No matter what kind of warehouse space you have to work with, making sure it’s designed for peak performance is key. A good warehouse layout will help you make the best use of the space you have, fill orders efficiently, maintain a safe working environment and keep your operations running smoothly. These 5 simple tips can help you set up a new space or make some improvements to your current design.

1. Choose the Right Shape for Your Needs

The overall design of your warehouse will depend on your business’s needs. There are three common shapes for warehouse design:

• U Shape: This is the most common design, in which the shipping and receiving docks are next to each other on one side of the building. For most businesses, it’s an efficient use of the space available.
• I Shape: With this design, the shipping and receiving docks are on opposite sides of the building. This allows for faster movement of inventory, so it’s usually used by high-volume operations.
• L Shape: With an L-shaped design, the shipping and receiving docks are at a 90-degree angle from each other. It can be a good option if you need more space for inventory storage.
  

2. Map It Out

Once you know the basic shape of your warehouse, you’ll need a detailed map before you begin constructing it. This will allow you to spot any issues or oversights before they start creating problems. Make sure your plans take into account:

• Enough space for workers to safely operate machinery
• Create ample aisle space (especially if mechanical lifts need to pass through),
• Keep an appropriate amount of space dedicated to storage (make sure there’s some room to grow while not keeping too much excess space)
• The layout must allow workers to easily find and access the inventory
• Keep most circulated inventory in a prime location
  
  

Having a carefully planned and double-checked map to work with will help ensure that you’re using the safest and most efficient warehouse layout possible.

3. Consider Traffic Flow

The traffic flow of pedestrians, vehicles, and machinery inside and outside of your warehouse is fundamental to keeping everyone safe and operating efficiently. A few things to keep in mind when managing traffic flow include:

• Make sure pedestrians and workers operating machinery have separate spaces to work and move through the warehouse. They should cross paths as rarely as possible.
• Have clearly marked walkways for pedestrians to use inside and around the warehouse, especially near the shipping and receiving docks.
• Be aware of blindspots workers may have while operating machinery such as forklifts. Visibility mirrors, better lighting and warning signs can help your workers stay safe.
• All workers operating machinery should be fully trained on each piece of equipment and aware of safety protocols.
  
  

Your traffic management system should be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure that procedures are up-to-date and appropriate for the current workflow.

4. Use Your Building’s Height

To maximize your storage space, your warehouse layout should take advantage of vertical as well as horizontal space. With the right storage rack system, you can safely store and easily retrieve vertically stacked inventory, but there may be additional vertical space in your warehouse that you could be taking advantage of. For example, you may want to incorporate a mezzanine into your design to create more room for inventory, office space or equipment storage.

5. Work with an Engineering Team

Designing a warehouse for maximum efficiency and safety may be best achieved with some expert assistance. Material handling professionals can help with:

• Designing a warehouse that is tailored to your business’s needs
• Recommending and installing inventory storage systems
• Securing all the permits you’ll need to build and operate your warehouse
  
  

Professional assistance can help you save time and money by keeping construction on track and avoiding potentially costly mistakes.

Warehouse Layout Experts

Tri–R Installation has been providing warehouse storage solutions for 41 years. Our services include storage rack installation, project management, permitting and more. Contact us for a free quote today.