Whether stock is kept in a small stockroom or a large warehouse, it needs to be organised well. Follow these seven tips to help make your storage space more efficient.
1. Decide on storage equipment
There are several storage equipment solutions available. The best type for a particular operation depends on the type of stock stored. Small items will benefit from being stored in bins. Larger, heavier items require shelves or racks, either wall-mounted or free-standing.
2. Use vertical space
Even if short shelves are sufficient for current stock levels, consider using taller ones that use the available vertical space. If the business expands in the future, and more items need to be stored, it’s better to start with tall shelves, rather than having to replace short shelves with taller options at a later date.
3. Clearly label bins and shelves
Workers who pick items in a warehouse need to know what stock is stored and where. A digital stock system creates labels to clearly identify stock locations. It is better for labels to have both barcodes and text, so that they can be read with a scanner and can easily be identified by looking at them.
4. Make high-demand stock accessible
High-demand stock should be easy to reach and should be placed near packing stations in retail warehouses. In manufacturing or servicing operations, identify which items are needed the most and keep them close at hand.
5. Use flexible shelving systems
Shelving needs to adapt to the stock. As a business changes and grows, the volume and type of items that need to be stored change.
Adjust the shelving to fit the stock. In a disorganised warehouse, stock and bins are stacked haphazardly. Avoid wasted space and having items piled up, making them difficult to pick.
6. Store heavy items low and lighter items high
By keeping heavy items low down and lighter ones higher up, the racks or shelving used will be stable, and there will be little risk of them toppling over. Heavy items stored at a height are more difficult to lift for workers and could cause muscle strain.
7. Regular clean ups and inspections
A clean up combines cleaning with taking a stock inventory and checking the dates on perishable goods. Identify old and very slow-moving stock that could be offered at a discounted price to clear them out.
Sometimes, during the clean-up operation, stock is found that has fallen behind other boxes and needs to be placed in its correct location.
Warehouse equipment, including trolleys, shelving and packing tables, should be regularly inspected for wear and damage. Equipment supplied by us at Steely Products is durable and requires little maintenance beyond a regular clean, but it still needs checking and should be repaired or replaced if damaged.
The most organised warehouses use premium-quality equipment. To find out about our full range of manual handling and storage equipment, give us a call at Steely Products or use the form below.
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