efficiency, here are some of the most effective systems and the benefits of each.

Compact pallet racks

Compact pallet racking, also known as mobilised or mobile pallet racking, provides quick and easy access, as well as allowing you to free up valuable space.

With the push of a button, you can move rows of pallets and flexible aisle space, by mounting your existing racks on specialised carriages and tracks.

Double-deep pallet racks

Double-deep or deep-reach pallet racks provide you with access to two pallets from one side of an aisle which is invaluable in warehouses with limited space.

Ideal for high-volume storage facilities with a last in, first out (LIFO) inventory rotation, double-deep racks have a back-to-back layout which reduces the number of aisles and maximises space.

Drive-through racks

Excellent for providing efficient access, drive-through or drive-in racks allow forklifts to easily enter the rack structure to access and store pallets.

These racking systems are ideal for warehouses with a FIFO rotation and for storing large quantities of identical products and providing safe storage of goods sensitive to pressure, such as food and other perishable items.

Push-back racks

Push-back racking is a high-density, space-saving solution that is perfect for warehouses with a last in, first out (LIFO) system.

Stock is loaded and unloaded from one side, and up to four pallets can be stored on each level, resulting in a reduced handling time and increased storage capacity.

For help selecting the correct storage solution for your warehouse, get in touch with Logical Storage Solutions. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

Hygiene tips for food storage in warehouses

Although it is important to maintain good hygiene practices in any warehouse, it is even more so in food storage warehouses, as is choosing the right type of shelving and storage system.

With additional rules and regulations to follow to meet more stringent health and safety standards, food storage warehouses require a higher standard of hygiene and cleaning.

Here is our expert advice on choosing the best type of shelving for food storage, as well as some hygiene tips, to ensure your warehouse complies with health and safety standards and operates smoothly.

Follow a sanitation schedule

Regular and thorough cleaning and maintenance are esential to the smooth running and compliance of food storage warehouses. There should be a clear sanitation schedule and all activities should be thoroughly documented for traceability.

Food items will attract pests to your storage facility, so it is important that you also factor regular pest control into your sanitation schedule.

Practice good hygiene

When dealing with food items, good hygiene is of great importance. Ensure staff practice good personal hygiene by providing training on hygiene and food safety, and by having signage and sanitisation stations around the warehouse.

Store food safely off the floor

Food items, or even pallets storing food, should not be stored on the ground. Storing food on a pallet racking system will help to keep them away from potential contaminants and reduce the risk of them becoming damaged.

Choose suitable shelving

When choosing a storage system for your food storage warehouse, it is important to consider how your products are packaged to ensure the shelving is suitable. You should also consider how the shelving system can reduce the risk of food becoming contaminated or spoiled.

Pallet racking is the best option for any palletised inventory. As pallet racking can be used to maximise storage capacity where space is limited, it is particularly useful for cold room or freezer storage.

Ensure systems are fully galvanised to allow for thorough sanitation, without fear of rust or paint contaminating stored products. Opt for sealed compartment pallet racking systems which are more hygienic, if possible, as the sealed beams help to prevent build-up, contamination, and surface harbouring.

Rotate products automatically

With food items tending to have a shorter shelf life than other products, product rotation is an essential process in food storage warehouses. Efficient product rotation can help to prevent stored food items from going out of date, thus reducing shrinkage.

Installing a “first in, first out” pallet racking system, or pallet flow racking system, will help to ensure consistent product rotation, by moving the pallets with the oldest stock to the front for picking.

Pallets with new stock are loaded into the back, and products are picked from the pallet with the oldest stock at the front. Once a pallet is empty, it is unloaded and the next pallet flows to the front automatically, without the need for manual product rotation, therefore saving you time and money.

Separate problematic foods

Foods must be kept separated to avoid allergen cross-contamination or odour contamination. If you store a variety of different types of foods, look for shelving systems that allow for food items to be easily and effectively separated.

A popular option for food storage, wire shelving is great for separating goods, whilst providing ventilation which will help to keep your dry and chilled food items fresh. Plus, it is easy to wipe down which would be beneficial in the event of spillages.

