Innovative Solutions for Small to Medium-Sized Warehouses

Small—to medium-sized warehouses face many challenges, from lack of warehouse space to lack of budget. Then, add the fact that everything is getting more expensive, and the whole “lack of budget” challenge becomes even more complicated—especially when you consider that your partners and customers expect the same quality, regardless of challenges, that they’ve received all along.

The good news is that various innovations can help streamline the overall operation of the warehouse environment while not sacrificing your budget. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of these innovations and the type of impact they can have on your warehouse. Read on to learn more:

Maximizing Space in Small Warehouses

As said in the opening, one of the biggest challenges warehouses face is a lack of space (and a lack of budget to add to this limited space). But when you can’t build out, you build up. That’s where various vertical storage solutions can help, some of the leading options being advanced pallet racks and mezzanine levels.

Some pallet racks that can help increase storage space include mobile aisle shelving and portable stacking racks that can be moved throughout the shop floor. Mezzanine levels are also an ideal means of increasing vertical storage space. These levels are installed over a portion of the shop floor and essentially represent an additional floor of usage space. In addition to storing supplies and materials, warehouses may also be able to move office space to mezzanine levels.

Affordable Technologies for Cost-Conscious Warehouses

In addition to shrinking space and budgets, your customers and partners still expect the same level of quality. That’s where it can make sense to implement various technologies that can help streamline productivity without breaking the bank. Some examples of affordable technologies to help enhance warehouse productivity include:

• Inventory tracking apps that allow for tracking supplies and materials in real-time and permit management to make faster decisions about inventory.
• Automated solutions like pallet flow racks and carton flow racks. Other automated solutions may include conveyors.
• Barcode scanners, cloud-based inventory systems and RFID tracking systems that can help better track inventory and supply chain logistics.

Such solutions are often cost-effective to implement and come with a significant return on investment as it pertains to productivity and efficiency.

Adaptable Systems for Evolving Warehouse Needs

In today’s warehouse, the more flexible the solution, the better – and solutions like adjustable racking, stackable bins and other portable equipment can help your warehouse become more flexible. Modular storage solutions don’t just help optimize space, they also help improve organization, which can thereby increase efficiency and productivity. What’s more, such solutions are also scalable, so you can add more when you need it and subtract it when you don’t. The flexibility of these inventory solutions makes it much easier for the warehouse to adapt to changing inventory demands, whether it’s seasonal or permanent.

Streamlining Operations with Better Workflow Strategies

Aside from innovative technology that can be implemented in the warehouse, there are also various innovative ways of thinking that you can use for the betterment of the environment. For instance, practicing lean methodologies and adhering to more ergonomic and efficient layouts can help streamline operations.

Let’s start with lean methodology, which is becoming an increasingly popular way of thinking in the warehouse. One popular lean concept is 5S, which stands for “Sort,” Set in Order,” “Shine,” “Standardize” and “Sustain.” In the warehouse, 5S is applied by first eliminating any rarely used stock or equipment to free up space, then reorganizing the shop floor accordingly. It also involves keeping the workspace clean and free of clutter, creating standard operating procedures that all workers are expected to abide by, and then sustaining these practices.

In addition to lean methodology, creating zones where certain products are stored and looking for more ergonomic layouts to limit strain on workers can help promote a healthier overall warehouse.

Case Studies and Real-Life Success Stories

A lack of organization in the workplace leads to wasted time and lost productivity. Workflow strategies like 5S were actually born out of the Toyota Production System in its production facilities and other locations throughout Asia as a means of streamlining operations, reducing waste, enhancing the quality of its products and, ultimately, improving customer satisfaction. Thanks in part to 5S, Toyota grew from a regional automaker into a global one, increasing market share and maintaining this market position for decades.

Embracing Innovation in Small Warehouses with A-Lined

Just because small- to medium-sized warehouses have challenges doesn’t mean that they’re insurmountable. Whether it’s better workflow strategies or methods, or innovative technology to help improve productivity without depleting your budget, there are a lot of things that warehouse managers can do to overcome some of the main challenges that are placed in front of them. For more information on technologies such as mezzanine levels, conveyors, storage solutions, and other material handling solutions, contact A-Lined today.