One of the key signs of success in business is when you outgrow your current business space. This is especially true for business owners who are experiencing increased demand for their products. You might even be considering expanding into a warehouse.
If your business is in need of one, you might be wondering what you can do to optimize your warehouse layout. We’re here to help you out. Read on to learn everything you need to know!
Separate Shipping and Receiving
When you’re shopping for warehouse spaces, you want to make sure that potential spaces have separate docks for shipping and receiving.
Why?
Each location in a warehouse should have a specific function to ensure that operations run smoothly. When shipping and receiving are in the same space, it’ll slow down the pace of business and it can lead to costly mistakes.
Imagine a pallet of outgoing orders getting reshelved, or accidentally sending back new stock.
Utilize Vertical Space
Most warehouses have tall ceilings for a reason. Storage space is critical, and you want to make the most out of your warehouse by moving your storage upward. This can be achieved through things like pallet racking to make sure that your products are stable and secure.
You’ll also want to make sure that products stored in your warehouse are done so in a logical manner. Consider storing like products together and creating a detailed numerical system that’ll allow employees to pack orders efficiently.
Optimize Your Signage
Speaking of efficient packing, you want to make sure that your warehouse is easy for your staff to navigate. This means that products should be clearly labeled and there should be easily identifiable signs placed throughout the warehouse.
You should also take into consideration how orders are picked. When an order comes through, make sure it is organized so pickers can move through the warehouse in a linear fashion.
Plan for Growth
Every business owner should have a plan for growth in mind. The same is true when designing the layout of your warehouse.
It’s important to reserve a realistic amount of space in your warehouse for future growth. This will prevent you from having to move to a larger space too soon, and it will foster the development of new products.
When choosing a space, plan on staying there for five to 10 years. This means estimating how much growth your business will experience in that amount of time. From there, create a plan for incorporating new items into your current warehouse design.
Your Warehouse Layout Is the Key to Success
Expanding your business into a warehouse is a major accomplishment, but you’re going to want to make your warehouse layout as efficient as possible. Make sure the space is large enough for growth, is appropriately labeled, and has separate areas for shipping and receiving. This will make sure that your business runs as smoothly as possible!
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