Warehouse Design: Preparing for Uncertainty

Many businesses face the prospect of whether they should turn down or accept more business. Whether it be taking advantage of a discount from a supplier, or tapping into a seasonal spike in demand, they have to make a decision. In most cases, they must grab it when the opportunity arises. It’s not about greed, but if businesses aren’t flexible and can’t support an increasing number of SKUs, their competitors will swoop in and take away market share.

Warehouse Design

This amassing of SKUs eventually leads to a space constraint, but this essentially becomes a work ‘hazard’. At the rate at which some industries grow, it would be foolish to not expand when you can. When faced with spacing limits, managers usually have two options. The first is to look at reconfiguring the warehouse. While this is a relatively easy option, you may not be able to continue doing so as time passes. If they choose the option of relocating, they must face the complicated world of warehouse pricing.

It’s confusing because everything, from how tasks should be performed to how products are stored, can affect the cost of storage. Despite the situation, this can be rectified if you follow some guidelines during the design phase. This includes the following:

• Identifying the priorities i.e. what SKUs they carry and how they can efficiently carry them.
• Allowing for as much uncertainty as possible, such as addressing the possibility of running out of space from the unset. What methods can you use to minimise space used?
• Ensure the solution doesn’t prevent you from using the building to its full potential.

Uncertainties

Keeping these guidelines in mind, many warehouses can be built in a way that allows agile adaptation to any future doubts. Here are some of the biggest challenges faced by warehouses when addressing uncertainties:

• Identifying the real space that consumes the building and how it can be used more efficiently. Does it come down to poor design or the use of the wrong type of racking?
• Noting any space in the building that isn’t being utilised, such as vertical space over shipping areas or docks.
• Positioning the building so that you have an ‘escape route’. This deals with how the building is sited on the land, so that when expansion is needed, it can be done with minimal cost and disruption to operations.

With continuous doubt in the warehousing industry, due to fast-paced SKUs, shorter lead times and more business shipping direct-to-customer, it’s important that businesses are ready for any uncertainties that may occur.

Designing for the future doesn’t necessarily mean buying the largest warehouse space possible. It’s more about smart design. Combining mezzanines with different racking designs can keep a distribution centre compact, yet effective.

Talk to Monarch

When it comes to choosing the right racking and shelving for your warehouse, bigger doesn’t always mean best. At Monarch Shelving, we will work with you to design a storage solution that plays to your strengths, now your weaknesses. Whether it be installing a mezzanine or reconfiguring the space to carry more SKUs, Monarch Shelving Limited has what you need. Get in touch to find out more.