To make the most of your warehouse space, items and equipment need to be stored so that they match your warehouse workflow process. You want to have maximum control over how materials, people, and traffic move with minimum interruption. In this endeavor, cross-flow clashes are your enemy.
You need to organize items based on how they move and their relevance. You might use storage bins to store seasonal and popular articles in an area that is easily accessible. Non-seasonal items and items used with less frequency may be stored in a harder-to-access area in the warehouse.
You want to strike a balance between movement and size. Small and faster-moving items can be stored near loading bays. However, faster-moving and large items may be kept a little farther back but in slots relatively close to the smaller items. Additionally, if items are typically purchased together, keep them in the same zone. This will make it easier to find them and pick them.
Keeping Storage Hazards to a Minimum
Part of managing warehouse storage is keeping safety issues to a minimum. Hazardous items need to be stored far away from things that could react with them. Make sure to utilize heavy-duty plastic storage bins for equipment that could damage the rest of your warehouse and injure employees. Sturdy containers are much less likely to break open when they are being carried. If you are storing chemicals, safety data sheets should be used. Safety labels, such as chemical identification labels, will make it easier for employees to know where hazardous materials are stored and what precautions to take.
Keep Safety Equipment on Hand
Firefighting equipment, sprinkler systems, safety equipment, ventilators, and spill control mechanisms should work properly and be reviewed periodically. This helps with storage by reducing potential damage to property, protecting employees’ lives, and reducing inventory loss in the case of a compromising incident.
Use Locator Systems
Use intelligent barcodes that communicate with a network to track every product. This way, you know where your items are regardless of if they are in a warehouse, out on the retail floor, or even in the shopping cart of a customer. These trackers help you keep your warehouse organized and give you a good idea of how your merchandise is moving.
RFID tags save you time when compared to sifting through lots to find the required item. These tools are convenient if you are relocating product SKUs or changing the names of different products.
Create a Hassle-free Experience
Maximize your warehouse storage by identifying the type and nature of the items you store. Use warehouse management systems along with locator systems to accelerate the pick and pack times for items.