For help in selecting the best solution for your food storage warehouse requirements, our expert team is on hand to advise. Call us on 0845 689 1300 or email [email protected] to discuss your warehouse storage needs or to book a racking inspection or consultation.

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

How to use longspan shelving to maximise storage space

If you are looking to store hand-loaded small to medium products or long or irregular-shaped items then longspan shelving is likely to be the perfect solution.

This fully adjustable and modular industrial shelving system is quick and easy to assemble and allows you to maximise storage in minimal time.

Read on to discover some of the many benefits of longspan shelving systems and how they can be used to maximise storage space in your warehouse.

Customise to your needs

Manufactured to your specification, longspan shelving can be customised to suit your storage and warehouse requirements. The depth, width and height can be modified to store a wide range of products, including long or awkward items, that are not typically palletised.

Longspan shelving systems can be tailor-made with a frame height of up to 60m, depth of up to 15m, and bay width of up to 30m.

Adapt to meet demand

Longspan shelving can be downsized, added to or customised as needed to meet changing requirements. Rather than having to replace your storage system, you can simply adapt longspan shelving so that it grows alongside your business.

Shelf levels are fully adjustable in 50mm increments and this system can be easily extended and reconfigured to adapt to future business needs.

Utilise vertical space

Increase storage capacity in your warehouse, without taking up more floor space or risking damage to products, by utilising vertical space. Longspan shelving systems can be built upwards to store more products safely off the floor and without overloading.

Improve access to products

Longspan shelving systems help to increase productivity and efficiency in the warehouse by providing high accessibility of hand-picked products. They are great for storing a wide range of products as all items are easily accessible when stored on longspan shelving.

Invest in durable storage

When buying longspan shelving, you are investing in a durable storage system that can withstand a warehouse environment and is built to last. Longspan shelving has a maximum shelf load of up to 1250kg.

Whatever you need to store, rest assured that Logical Storage Solutions will have the ideal solution for you.

Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any unique storage problem. Call us on 0845 689 1300 or email [email protected] to discuss your warehouse storage needs or to book a racking inspection or consultation.

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

How To Keep Your Warehouse Safe And Clean

Having an unorganised or unclean warehouse is a recipe for disaster. You are more likely to
encounter product damage, accidents, and injuries. A warehouse needs to be
organised and clean if you want it to be safe, effective, and productive.

There is always room for improvement when it comes to the safety and cleanliness of a
warehouse. Here are some top tips to help you keep your warehouse safe and clean.

Regularly empty bins

When it comes to poor warehouse cleanliness and safety, a common issue is not emptying bins
regularly and allowing them to overflow. This can create tripping hazards and can be
unhygienic, posing health risks to workers.

Set a schedule for bins to be emptied regularly. If you notice that your bins are getting
full quickly, consider scaling up your waste disposal and implementing recycling bins to help
distribute waste and prevent bins from overflowing.

Stock up on cleaning products

To promote and achieve a warehouse environment that is clean and safe, it needs to be
stocked with ample cleaning products and hygiene equipment.

Ensuring staff have access to anything they may need, from mops and spill kits to personal
hygiene products such as hand sanitiser and tissues will help to cultivate a clean and safe
working environment.

An effective way of promoting cleanliness and encouraging staff to follow health and safety
procedures is to have cleaning stations around the warehouse. This will ensure that cleaning
products and equipment are always nearby and easily accessible.

Promote good hygiene practices

Promoting good hygiene practices is essential to preventing the spread of germs. From pens
and safety knives, to the controls on a machine, there are tools and equipment in a warehouse
that are used regularly and by multiple people.

Having signage in bathrooms and break areas to remind workers to thoroughly wash and try
their hands, and providing hand sanitiser at all workstations and alongside commonly used
equipment will help to encourage staff to practice good personal hygiene.

Provide regular training on waste management and cleaning procedures to ensure that staff are
aware of cleaning processes throughout the warehouse.

Encourage sick employees to stay home

Workers are often discouraged from taking time off sick from work, as sickness absence is
typically seen as an inconvenience or disruption to work. This can actually have a negative
impact on productivity and result in lost time.

If someone is unwell at work, they could cause other workers to become ill and make the
problem worse. Promote a healthier and safer work environment by encouraging workers to
stay home if they are unwell.

