7 Warehouse Shelving Tips to Keep Your Operations Flowing
There are plenty of very valid reasons why you would want to keep your warehouse in good order with everything stacked neatly and the aisles nice and clear.
A couple of those reasons would be worker safety, as it is easier and safer to work in an environment that is not cluttered and disorganized, plus there is the advantage of faster warehouse stock picking when all of your stock is neatly stored.
Here are some pointers on how to keep your warehouse fit for purpose and the goods flowing in and out of the shelves as efficiently as possible, including why you have to be mindful of safety and suggestions regarding safety planning, a reminder about why an inventory system is so crucial.
Safety is a top priority
A warehouse is often a busy environment where everyone is trying to get their job done to a deadline but it’s never a good idea to disregard health and safety procedures in an effort to keep the operation flowing and get the orders out on time.
A good way of helping to ensure that rigorous safety standards are adhered to is to invest in the right industrial shelving for the type of business and products you are selling.
You will want to have a shelving system that is able to cope with the weight burden you are subjecting it to with the products you are storing, and it needs to be durable enough to withstand plenty of picking activity on a daily basis.
You might want to check out this company, for instance, to get an idea of the warehouse storage systems that are available so that you can plan your own bespoke arrangement that works for your business and keeps safety in mind as a top priority.
Creating a blueprint for success
One of the main things on your agenda when you are setting out to create a warehouse flow plan is to map out where you want the shelving to be placed so that item placement is achieved with the highest degree of efficiency.
It always pays to take the time to draw out a plan of where your warehouse shelves are going to go, what height you want them to be, and how close they need to be to other items in the warehouse.
Height is a definite issue as any installation that is above head height will require some thinking about how workers are going to reach the items above them as safely as possible.
Try to imagine going through the whole picking process from start to finish using your blueprint and see if your warehouse design allows everything to flow as smoothly as you want it to.
Everything needs to be secure
Finding a place on the shelf for every item being stored in your warehouse is one part of the equation but you also need to be mindful of the fact that everything needs to be as secure as possible in order to avoid the prospect of anything falling or tipping, causing potential injury and damage.
It needs to be commercial quality shelving that you are installing in your warehouse as these are specifically designed to be able to withstand heavier and bulkier items.
As well as ensuring that your shelving is durable enough to cope with its anticipated weight load it needs to be solid enough in construction to not tip and sway at any point.
It is often the case that your shelving system will need to be secured against a wall or to the floor so that it stays in place and reduces the prospect of an accident happening, such as it tipping over.
Pay attention to weight limits
Even when you install high-grade warehouse shelving that is designed to cope with industrial-weight loads there is always going to be an upper limit as to what it can actually withstand from a weight-bearing perspective.
Calculate the maximum weight load it can cope with and make sure that everyone working in the warehouse is aware of those weight restrictions and limitations.
Maintain your shelving
You will expect to get a long life out your shelving system once it is installed and if you buy right you can expect it to cope with a fair degree of regular wear and tear.
However, it is not unreasonable to expect some sort of minor damage to occur or fixings to come loose if they have been knocked or not secured properly in the first place.
The mantra when it comes to getting the maximum life out of your warehouse shelving is to repair as needed and replace and repair any damaged or missing item immediately.
That way you will get a better return on your investment and you will be improving your health and safety standards at the same time.
Create a mapping system that works
It’s all very well installing a top quality warehouse shelving system but your warehouse is only going to function to maximum efficiency if you have an inventory system that allows you to find everything as quickly as possible.
Be mindful of creating a stock and mapping system that gets the best out of your warehouse space and the storage system you have in it.
Search out a bespoke solution
Finally, it is well worth reiterating that each warehouse space is unique and that means that there is no standard solution that you can buy and expect it to work for you.
Each warehouse project takes on its own life and has its own specific challenges, so take your time creating a bespoke solution that works for your business.
Your warehouse is a working environment that always has to be mindful of safety as well as functioning efficiently for everyone using the space.
Spend time getting your warehouse setup just right and the payback will be an operation that runs like clockwork and products fly off the shelves in the most efficient and safest way possible.
