8 Considerations in Warehouse Space Planning
Warehouse design and layout can directly affect the business operations and range from assembly to manufacturing ordering fulfillment. If you plan any shipping operation or design the space for assembly or manufacturing a warehouse space, planning will help you maximize products and minimize cost. Before putting your effort and time into planning a new building take desired steps for increasing the space available in your warehouse. Try getting rid of any junk equipment that is lying there for long and is no more required. Use a quick delivery system and short runs for reducing inventories. Racks should be used to increase storage capacity. These are the few considerations that can help you out in planning your warehouse space effectively, let’s know more about space planning in the warehouse:
Electrical Requirements:
If you are having a fleet of stock pickers and lift trucks, you should ensure the facility can support the charging issues. Even mid and small-sized facilities can pose many challenges. One solution is to run a new service, but it will require permits and take a lot of time. A quick solution is to ask the lift truck manufacturer for an alternate charger.
Total Square Feet:
Every step requires space; it is essential to take your account inventory and order volume growth. Be sure to know how much space you require for inspection, receiving, and product staging. If you have a dedicated pick zone, you need to know the bulk storage about clear height and inventory picking. To plan your warehouse efficiently, you can reach out to https://www.assetbuilding.com.au/, for the best experts to help you out.
The flow of activities:
While planning space for the warehouse, a logical sequence for operations is desirable. The uninterrupted and controlled movement of people, traffic, and material should be included in planning. The core aim here should be to position and site the warehouse activities to contribute to the smooth flow for warehouse operation with minimal disruption and movement.
Stack Height:
The stack height is the usable height for storing supplies, inventory, or products within shelving and racking. It can be measured from the ground for ductwork, lights, sprinkler heads to the concrete pads. It is essential to know about the maximum pallet height and height you are planning to use in storing and the minimum clear height. If the building you have chosen has a lower height, you need to have more square feet for storage. While keeping a check on height, know about local code requirements as many municipalities have specific requirements of heights ranging from 18 to 36 from the sprinkler heads to clearance.
Accessibility:
The objective of the warehouse design is always to facilitate the execution for the desired purpose effortlessly. Have a lookout for various accessibility issues to know your space. Using faulty equipment and miscalculation of space between the racks or improper visibility can cause reduction inaccessibility. These are the few measurements that should be considered while planning your warehouse space.
Product Specifications:
For determining the appropriate processes and technologies for implementing in your facility. It is essential to know the firm and the product specification. Knowing about the type of product and its characteristics will allow you to know how it can be handled?. Weight distribution, fragility, size, and various other factors are a few considerations you need to consider while selecting the inventory and handling various other solutions.
Throughput:
The Throughput refers not only to the category of products that are parting through the warehouse but also to the products’ nature and the flow velocity. At this moment, the product’s nature means the characteristics of handling, dimensions, and other factors, leaving a lasting impact on movement through flow like bulk, fragility, compatibility, hazard, etc.
The product’s velocity will trigger the consideration of volume moving through space regularly. For minimizing the activity levels, the pick period activities should be considered.
Fire and Safety:
Knowing about the product characteristics and specifications, your state’s storage and sprinkler requirements should be implemented. Ensure that the correct placement of sprinkler head, water capacity, and flow for the building is included in safety measures. Implementation of employee safety and local building codes should be considered while planning your warehouse.