Avoid overstocking

To maintain a clean and safe warehouse, it is important to ensure the floor and aisles are free
from obstacles. Having too much stock can result in product overflow and often means stock is
stored on the floor and aisles which poses health and safety hazards.

If you have more stock than will fit on the racking, then consider having a designated space for
product overflow, so that it is not on walkways. This will reduce the risk of products being
damaged due to not being on a rack, as well as reduce the risk of accidents and injury.

Having quality pallet racking systems which are designed for your warehouse and tailored to
your inventory and processes will help in utilising space, keeping the floor clear from
obstructions, and ensuring that pallets are organised and stock is safe and easy to find.

If you are interested in improving or replacing your warehouse storage systems, get in touch
with Logical Storage Solutions. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any storage
problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior
workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions,
warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

The Uses and Benefits Of Cantilever Racking

Cantilever racking is an effective solution for storing long and heavy items. It is an open-fronted system that allows for storage of items of any length. Cantilever racking systems are robust and can withstand even the most arduous industrial environments.

There are many benefits to having cantilever racking systems in a warehouse. They can boost efficiency and productivity, effectively utilise space, and maximise storage capacity. Here we explore some of the uses and benefits of cantilever racking.

Key features

● Organised storage of long, heavy loads

● Fully bolt-together system

● Single and double sided

● Custom designed, tailored to your specific requirements

● Heights of up to 10 metres available

● Weight loads of up to 5 tonnes per arm can be supported

● Painted finish for internal applications or galvanized for external applications

● Variety of paint finishes available

Storage capacity

Arm lengths and capacities are tailored to suit your requirements. Systems with rack heights of 10 metres and an arm length of 2.5 metres can hold up to 2500 kilograms per level, or up to 5 tonnes per arm.

Versatility

Cantilever racking systems are ideal for storing a wide variety of items, including aluminium sheet and plate, timer packs, heavy pipes and tubes, steel sections, worktops and laminates, scrap vehicles, extrusion, concrete and sheet lintels, raw materials, and panels.

Vertical storage

By building upwards and utilising vertical space, cantilever racking can help to keep the floor of your warehouse clear from obstruction and maximise storage capacity. You can use cantilever racking to store stock which is accessible at height as well as within arm’s reach.

Improved safety standards

In helping to clear the floor of obstruction, and storing items out of harm’s way, there will be fewer hazards on the floor, fewer accidents, and a clearer, wider path for people and vehicles to navigate safely through the warehouse.

Indoor or outdoor use

Designed to withstand the weather, cantilever racking is suitable for both indoor and outdoor installation. This means that you can utilise the space outside your warehouse as well as inside to really maximise capacity.

Robust and long-lasting

Cantilever racking systems are built to last. They are hard-wearing and can withstand most weather conditions for many years. They can also withstand a high amount of pressure and heavy loads without compromising the integrity of the racks.

If you are considering adding cantilever racking to your warehouse, or would like advice on the best-tailored storage solution to your warehouse requirements, then get in touch with Logical Storage Solutions. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any unique storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

How to Maximise The Fixed Infrastructure Of Your Warehouse

Although you may not realise it, every warehouse has fixed infrastructure. In warehousing terms, fixed infrastructure refers to any installation in your warehouse that is static or built-in, and is essential to your warehouse’s operation.

This includes your warehouse shelving, racking, tracks, cranes, and any other stationary or fixed systems. This equipment is vital to the operation of your warehouse and tends to remain static, hence the name fixed.

The type, condition, and placement of fixed infrastructure can have a major impact on the overall efficiency of your warehouse. Read on to learn how to maximise the fixed infrastructure of your warehouse in order to maximise productivity and output.

Review the space

Before making any changes, you first need to know how much room you have to work with. Consider vertical space as well as floor space. Think about how space can be maximised by building both upwards and outwards.

Continually review the space in your warehouse to ensure all of the available space is being utilised. If you have empty space that you can think of no use for, keep it clear of obstructions so that traffic can flow through easily, whilst you decide what to do with it.

