Pallet racks are an integral tool of the materials handling industry, which makes them a key component of warehouses. These steel structures comprise of horizontal beams that support their corresponding upright frames, ensuring that you store your products systematically and securely.
For all distribution centers, the movement of inventory is vital, with the main motive being maximizing your inventory turnover. Having the perfect racking solution adds to the efficiency of your warehouse, and, in turn, equips you to compete in the global market.
Pallet racking ensures the movement of your orders in an orderly fashion. Executing the tips listed here will help optimize this very process:
Assess Your Warehouse Plan
The physical layout of your warehouse must ensure the travel time involved in the movement of goods is kept to the bare minimum. Keep all tools and equipment needed to access the products laid out within easy reach of your warehouse staff.
Allow for ample working space to enable your employees to move around with ease without having to watch their every step. Make every effort to maximize the available space while minimizing the actual handling of goods.
Customize Your Storage Units
While installing the pallet racking, bear in mind that the storage units must conform to the type of business you own. Aisles must be wide enough to allow movement of goods, whether for picking or stocking.
In the case of hardcore manufacturing units, your aisles may need to accommodate pallet jacks and forklifts. Irrespective of the nature of the business, maximize your vertical space by investing in the tallest shelving units your warehouse can accommodate.
Organize Your Inventory
Categorize the goods stored in your warehouse based on them being fast-moving or not. Keep the most valuable items closer to the parking bay, so they are quick to access with the second-best ones stacked behind. Least priority goods that you do not need to retrieve daily can occupy the topmost shelves or be placed deep within the warehouse.
Plaster Labels and Signages Wherever Warranted
Labels are the most effective communicators, and warehouses demand that you label not only your stored goods but also your aisles and racks for quicker access. Accelerate your picking procedure so that your warehouse employees do not waste time identifying the items required to be moved out.
Also, display safety hazards and signs even on pieces of equipment like forklifts where capacity alerts and clearance heights must reflect. Labeling work areas also goes a long way, leaving no scope for ambiguity.
Efficiently Receive Inventory
The receiving process dictates whether your warehouse workflow suffers or flows smoothly. Allocate a dedicated spacious area for the workers for sorting the incoming inventory and storing goods.
Utilize automated gadgets like conveyor belts, pallet jacks, and forklifts to save the time and effort involved in offloading and stacking the items received. Have a real-time inventory system in place as a constant reference point. If you notice any damage to the goods received, identify and label the same.
The golden rule here is to facilitate the daily functioning of your warehouse rather than hindering it.
