Even when a business is doing well it can still be a gamble to move premises. The costs involved and the difficulty in finding the perfect location elsewhere often leaves many business owners scratching their heads as to what the best solution is. However, the best answer often lies not right under the noses, but right above their heads.
Whether seasonal pressures build for your business during the lead up to Christmas, Black Friday, Cyber Monday or other industry related times of the year, it can be a challenge to keep up. If your warehouse is bursting at the seams then one of the best things you can do is conduct a thorough assessment of your premises. Walk around your warehouse and take note of any space that is currently unused – you might find that you are surprised by the results. Often room that you wouldn’t have even thought about using could be put to use and space elsewhere could be better organised.
One of our most popular solutions for businesses that are struggling for space is that of a mezzanine floor. Mezzanine floors make use of space that would otherwise be wasted. As warehouses tend to be quite tall there is often a lot of overhead space that can be taken advantage of, creating a new platform for a variety of tasks. Whether that new space is used for picking and packing, storage or even office space is entirely your decision, but either way it will increase the amount of room you have available and help you better meet the demands of a busy period for your business.
Another option to free up space is to utilise shelving or racking. From pallet racking to long span shelving and more there are lots of different options available that can help you to better manage your inventory and in turn reduce the amount of time it takes you or your employees to perform a task – reducing distribution times and improving the bottom line for your business.
Logical Storage specialise in both industrial and commercial storage equipment and offer a wide range of innovative products to increase your available storage and also improve productivity. We know that no two businesses are the same which is why we prepare quotes fully tailored towards your business and its unique needs. For more information and to talk to one of our experienced team please call us now on 0845 689 1300.
Many warehouses and factories in the UK rely heavily on racking for their daily duties. Using them to store large quantities of items in a safe and secure manner, they provide the backbone to many of their operations. However, despite this, when it comes to inspecting and repairing vital equipment, racking often gets overlooked in favour of other tools or equipment and is rarely looked after until it’s too late.
Sadly, all too often racking is forgotten when it comes to reviewing how safe and stable equipment is. However, failing to address issues can have a devastating effect on a business. A piece of damaged equipment can reduce load bearing capacity by as much as 40%. It can also lead to the collapse of racking which can endanger both stock and staff.
Despite what you may be thinking, quality racking is not inherently flawed nor is it very easily damaged. More often the problems instead tend to come from human error. Adjusting or re-assembling racking without proper training or guidance can cause racking to become ineffective or unstable. Overloading racking beyond its capacity can do the same and accidents with fork lift trucks impacting racking can be quite common and are part and parcel of a busy warehouse environment.
The key to ensuring a long lifespan for your racking is to undergo regular inspections. This allows the opportunity to carry out both urgent repairs and preventative maintenance which will ensure your racking and stock remains protected and your business can continue to function well. To be absolutely confident in your racking you should have a professional company look at your racking at least once a year.
To learn more about Logical Storage’s rack inspections, please click here, or contact us on 0845 689 1300 to discuss your needs.
We all get to the point in the day where we need a break; in fact it’s essential in order to catch our breath and work out our priorities for the remainder of the day. However, for many businesses the break area is a space which often comes very low on the list of priorities. If renovation is going to happen then it will more frequently take place in client facing areas such as reception areas, meeting rooms and bathrooms. However, with so many businesses suffering from high rates of absenteeism among their employees, it makes perfect business sense to begin investing in their health and well being. Having a comfortable, clean and functional break area is a good place to start.
The essentials of a staff break room are of course, tables, chairs and some kind of cooking facilities – even just a kettle, microwave or fridge. However, many businesses today often take their break areas a step further incorporating leisure activities like ping pong tables, pool tables and even electronic gaming machines. Together with comfortable furniture and a relaxing colour scheme, these types of changes can make a big difference to the morale of your employees who know that they have somewhere to relax after a particularly stressful morning. Extra added touches not only keep your current employees satisfied but also provide an extra ‘feather in your cap’ when showing job candidates around your premises. How better to show that you genuinely care about the well being of your employees.
If your company operates within an open plan area such as a warehouse then you may believe it would be difficult for you to create such a break area, however with the use of office partitions or mezzanine flooring, it can easily be done. Mezzanine floors can be built quickly and make the most of overhead space that would normally be wasted, while office partitions can be an ideal solution for a private lunch area with glass or normal wall partitions. What’s more, both of these types of solutions can be customised and erected as temporary structures should the need to relocate your business arise in the future.
Here at Logical Storage we know that no two businesses are the same and you may need a combination of different solutions to help create space in your warehouse. For a tailored proposal designed to meet the specific needs of your business, call us on 0845 689 1300.
Any business is pleased when orders begin flying out the doors. However, while an increase in demand for your products is a positive thing, it can also provide headaches if you aren’t adequately prepared to deal with it. An increase in sales can put pressure on your staff and your infrastructure, which can eventually leave question marks over whether or not your warehouse or other business premises can sustain growth. However, there are some solutions out there to help you cope.