Assess the layout

You must also review the layout of the warehouse and its fixed infrastructure. Does everything flow logically through the warehouse, from station to station with minimal movement? If not, consider moving infrastructure to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Create additional routes

A variety of personnel, items, and machinery will pass through your warehouse. Having several paths through the warehouse will increase productivity. Alternate paths can allow for items of varying sizes and weights to pass through and get to their destination more quickly and efficiently.

Separate irregular pallets

Having non-conforming pallet sizes is likely to be a hindrance when it comes to maximising space. It will be difficult to store them effectively, and they are likely to cause an obstruction or take up valuable space if they are larger than your typical pallets.

If you are unable to transfer stock to standard-sized pallets, or if you have a lot of stock on irregularly sized pallets, then it may be worth getting pallet racking that is specifically designed to hold non-standard pallets. This will help in keeping your warehouse organised and free of obstruction.

Label everything

Even with fixed infrastructure, it can sometimes be difficult to find what you are looking for in your warehouse, especially if you have a lot of different items, often stock new items, or regularly relocate items.

Clearly labelling every shelf and rack within the warehouse, and having a spreadsheet that tells you where each item is stored, will help your team to quickly identify where items are. You may label your racks A-J and then have shelves 1-10 on each rack, so when you look something up, you would see it is on rack D, shelf 9.

For professional advice on how to maximise the fixed infrastructure in your warehouse, get in touch with Logical Storage Solutions. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any unique storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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.

Tips When Moving Pallet Racks

Warehouses are always evolving and adapting to improve efficiency or in response to changes in stock, demand, and business objectives. This means that the layout of a warehouse is never set in stone, and you are likely to need to move pallet racks at some point.

A great investment, pallet racking can increase your warehouse’s storage capacity, and improve organisation and productivity. Luckily, it is relatively easy to dismantle, move and rebuild, so you can continue to benefit from your investment for many years.

To minimise your chances of facing disruption, damage, or injury caused by moving pallet racking systems, here are some helpful tips to follow when moving pallet racks.

Planning your pallet rack relocation

Before moving your pallet racking, ensure that you have planned it all out. Consider your answers to the following questions:

● Where will you store the stock whilst it is not on the racking?

● How will you move the racking to its new place?

● When will cause the least disruption?

● Who will carry out the dismantling, moving, and installation?

Moving your pallet racking

Once you have a well-thought-out plan, you can carry out the unloading and dismantling of the racking, ready for relocating it.

To minimise disruption and the risk of injury or damage, the whole process should ideally be carried out by the company which installed the racking, or another professional company.

However, if you wish to dismantle your pallet racking internally, be careful not to cause any damage when dismantling the racking system, and to keep all of the pieces organised to help ensure it is put back together easily and correctly.

Re-installing your pallet racking

Moving your pallet racking rather than buying a new system can save you money, but installing it incorrectly can be costly.

This is why you must hire a professional company to re-install your pallet racking, to help prevent rack failure which can result in damage, injury, and product loss.

Having your racking system professionally dismantled and installed will help to ensure that it still meets all health and safety standards and regulations in its new location.

Adding to your pallet racking

Now is an ideal time to review your current racking system and whether you would benefit from expanding your pallet racking.

You could have a new racking system installed in conjunction with the relocation of your current racking, which may save you money compared to doing both things separately.

This will also ensure that it fits into your new plans so you do not need to move your racking again in the near future.

For professional advice and service that you can trust, get in touch with our expert team at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments including office partitions and mezzanine flooring.

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.

What To Consider When Refurbishing Your Warehouse

When done correctly, refurbishing can transform a warehouse and improve the overall efficiency of a business. To help you get the best results out of your warehouse renovation, here are some important factors to consider when refurbishing your warehouse.

Determine your needs

Before you get started, you should first think about what you want to achieve with your warehouse renovation.

Complete a review of the current warehouse and identify any areas for improvement. It may be that you need more storage space, more accessible aisles, or better lighting.

Utilise space

A common mistake when refurbishing a warehouse is not fully utilising the space to maximise storage capacity. This can be costly, as you are more likely to outgrow your warehouse faster and will need to renovate again.

