Planning Your Warehouse Layout (Part 1)

Changing the layout of your warehouse is an important decision to make, but one that must be done at times if you’re going to properly accommodate a new product line or if you want to add greater flexibility to the operations of your warehouse. However, when it comes down to creating an effective warehouse layout, you need to do a lot of planning to ensure that is a success.

To break it down a little more easily, the planning process should go in 6 steps:

• Defining objectives
• Collecting information
• Analysis
• Creating a plan
• Implementation
• Post-implementation

As we’re experts in pallet racking, we know what goes into making a great warehouse, so we’re going to run through this process with you so that you can implement your new layout effectively.

Define your Objectives

When it comes to deciding on a new layout for your warehouse, you need to clearly define your objectives. These objectives should be directly aligned with the overall warehousing strategy of the company.

These objectives can be defined at a number of levels – from the larger scale needs of the company, to the smaller wants of your employees. Your high level objectives will be those that will reduce the overall costs, or ones that will make your warehouse, and the workers within more efficient.

Your smaller scale objectives are those that have little to no impact on the day to day running, but can be made in the process without having to go out of your way. These can be design ideas made by staff members, or even ways to save a little extra space within the warehouse.

Collecting Information

If you’re going to change the plan of your warehouse, you’re going to need to collect some specific information so that your plan is as effective as it can be. This means collecting the specifications of the warehouse itself, which can be found in the architectural drawings – you want to be looking out for anything that can affect storage and material handling.

These details should include a physical map of the warehouse space to show columns, doors, height restrictions, docks and storage racks.

With all that information, you can move onto analysing the situation so that you can figure out what exactly needs to be done, the time frame you have to do it, etc.

Be sure to check in with us again soon for the next part in this series on changing your warehouse’s layout.

Here at Pallet Racking Direct, we specialise in providing the very best racking systems – from warehouse pallet racking to narrow aisle pallet racking – so we can help with any of your racking needs. For more information, contact us on 01444 220 290 and speak with one of our professional team today.

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