WAREHOUSE DESIGN PLAYS A BIG PART IN YOUR OPERATIONS IF YOU WANT TO RUN A SUCCESSFULLY ACCESSIBLE WAREHOUSE.

Focusing on warehouse design opens up a world of opportunity to continuously improve your processes. Here at Bray Solutions, we have a number of ways we use efficient warehouse design to allow for maximum accessibility.

MAKING ROOM FOR ACCESSIBILITY

One of the most reoccurring obstacles with warehouses is the desperate requirement for accessibility and efficient warehouse design. Proper accessibility will support workers and allow them to complete tasks with ease, prevent and limit accidents, and keep traffic clear. Whether your warehouse is big or small, there is always a solution to improve the usability of your space.

STACK HIGH

Make the most of your warehouse height and stack shelves as high as possible (safely, of course – you can view HSEregulations here). Regardless of how tall your warehouse shelving might already be, it is very likely that there are still ways to utilise ceiling space.

MAKE YOUR RECEIVING AREA THE STAR OF THE SHOW

It doesn’t matter what products your warehouse deals with day in day out, the receiving area should remain your main focus and the biggest area of your warehouse. Staff will require a generous amount of space in order to secure a smooth streamline of new items and the number of items headed back out for delivery. Even a small amount of overload could have an effect on the rest of your warehouse if you don’t provide your workers with enough space to deal with heavier tasks.

The shipping and receiving area is the most important consideration of any warehouse, so make it the biggest area if you want to ensure everyone can keep up, even in busy times. Having enough space will prevent traffic jams and employees becoming stressed.

AIRY AISLES

Did you know that 609,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey? Blocked pathways and busy aisles is a huge safety hazard to consider in the process of warehouse design. Having enough space to travel through the warehouse safely is the key factor in efficient warehouse accessibility. Expand aisles to ensure both staff and your forklifts have room to travel with ease to prevent accidents and allow a speedy working schedule.

INTRODUCE RAMPS TO REPLACE STAIRS

Clearly, this is not a possibility for every area in the warehouse, but wherever possible, having ramps in place of staircases could improve the speed and productivity for workers and inventory as they are quicker to walk on. Particularly in high-traffic areas or anywhere that bulkier goods need to be transported, ramps are a quicker, safer way to transport stock and create space in floor traffic for other work possibilities.

CREATE ROOM FOR PERMANENT HOLDING PLACES FOR PRODUCTS

Instead of creating traffic and leaving products in a temporary landing zone, ensure your items and deliveries are processed in receiving as soon as possible and leave them in a permanent place to stay until it’s time to deliver it out into the world. Leaving merchandise lying around without having a specific holding place for it can impact your bottom line if you continue. Organisation is key.