When it comes to creating a warehouse plan that makes optimal use of your warehouse equipment, some managers think their retrieval method should dictate how their warehouse is laid out. That’s a tempting way to approach things since you’ll be using your lift equipment on what’s most likely a daily basis. But when it comes to warehouse planning, while it’s important to keep your lift equipment and other retrieval methods in mind, it definitely shouldn’t dictate your layout.
Struggling with your warehouse planning and layout? Our team can help. We’ll take your existing warehouse equipment and help you develop an optimized plan to maximize space and storage capacity. Get in touch with us today to get started.
Why You Should Focus Planning on Pallet Rack Shelving
When it comes to replacing your warehouse equipment, your pallet rack shelving will likely outlast every other item in your warehouse. Lift equipment technology changes at a much quicker rate. Machines come out that require less aisle space, can lift higher, and are less costly to run. But shelving technically isn’t likely to change; a shelf is pretty much a shelf, after all. Even if you do get new pallet rack shelving, you should be able to integrate the new shelves in with your old shelves without too much of a hassle.
So focusing on the more permanent structure in your warehouse–the pallet rack shelving–is the smart move. Before you start making your warehouse plan and layout, though, take some time to think about whether or not it’s time to upgrade your lift equipment. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Some new lift equipment on the market requires significantly less aisle space. That means you could narrow up your aisles and increase your storage capacity without expanding your square footage.
- Newer equipment could be less costly to run. If your current equipment requires repair work frequently, for instance, it may be cheaper to invest in new equipment than it would be to continue to fix and run the old stuff.
- You might find new equipment is safer. A lot of new equipment comes with advances in safety equipment, too. They are built to keep your team safer, reducing on-the-job accidents which can lower your overall expenses.
If you think it might be time to upgrade this important warehouse equipment, talk to the DAK Equipment & Engineering team. They’ll help you find the right equipment for your warehouse at a fair price.
How to Create a Good Warehouse Layout
Creating a really great warehouse layout is a lot of work. You’ll need to focus on a number of factors:
- Workflow. Think about how the process in your warehouse starts and how it ends. Set up your warehouse so your team is taking as few steps as possible in order to speed up the process.
- Current equipment and future equipment needs. Is your current warehouse equipment meeting your needs? What about your needs a year from now or five years from now? Create a layout that gives you what you need now as well as in the future.
- Product size. What you carry and the size of your average pallets and cartons will dictate a great deal about your layout. If you have seasonal products, you’ll want to make sure you are set up for that, too.
It’s a big job, but it’s not one that you’l have to do on your own. If you want to optimize your warehouse layout, talk to the DAK Equipment & Engineering team. We can help you create a warehouse layout using your existing equipment so you can optimize your space and your productivity. Get started by contacting us today.