Now is the time to make sure you are making the best use of the space available in your warehouse. Consider the vertical space available, as well as the floor space.

Redo your flooring

Once your warehouse has been cleared out ready for refurbishment, this will be the best chance to redo your floor. In a warehouse, you must have flat and non-slip flooring. Any dips in the flooring can cause shelving to lean which could lead to an accident.

When selecting new flooring, think about how much it will cost to maintain and keep clean, as well as how hard-wearing it is.

Improve the layout

Assess how easy it is for people and machinery to move around the warehouse currently. As well as accessibility, consider the steps taken from goods in to goods out.

Do people have to go far or backwards and forwards between each step or does it flow efficiently? Changing the layout of your warehouse for better workflow will vastly improve its efficiency.

Improve your lighting

Review the effectiveness of your current lighting. Ensure that all areas of the warehouse are sufficiently illuminated. Improving visibility in the warehouse will improve the efficiency of your workforce, and help to prevent accidents.

Is your lighting energy-efficient? Replacing your lighting with energy-efficient lighting can help to reduce costs over time.

Consider safety

Whenever you are making changes to an aspect of a business, you must ensure that this meets health and safety regulations.

Key safety features that should be in place in a warehouse include sprinkler systems, fire alarms, security systems, access control, ventilation, and good air quality.

Installation, maintenance or repairs, and electrical work should be carried out by professionals, and you should never exceed any loading capacities or height restrictions.

Whatever you need to store, and however you want to store it, rest assured that Logical Storage Solutions will have the ideal solution for you. Our expert team is on-hand to find a solution to any unique storage problem, so call us on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].

Logical Storage Solutions is an innovative provider of storage equipment and interior workspaces for both industrial and commercial environments, including office partitions, warehouse racking, and mezzanine flooring.

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

What Are The Main Reasons Why Racking Can Get Damaged?

Employers have a legal responsibility to make sure that any equipment such as racking is safe to use and that they plan for any potential risks, as per the Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (2007) and the Provisions of Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998).

Failing to protect your staff and to mitigate any potential risks can prove damaging, not only financially, but also to a business’ reputation if one of their employees is harmed in an accident.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for racking systems to become damaged, and the probability of a racking collapse is higher than you may think.

Damage can reduce the load bearing capacity of racking by as much as 40%, so it is imperative that you repair any damage to your racking as soon as possible.

Discover some of the common causes of racking damage below, and find out what you can do to prevent racking damage or collapse, in order to protect your business, employees and stock.

Common causes of racking damage

Some of the common causes of damage to racking are:

● Incorrect installation

● Inadequate repairs or maintenance

● Adjusting or re-assembling racking without proper training

● Continued use of damaged pallets which cause damage to beams

● Poor design or layout

● Overloading or poor weight distribution

● Damage by forklift trucks

How to prevent racking damage or collapse

There are many measures you can put in place and actions you can take to reduce the chances of racking damage or collapse.

If a forklift hits racking, it can cause serious damage and impair the racking. It is important that forklift truck drivers are properly trained and have a licence to operate a forklift truck.

To reduce the risk of racking collapsing or breaking, it is imperative that you have it installed by trained professionals.

Ensure that racking only bears the weight it is designed to hold. If racking is overloaded, this will put strain on the racking and can cause it to collapse.

The racking and pallets in your warehouse should be inspected regularly. If any pallets are or become broken or damaged, you should stop using these immediately, to prevent damage to your beams.

If you notice any signs of damage to your racking, this should be repaired as soon as possible. It is worth bearing in mind that damage to racking is not always visible to the untrained eye, so it is good practice to have an experienced company carry out regular inspections and repairs.

Regular maintenance and repairs is key to ensuring a long lifespan and the safety of your racking, and in keeping both the stock and employees in your warehouse protected.

As well as engineering and installing bespoke racking solutions, Logical Storage Solutions has extensive experience in performing racking inspections, and can help guide businesses to meet their legal duties and health and safety obligations.

To enquire about a new racking system for your business or to arrange a racking inspection, please call us on 0845 689 1300.

Which KPIs Should You Track When Managing A Warehouse

Measuring a warehouse’s performance is vital to gauging how efficiently it is operating. It will also help you to identify areas requiring improvement, as well as uncovering any potential problems or risks.

