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How Can You Maximise Space in Your Warehouse?

Warehouse space is an incredibly important aspect of any business that deals with stock and general distribution services. By making the most of the space you have, you’ll have the opportunity to further expand your company. If you’re looking to stock additional products, then it’s paramount you have the space and the equipment available to do it, and that’s where Charnwood Lift Trucks come in. 

You might well have the budget to simply move your operations to a larger premises, but not every warehouse owner has the capital available to be able to do this. Maximising the space you already have onsite is one of the most cost-effective ways of expanding your business without having to move to a larger site or have extensions constructed. 

 

So with that being said, we’ve put together a few quick and simple ways to maximise your warehouse space in order to make room for durable, efficient material handling equipment. The right tools and machinery will help to make your operations run as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, making it a very worthwhile investment.

Implement the right machinery

In order to ensure your operations go off without a hitch, even with additional warehouse racking and, consequently, narrow aisles, you’ll need to implement the most appropriate pieces of equipment in order to get the job done. 

 

If you have extra warehouse racking installed which has subsequently resulted in aisles and corridors becoming tight or narrow, then you don’t need to worry about your operators navigating their way around them, especially if you purchase or hire a VNA forklift or a multi-directional forklift truck.

 

Stock can still be accessed, picked and transported just as easily as they would be should they be stored on a wider aisle. Not only will the aforementioned machines be able to travel around your premises with absolute ease, but they’re also just as powerful as their larger counterparts, meaning loads can be transported safely and reliably with a VNA or a multi-directional forklift.


Whether you purchase a brand new machine or a used forklift, or if you only have the budget to hire the equipment you require, this option is still extremely affordable in comparison to moving to a bigger site.

Regularly assess your stock

You should assess the stock you have on a regular basis. This will help you to get rid of items that aren’t selling or, depending on the industry you’re in, products that have gone out of date. It will also enable you to see what is selling at a slower rate, in which case, you won’t need to store too much of the same thing, which will also save you space.

If you’re looking to get a new line or new products in, then look at the old items you have and see whether you can discard any of it or even sell it off at a cheaper price to your customers. Date and stock rotation is also imperative to help save money and storage space in the long run. Some of the items you’ll have to date rotate, depending on the industry you’re in, are:

  • Food
  • Makeup
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Plant seeds
  • Bird food
  • Pet food
  • Play dough 
  •  

Consider your future needs as well as your current ones

What your business needs right now might not be what it needs in the future, and that goes for the space you currently have to play with. It might be that you’ll require more room further down the line, but then your situation in a few months, or even years, time might be the opposite of that, and you’ll need less space. That’s why it’s important to keep assessing your company and employee requirements.

 

For example, if you know that you’ll be taking a large amount of stock in a few months, then start preparing and making the space for that now. But then if you know that operations will slow down soon, then put plans for an expansion on hold until your peak season hits once again.

Be as organised as possible

Make sure your warehouse is as organised as it can be at all times. All of the stock you hold should be stored appropriately and be strategically placed. For example, best sellers should be easy to get old of and products should be date rotated where required. It’s also a good idea to group similar items together to make things as easy and as straightforward as possible for your employees. 

 

Other warehouse organisation tips include:

 

  • Labelling items, boxes and pallets as you go along
  • Don’t stack heavy loads on top of lighter ones
  • Make full use of the floor-to-ceiling warehouse racking
  • Conduct an employee survey to gain more feedback and suggestions

Foods to eat before your test

If you would like more information about the high-quality warehouse equipment we have available, including warehouse racking, mezzanine floors and a variety of different forklifts, get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable, expert team today – we’re always on hand to impart specialist advice and guidance when you need it most.