Newest Warehouse Design Ideas Improve Worker Productivity - Gamechanger!

Your warehouse design and layout can have a lasting impact on worker productivity and process efficiency. Hence, companies should take the utmost care to incorporate the best warehouse design ideas into their storage spaces.

Here are some warehouse design ideas that will facilitate your logistics activities.

Keep Your Inventory in Mind

The type of inventory that you possess will deeply influence your warehouse design. You must have a good idea of how much inventory you will be storing and allocate space accordingly. About a quarter of the warehouse space should be dedicated to storage only. This will allow plenty of room for free movement and other warehouse activities that are essential.

Material Handling Equipment

Take note of the material handling equipment that you will be using. If for instance, you need forklift trucks, make sure that there is enough room for them to move safely. Passages for these vehicles should be wide enough so that workers can maintain a safe distance from these vehicles. Use white tape or paint to map out the ‘road’ for forklifts; workers should avoid walking here.

Future Proof Your Warehouse

You should create a forecast of future growth in operations and design your warehouse accordingly. This will prevent your warehouse from becoming overcrowded too soon.

Layout Design

You can use CAD packages or other software to design your warehouse layout. The workflow and processes should be indicated on the layout itself. Clearly mark the stations at which key functions need to be carried out like loading, unloading, picking, sorting, packing, shipping and reception. Allocate enough space for all vital functions.

Show the design to managers and workers and listen carefully for their input and feedback. Take note of their recommendations and include them in the layout. You should then show them how you incorporated their recommendation in your warehouse design.

Don’t forget that the height of the warehouse is an asset. So you should discuss the most feasible height for shelves and racks.

Don’t Forget Lighting

You should show clearly on the warehouse map where lights will be placed and what their strength will be. adequate lighting is essential for worker safety. It will also help workers to quickly locate items of interest and thus boost their productivity.

Storage Analysis

Use your previous storage data as well as forecasts to calculate the needed space. Depending on the kind of inventory you have, you will need to commit shelves and racks accordingly. You should discuss with managers and workers about how deep and high they should be so that there is no space shortage issue in the long term.

Mobile Workstations

Mobile workstations are the hottest game changers in the logistics and warehousing field. These are mobile command posts for your warehouse staff that can be moved easily at will to a different location thereby allowing for flexibility.

They can store computer equipment and peripherals safely. You can also stash thermal label printers, barcode scanners and other warehouse tools easily in the drawers. What’s more, you can shift them without a fuss so that your equipment is close at hand wherever you need it.

MIDCOM offers mobile workstations for your warehouse to help barcode labeling and scanning. Talk to a Specialist now at (800) 643-2664 .