There are many ways to measure performance but one of the most popular methods is using key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs are used to evaluate the success of an area or activity within an organisation, such as a warehouse, against a specific set of targets.

KPIs can be financial, customer-focussed, or process-focussed. They will vary depending on the area of business or activity you wish to evaluate as their objectives will differ. For example, a sales department will have different KPIs to a warehouse.

Here are some of the most useful and important KPIs for warehouses. Implement those that are relevant to your warehouse to ensure it is running at optimal efficiency and that you are continually achieving the best results.

Receiving Efficiency

The primary purpose of a warehouse is to store goods. Naturally, this involves receiving goods. Therefore, it is important that you measure the efficiency of the receiving area of your warehouse.

You can do this by monitoring the time taken from stock being received to it being ready to put away. Record timestamps at every stage of the process then calculate the time taken between each stage and overall.

This will help you to identify which stages take the longest so that you can look at how this time can be reduced. Assigning staff to specific stages, depending on the training they have received and the skills they possess, can help to improve receiving efficiency.

Picking Accuracy

Accurate picking is essential to the smooth operation of a warehouse and the larger organisation. Incorrect picking can impact on time, cost and customer satisfaction, so it is important that it is done correctly.

You can measure the picking accuracy in your warehouse by subtracting the number of reports or returns of incorrect items from the total number of items sold, then dividing by the total number of orders, and multiplying by 100. This will give you the percentage of accurately picked orders.

To improve this percentage, make sure that your warehouse is set up in a logical way, you have appropriate systems in place, and that staff are properly trained. Quality checks should be carried out before items leave the warehouse to ensure they are correct and not faulty.

Rate of Return

As well as measuring the amount of incorrectly picked items, you should also measure the overall rate of return. Knowing how often items are returned by customers, for whatever reason, will help you to gauge customer satisfaction as a whole.

Divide the number of items returned by the total number of items sold, and times by 100. This will give you the percentage of returned items.

Breaking this down based on the reason for return will give you an insight into why items are being returned and help you to identify what improvements need to be made in an effort to reduce the rate of return.

For example, returns due to incorrect items received indicates a picking error, whereas returns due to poor quality or faults means there are issues with manufacturing and quality control.

To reduce the amount of returns you receive, ensure that product descriptions are accurate, and employees are trained on systems and stock.

Backorder Rate

Ensuring you have enough stock to fulfil orders in an appropriate time frame is essential. If a customer places an order for items that are not in stock and must wait for the item to come back in stock before the order can be fulfilled, leading to customer dissatisfaction and cancelled orders.

Measuring your backorder rate can help you to determine whether you are stocking sufficient stock. To calculate the percentage of backorders, divide the total backorders by the total number of orders, then multiply by 100.

If you are getting a lot of orders for items that are not in stock, you will have a high backorder rate. This can sometimes be accounted for by an unexpected increase in demand, but if this is happening regularly or the backorder rate is consistently high then this is a sign of poor planning, forecasting and inventory tracking.

Lead Time

The lead time is the average time taken for a customer to receive their goods after placing an order. The shorter your lead time is, the more satisfied your customers will be.

You can calculate your lead time by measuring the total time taken from a customer placing an order to the estimated delivery date, or actual delivery date if you have this information.

To calculate the average, add together all of the lead times in the same unit of time (weeks, days, hours, or minutes), then divide by the number of lead times. For example, if order A had a lead time of 6 days, order B had a lead time of 2 days, and order C had a lead time of 4 days, you would add 6, 2 and 4 together to get 12, then divide by 3 (the number of orders), to get 4. So, the average lead time in this instance would be 4 days.

As well as looking internally to identify ways to reduce your lead times, you could also use a quicker, more reliable courier service to get items to customers sooner.

There are many more KPIs that are beneficial to warehouses, but these are a good place to start and may give you some inspiration for other KPIs you could introduce that are specific to your warehouse and objectives.

For professional and tailored advice on how you can improve the productivity and efficiency of your warehouse, call our team of experts at Logical Storage Solutions on 0845 689 1300, or email [email protected].