How to maximise warehouse storage efficiency

Elevate the day-to-day operations of your business by maximising warehouse efficiency. By doing so, you can create more storage space, reduce costs, and streamline your processes.

Enhancing productivity and encouraging the workplace to run more smoothly is the key to the success of your business. In this article, we’ll be exploring the various techniques on how to operate your warehouse more efficiently.

The key role of warehouse layout

You’ll likely face capacity and storage issues if you don’t operate with a proper warehouse layout design. This will, in turn, reduce overall productivity levels and disrupt your operations.

When considering your layout design, you must factor in storage capacity and space for automation, material handling equipment, and other essential pieces of machinery that are needed to run your business. Ensure you are utilising every inch of space possible, especially if you’re managing a distribution centre.

It’s important that your design is flexible and can accommodate any changes required by the business, if necessary. You shouldn’t develop a restricted layout that isn’t scalable. And, you must avoid unnecessary congestion and overcrowding as this can cause potential hazards.

Using floor storage

Floor storage is incredibly versatile and can help reduce costs in your warehouse. Also referred to as block stacking, floor storage is where goods are placed directly on the floor, rather than you having to invest in separate storage units.

High-turnover items are best stored this way as it makes them easier to locate for order picking. While this technique is cost-effective, it may cause more work for the operators who are trying to locate the goods, prepare orders, or replenish inventory.

Automation

Automated storage and retrieval systems are used to move goods throughout the warehouse with ease and efficiency. Automatic handling equipment, such as suction lifters and stacker cranes, is excellent for increasing the speed at which goods are selected, processed, and shipped out.

Investing in this equipment means you’ll be limiting cost overruns, as this machinery is extremely reliable and robust. You won’t need to worry about unnecessary costs wasted on errors in storage and preparation tasks.

Consider using software

High-quality, modern software and technology can help make your warehouse operations more efficient. Warehouse management systems are simple to use and designed to support your staff and how you operate as a business.

Used to supervise and support the logistics of your business, warehouse management systems can monitor inventory levels, organise any incoming goods, and help to locate stock. And, many include handy inventory control tools which notify your staff that stock needs replenishing.

Depending on the intricacies and the scale of your business can help you determine whether or not you should invest in the improved application of software.