One way to meet growing demand and cope with the pressures of added work is to consider outsourcing some of your duties. This might mean asking another experienced and trusted business to help handle some of your work, for example by handling your human resources work, sales or even order fulfilment. However, many business owners are understandably wary of outsourcing work away from their watchful eye.
An alternative to outsourcing work would be to ask your employees to work longer hours. The added time clocked in may allow for more work to be done and you can ensure that it meets your standards. However, asking your employees to work longer hours can often lead to poor morale, higher levels of absenteeism and may cause the quality of work to suffer. You could also consider employing another member of staff, but should the growth in your business not sustain itself you may find that you are left with an employee that is surplus to your requirements and hard to get rid of.
In our opinion there are better alternatives available to businesses when it comes to meeting demand. One way to adapt your business during a high pressure period is to consider how you can improve the layout of your site. Are there processes that could be sped up by better organisation – such as by using pallet racking or long span shelving? Both of these solutions can allow you to better organise your stock and provide you with more space and flexibility in your operations. A further way to increase your storage capacity is to consider installing a mezzanine floor. A mezzanine floor makes the most of the vertical space in your warehouse and allows you to operate in space that would normally be wasted. You can then use this newly created space to house machinery, equipment or better organise your current stock.
Logical Storage’s experienced team can help your warehouse to perform to its maximum potential. For more information on our racking solutions, mezzanine floors and office partitions please visit http://www.logicalstorage.co.uk/. Alternatively, please call us on 0845 689 1300 for a tailored proposal.
Racking damage is unfortunately part and parcel of running a warehouse and no matter how carefully you guard against it there is always the chance that something can happen under your nose which greatly reduces the load bearing capacity of your racking and as a result puts your employees in danger.
One of the biggest causes of racking damage is when a forklift truck driver accidentally knocks into racking. While you can guard against this with good training and safety lines, you can never completely remove the danger of human error leading to an accident. It’s important that you follow good practices and if a pallet is identified as being damaged you should quickly remove it from use and have it repaired before being put back into action. Continued use of damaged pallets can cause problems with your beams.
Damage to your racking, no matter how small, can have a huge impact on your systems and reduce the amount of weight that it can hold. This in turn can lead to a disastrous collapse which at the very least puts your stock at risk and at the very worst endangers your employees. If an accident were to happen in your workplace, would you be confident that you had done everything you could to prevent it? Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act (2007) you can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of management failures and breaching your duty of care.
However, just because damage to racking is very likely doesn’t mean that there is nothing that can be done about it. By organising periodic reviews of your racking with a professional company you can quickly identify small signs of wear and tear before they develop into something much worse.
Logical Storage is highly skilled in spotting the often hard-to-find signs of racking degradation. We carry out regular reviews for a number of businesses helping them to keep their systems in good working order and to maintain their legal obligations under the Health & Safety Act. To find out more please call us on 0845 689 1300.
One of the biggest concerns that many businesses have with moving premises is the risk of losing customers. Businesses spend many years building up their reputation and establishing a loyal base of customers and there is potential for losing them by relocating somewhere different.
However, it is possible to expand and upgrade your facilities without leaving your current site. This allows you to maximise your businesses capabilities without having to endure the cost, time and effort that comes with uprooting. This is especially the case at a time when purchasing commercial property comes at such a high cost.
An effective solution to this problem comes in the shape of mezzanine flooring. This is a type of flooring which can make the most of the upper areas of your building – space which would normally be wasted. Many warehouses, factories, retail units, car showrooms, restaurants and many other types of units have vertical space which could be used to create additional room. This space can then be used to house new assembly lines, racking, seating area, toilets, meeting rooms, whatever it is that you need to make space for.
What’s more, the process of installing and erecting a mezzanine floor can be over in just a matter of weeks. This is much less stressful for you when compared with moving to a new property which will often take a very long time when you bear in mind the time it takes to find a suitable property, raise the capital to purchase it, sell your current premises, wait for all the formalities to take place, inform your customers and employees and actually move in to your new site.
If you are interested in finding out how your business could benefit from mezzanine flooring please contact us on 0845 689 1300 and request a tailored proposal. Alternatively, click here to find out more about our mezzanine flooring options.
One of the biggest mistakes that any type of employer can make is to underestimate their legal responsibilities, namely their duty of care as described 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’s reputation if one of their employees is harmed in an accident.
While racking is a fantastic form of storage and can help businesses to optimise their operations, they are not immune from damage and must be regularly inspected for cracks and structural failure. This is why we regularly undertake racking inspections for businesses who are looking to stay on the right side of their Health & Safety obligations.
One of the most common reasons for racking to become damaged is through a lack of planning. If items are too heavy or stored in a way which does not properly distribute their weight then they can overload the structure which will then begin to break down over time. So it is important to make sure you don’t exceed capacity and overload your racking.
Another reason for damage is when forklift drivers accidentally reverse or accelerate into a racking system and cause damage to its structure at speed. Collisions can be quite common in a warehouse so where possible you should look to implement protection such as column guards and make sure that aisles are wide enough and are clear of any obstructions.
