Efficient storage: explore every strategy we use to help you organise your goods efficiently.
Whatever your sector, if you run storage warehouses or automated warehouses you have to get better organised. Well-stored goods mean higher productivity, greater efficiency and time saved every day. For sound management, and above all for efficient storage, follow our guide.
Before we come to the strategies themselves, you need to establish what you need and how much storage space you have. That makes it far easier, later on, to choose the storage solutions your operation genuinely calls for.
Start by identifying the type of goods you are storing. The size and the quantity dictate how much space you will need. A warehouse can hold all manner of goods, but also materials, harvests and equipment. In short, you need enough room to give your staff easy access, make stocktaking straightforward and even bring costs down. So take the time to review your goods before you go looking for the right storage system.
Once the goods are identified, you need to establish how much space your warehouse offers for storage and optimisation systems. The approach differs according to the floor area involved: which systems you can use depends largely on the size of your warehouse, since access, safety and the ease of managing the logistics side all have to be factored in. Measure your storage space carefully.
Storing all your goods efficiently calls for innovative storage solutions, and this guide sets out several. Choose between them according to the type of goods, the quantity and the space available.
Modular systems suit small spaces and warehouses that need reorganising regularly. As the name suggests, they can be assembled and dismantled without difficulty. In a working environment, clear visibility and direct access to every item are essential. Modular storage, in the form of modules or cabinets, adapts to the space you have, even as that space changes over time. It can be wall-mounted, fitted into a corner or stood directly on the floor: the layout is yours to choose.
To avoid stockouts and picking errors on customer orders, you have to manage your inventory well. That means optimising storage, of course, but also drawing on management technology. You might use software to track stock in real time, for example. Managing inventory is an essential step for your business, because it affects the entire supply chain: poor management leads to delivery errors and delays.
Now that you know more about choosing storage solutions, it is time to focus on the space itself. Several options are open to you. Choose according to your goods and the room available in your storage space.
Floor storage, also known as bulk storage, means placing your goods directly on the warehouse floor. The method is attractive because it costs very little: no racking, no shelving, and therefore lower outlay. It does have drawbacks, though. You lose a great deal of space by not using the height, and finding particular references becomes tedious. Accidents are also more frequent with goods stored on the floor, since loads can collapse at any moment if they are not properly secured. This type of storage generally suits goods with low turnover.
Vertical storage is almost certainly the most advantageous technique for holding large volumes without taking up too much room. Using the height keeps the floor clear, and if your warehouse has high ceilings you will be able to store a great deal. Shelf racking or pallet racking gives you storage that is practical, ergonomic and safe.
The layout of your aisles and access routes should never be neglected. It allows your staff to move around freely without injuring themselves. Different types of racking can help, such as mobile racking or live storage racking. Be aware, though, that this storage method calls for wide aisles and forklift trucks to reach goods stored at height.
This type of storage is recent and still relatively unfamiliar, yet it brings costs down and eliminates picking errors. In practice, it means equipping your warehouse with automated handling machinery that stores and moves goods on its own. Automated storage saves on labour, which is no small matter. Buying the equipment represents a real financial outlay, but one that pays for itself quickly.
A well-organised warehouse is a fine thing, but bear in mind that efficient storage is not a one-off exercise. It is long-term, ongoing work: your organisation has to keep improving to stay efficient.
Monitoring performance is a vital step in confirming that your storage space is organised effectively. Tools and software exist that let you keep an eye on how your performance develops.
Never assume a well-organised warehouse stays that way. Your business almost certainly means goods coming in and going out, so your storage will not remain optimal for long. Regular adjustments are needed, along with a periodic review of your stock.
As time passes and your business develops, your storage requirements may change. That sometimes means switching solution, particularly when the volumes to be stored rise significantly. So do carry out checks and make adjustments regularly.
Training your staff is particularly important. In large warehouses where a great many goods are stored on the floor or in racking, the risk of falls, injuries and accidents is high. Staff therefore have to be trained in safety rules to keep problems to a minimum. In a storage warehouse of this kind, handling goods and placing them in racking calls for machinery such as forklift trucks, which can be very dangerous. That is why every member of your staff needs proper training throughout their career.
As this guide has shown, efficient storage rests on choosing the right methods. Different solutions exist for different needs. Whether it is floor storage, racking or automation, pick the technique best suited to the type of goods and the quantities involved. Above all, take the time to identify what you genuinely need and how much space your warehouse offers, so that you do not make the wrong choices.
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