To keep your warehouse up and running, a lot of factors play a pivotal role. From the number of workers present at a particular time and quality equipment to the appropriate type of shelving, everything needs to be according to the requirements of your business so that a smooth demand and supply process is ensured.
Due to the varying needs of businesses, warehouse layout and storage requirements cannot be standardized. A particular type of shelving cannot be used in all circumstances. As a matter of fact, your business can undergo huge losses if the wrong type of shelving is installed, as it can damage the product, hurt employees, and impact work efficiency. Therefore, you need to consider a lot of factors when choosing shelving for your specific warehouse. The right shelving ensures compliance, the safety of the workers, adequate storage space for the items, cost-effectiveness, and error-free processes.
If you are planning to buy new shelving for your warehouse or garage, here are some of the most important aspects to consider before you finalize an option. Many of the points mentioned below will also help homeowners, shop owners, or small businesses to narrow down their choice of shelving units that they want to buy.
Material of Shelving
When you are planning to buy shelving units, it’s vital to go for a durable, sturdy option to store items for a long time. You don’t want to spend money for replacement in the near future, nor go for shelving that would get damaged quickly. Choose the material that can withstand wear and tear.
While the shelves could be of materials like wood and plastic and have elements made of glass, most of these do not pass standard fire regulations. Before buying the shelving, you should carefully look for any loose wielding or weak spots that could deteriorate further with use. The best option is to go for custom steel shelving so that you can define the load-bearing ability and other specifications, saving it from getting damaged easily.
Ease of Installation
It is crucial to consider whether the shelving units you are buying are easily assembled or not, especially if your warehouse workflow and storage needs are dynamic. If the storage shelving is easy to assemble and install, changing the location won’t hamper your workflow, as the process is quick and uncomplicated.
Warehouse Space
The available space in your warehouse is a critical factor you cannot ignore when installing shelves. You must make sure that the number of shelves is enough to house all the items to be stored. Also, you need to ensure there is enough walking space in the aisles so that workers can smoothly load and retrieve items without jeopardizing safety. Limited space due to a high number and big-sized shelving units make the work of warehouse employees extremely challenging.
It is also important to assess whether you can utilize the vertical space abiding by the safety measures, as that is a wise way to store products with ease.
Size and Number of Shelving Units
Depending upon the nature of your business, the stock you store, and the space in your warehouse, you can decide the size and number of shelves that would cater to the needs efficiently. It’s unwise to stuff a large number of shelves if the demand and supply aren’t that high nor forecasted to be high in the near future. It will use valuable floor space and cause hindrances in the workflow and performance. In contrast, inadequate shelving is also a drawback, as stuffing too many items in a small space can result in damage and lost inventory.
Mobility of Shelving Units
Shelving units come in so many types, and you can also have an option for fixed or mobile units. If your business requires rearranging in the warehouse quite often, mobile shelving units with wheels are a great way to ease the change of setting without removing everything off the shelves. Fixed shelving works for most businesses where constant changes in the warehouse are not required.
Items That You Will Be Storing
The type of shelving you need is reliant on what you would store on it. The size, shape, and weight of your products are all vital factors in determining whether you need compact, smaller shelving units or large ones. The shelves must endure the weight of the products and should be able to store them efficiently for a long time.
Forecast Storage Needs
Many warehouse owners make decisions regarding shelving based on the current requirements. It is important to look at the larger picture and determine the shelving according to the forecasted demand and supply, as both current and long-term needs are vital for business growth. You don’t want to bear losses during peak season due to inadequate shelving, where products will be disorganized and can even go missing. Hence, shelving units must be adaptable to new requirements, such as growth or inventory changes.
Frequency of Access to the Items Stored
Take the supply chain timeline into account when buying shelving units so that the demand and supply can be regulated without being hindered. If frequent access is required to a particular item, organized shelving will play a huge role in making the process swift. Whenever there is a demand for an item, warehouse workers should be able to access it quickly without searching.
Compliance Requirements
Safe, secure, and orderly warehouse space management is not possible if you disregard the compliance requirements of your specific location. Keep the best practices, SOPs, building code requirements, clear stack height, and floor condition requirements into consideration when finalizing a shelving option.
Security Requirements
There is a strong link between the type of shelving that you use with the safe and secure work environment in your warehouse. You need to ensure the optimum protection of your employees so that the workflow is never compromised due to any unfortunate incident.
You must ensure the shelving is appropriate to safely store different product categories. It must not come in the way when employees need to use the emergency exit. Shelving units adhering to the safety requirements are important to avoid accidents.
Conclusion
We have laid down the things that you need to consider when buying shelving units. It will help to narrow down your choices, eventually having a positive impact on your business. The right type of shelving creates orderliness in your warehouse, avoiding any confusion and ensuring a smooth process. You will be able to design an easy to access, safe storage space that will bring success to your business.