Particularly bad damage to racking can cause a structure to collapse altogether. This can be brought about from broken beams, racking that isn’t properly secured to the floor and generally poor racking systems that are badly designed.
The best way to avoid your racking becoming damaged is to regularly undertake racking inspections which minimise the risk of an accident which can damage stock, injure employees and incur financial loss.
We can provide your business with a detailed and comprehensive report of your racking which highlights any damage, missing components or structural imperfections putting you at risk. We will also prepare a detailed AutoCAD drawing which highlights locations requiring attention. If you would like to find out more please call us on 0845 689 1300.
Having your employees call in sick is part and parcel of running a business, but does it really have to happen so frequently? Here we look at some ways that you can reduce absenteeism in your workforce.
While there are obvious ways to reduce illness from spreading amongst your employees such as improving workplace hygiene and ensuring that employees remain off work until they are no longer contagious, there are other ways that you can reduce absenteeism which can have a real impact too.
Making your business premises a pleasant place to work can pay dividends in terms of the morale of your employees and thus the amount of sick days that they tend to take. When looking at how you can reduce absenteeism and look after your employees there are three key areas that you should focus on – organisation, health & safety and morale.
A workplace which is poorly optimised puts needless pressure on your employees making them work harder than they need to. This is why it is important to periodically review your processes and see if there are any opportunities to streamline your operations and relieve some pressure. Consider using mezzanine floors to house new machinery, assembly lines, workspaces or innovative racking and shelving solutions.
A workplace which is dangerous and has faulty equipment puts your employees at risk of injury. If you don’t carefully follow guidelines then you risk serious accidents occurring which could put employees out of work beyond just a few days at a time. Protect your workers and your reputation by carrying out regular risk assessments.
Finally, research shows that employees who enjoy their working environment are less likely to fall ill and phone in sick to work. So take a look at how you can improve your surroundings. Consider office partitions which can be used to create a bright, well lit area where you and your employees can take a well earned break.
Based in the Midlands, Logical Storage Solutions create solutions for businesses with an emphasis focussed on quality, attention to detail and customer satisfaction. We provide a wide range of solutions for businesses from racking and shelving to mezzanine floors and office partitions. For a tailored proposal designed to meet your specific needs please contact us on 0845 689 1300.
There is no one correct method to effectively running a warehouse and the particular way that you operate will always depend on the nature and needs of your business. However, there are some universal practices which should be adhered to and there are mistakes that can have, or may already be having, an overwhelmingly negative impact on your operations that you may not be aware of.
Poor organisation
An efficient and well organised warehouse space is absolutely essential to the profits of your business. Reducing the amount of time and effort it takes to carry out a task by utilising mezzanine flooring, shelving and racking solutions can have an impressive impact on your picking rate and reduce any unnecessary wastage.
Poor Health and Safety management
While Health and Safety regulations can sometimes seem like an unnecessary burden to businesses, the consequences when something goes wrong are often far worse. Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act a business can be found culpable for harm that comes to workers due to neglect of your duty of care. This means it is incredibly important to carry out regular inspections of your equipment to make sure they are safe to use.
Neglecting staff needs
It has been proven time and time again that looking after your employees can have a positive impact on your business, reducing levels of absenteeism and making your employees more productive. Investing a small amount of money in creating a partitioned area for a quiet lunch area, toilets or office area for your employees can go a long way towards making their work day more enjoyable.
Here at Logical Storage, we know that no two businesses are the same and you may need a combination of different solutions to help optimise your warehouse. For a tailored proposal designed to meet the specific needs of your business, call us on 0845 689 1300.
Good management is the key to making sure that your warehouse can meet the demands of your clients and customers in the months and years ahead. This means not only ensuring that your employees work in a safe and practical manner but also that your warehouse is well organised to cope with the ebb and flow of seasonal trade.
As we begin 2017, many business owners will be looking at how best they can achieve their targets and goals for the year ahead. Here at Logical Storage we have extensive experience putting together combinations of storage solutions for businesses that help them to do exactly that.
One of the first examples of how a business can benefit from our storage solutions is that of a mezzanine floor. Continually one of the most popular solutions available, a mezzanine floor helps to maximise the space already available to you in your warehouse, reducing the need for relocation and allowing you to make more efficient use of your space.
Office partitions provide another route for improving your operations in your warehouse. An office partition can provide you with the space you need to conduct important meetings with clients and customers, make private phone calls, a space to do paperwork or create an area for your employees to take their lunch.
A third way that you can make the most of the room in your warehouse is to consider racking and shelving solutions, which are a fantastic way to better organise your inventory. An experienced storage provider can help you to choose a system which is best suited to your operations, be it pallet racking systems like wide aisle or dynamic push back, or shelving solutions like carton flow and longspan.
Here at Logical Storage we know that no two businesses are the same and you may need a combination of different solutions to help create space in your warehouse. For a tailored proposal designed to meet the specific needs of your business, call us on 0845 689 1300.
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