Does your warehouse feel too cramped? Are you running out of storage space? This could be a clear sign that your warehouse is too small. There are a few solutions to this beyond moving to a bigger warehouse. This post lists 7 solutions worth exploring.
Relocate to new premises
The most obvious solution is to move to a larger warehouse. Of course, you’ll likely have to pay more to rent more space, so make sure you can afford to upsize. You’ll also have to go through the hassle of moving all your inventory and equipment. A commercial moving company could help to make this process easier. Make sure to spend plenty of time researching other locations so that you can find the best suited one for your budget.
Streamline your inventory
A large inventory can mean having to designate more space to different categories of items. It could be time to consider the types of inventory that you’re no longer willing to store in your warehouse. A leaner inventory could make it easier to store everything compactly.
Reduce excess stock
Many companies store a certain amount of safety stock to handle sudden spikes in demand for certain items. However, it’s possible to store too much safety stock and end up with excess stock gathering dust and taking up space. Using a WMS, you may be able to stop this happening by automating replenishment of stock and setting strict limits on how much stock of each item you keep (data can be a great help for helping you know exactly how much to order).
Choose taller racks
Consider the height of your warehouse. Is there enough space for taller racks than the ones you currently have? Using this extra height could dramatically increase your capacity when it comes to stock. Of course, you need to be able to reach these high racks – make sure that your picking equipment reaches these heights or consider building extra levels.
Make aisles narrower
Making aisles between racks narrower could potentially allow you to fit extra rows of racks into your warehouse. Of course, you need to be careful when making aisles narrower, as it could mean less space for picking equipment like forklifts and potentially more bottlenecks. Of course, it may be able to get around this with narrower equipment in some cases.
Switch to mobile pallet racks
Unlike traditional racks that are fixed, mobile pallet racks can move left and right on fixed tracks on the floor. This allows you to install more racks side by side like books on a shelf. Only enough space for one aisle is needed. It’s a great way to maximize storage space in a small warehouse.
Switch to a pallet shuttle system
Pallet shuttle systems get rid of aisles completely. Instead, each rack can be pulled out like a spice rack allowing you to access the items you need. In a small warehouse, this can similarly maximize storage space.
