Is your warehouse operating at its best? You could be overlooking some critical warning signs.
A thorough evaluation can optimize capacity and processes, ensuring peak performance.
Watch the video below to identify these signs and improve your warehouse efficiency.
This week’s focus is on warehousing health checks, with insights from John Monk of Logistics Bureau. John discusses how these health checks can uncover inefficiencies in warehouse operations.
Common Issues Found in Warehouses
During warehousing health checks, a common observation is that warehouses often seem full, but additional space can frequently be discovered through better organization. Many clients believe their warehouses are running efficiently, yet they might be losing time due to poor layout. For example, a warehouse might appear full because aisles are congested or storage locations are not optimized. By redesigning storage layouts, such as adopting an arrow aisle configuration, capacity can sometimes be increased by 20-30%.
Innovative Solutions for Capacity
Adding mezzanine floors is a popular strategy to increase warehouse capacity. However, this approach has drawbacks. Mezzanines can be costly and may slow down operations due to the need for additional equipment like elevators. Alternative solutions include using high-density shelving or mobile equipment to improve space utilization without the need for a mezzanine. Articulated forklifts, which are used in narrow aisles, can also enhance storage efficiency by allowing for tighter aisle configurations.
Spotting Inefficiencies in Warehouse Layouts
When evaluating a warehouse, several signs indicate inefficiencies. One effective method is the “dust test,” where dust on products near the dispatch area suggests that those items are slow-moving and not optimally located. This indicates that high-turnover items should be placed closer to packing areas to reduce travel time. Additionally, observing congestion in areas such as receiving docks can reveal bottlenecks in the workflow, which can disrupt overall warehouse efficiency.
Related articles on this topic have appeared throughout our website, check them out:
- Warehouse Product Slotting: The Ultimate Guide
- The 7 Principles of Warehouse and Distribution Centre Design
- Planning a Warehouse Network and Design: Key Factors to Consider
- Spotlight on: 7 Key Warehouse Processes
- 10 Proven Principles for Best Warehouse Design and Operation
Editor’s Note: The content of this post was originally published on Logistics Bureau’s website dated December 27, 2023, under the title “Warehouse Health Checks with John Monck“.