With industrial rents and Supply Chain issues on the rise Warehouse Space is the next thing that is being hoarded (Ref: NY Times). Many manufacturing and logistics companies are taking the next steps to cope with supply and demand and that’s scooping up as much warehouse space as they can. This makes it hard for the ones that missed the last toilet paper delivery (yes we all remember the great toilet paper shortage thanks to the hoarders), but there are other things that can be done to assist with the great warehouse shortage.
Let’s walk you through some of our top tips for warehousing space and how to overcome it.
1. Make the most of all available space.
Think like Netflix sensation Marie Kondo declutter and reorganise a little at a time. Try adding taller storage units and investing in the right equipment to pick and store material. Be sure to have the right assortment of shelving. Storing small items on pallet racks wastes space, and makes it easy to misplace items. Instead of using the same racks throughout your warehouse, different types of shelving may work better for different materials. Also try using specific bins to help keep shelves neat and standardised.
2. Follow the 5S Philosophy
Continuing with Japanese philosophy, why not try adopting the 5S philosophy.
1. Sort (organise) – Sort through your tools and equipment and discard what isn’t and keep what is needed.
2. Set in order (Orderliness) – arrange whatever tools you need so that they are easily accessible
3. Shine (Cleanliness) – Clean the area
4. Standardise (Standardise) – maintain this space by scheduling regular cleaning and maintenance
5. Sustain (Discipline) – Always follow the first four steps.
3. Organise workstations
Use the 5S Philosophy here and get your workstations in ship shape so that workflow is more organised and takes up as little space as possible but enough to make you productive. Have all items close by and available to your team at all times to help increase efficiency as well as save on space.
4. Adopt the right technology
Barcoding or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) for picking and packing can increase inventory accuracy by 27 percent in just 13 weeks (According to a study at University of Arkansas).
The right Warehouse Management System can increase workflow by improving warehouse logistics, stock levels, reporting on stock and financials, and handling data from vendors and suppliers. The right system can be beneficial for the entire organisation.
We hope our Top Tips on Warehousing Space and How to Overcome It was able to assist you with your warehouse issues. We specialise in custom development and warehouse management systems so if you would like further information or help getting your warehouse in order feel free to contact us via phone on +61 2 6188 7306, email info@brainstormit.com.au or here – https://www.brainstormit.com.au/contact/.
