Getting the most out of your warehouse’s available storage space is an essential part of an efficient operational strategy to cut costs and boost revenues. Many different management techniques can go a long way toward optimizing warehouse capacity, but there are also plenty of other ways to maximize efficient use of space in your warehouse. To start boosting your operational capacity and find out how you may already have the space you need, consider the benefits of registering with HapiGig today.
Making Better Use of Vertical Space
Floor space isn’t the only thing that makes up storage capacity in a warehouse. As long as you comply with fire suppression regulations and ensure your building’s sprinklers can still function properly, you may be able to double or even triple storage capacity simply by extending storage racks toward the ceiling of your warehouse.
On the other hand, it may also be worth considering what business tasks and functions don’t require much overhead clearance and reorganize your warehouse accordingly. For example, if you use a particular area of your warehouse for temporary staging, any empty space above that staging area could be used as storage to increase warehouse capacity.
Determine the Right Rack Arrangement
Maneuverability is key in any warehouse, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave forklifts and other warehouse machinery more space to operate than they really need. For the typical forklift, any gap between racks wider than 10.5 feet is storage space that’s going to waste, and for a specialized lift with a tighter turning radius, required aisle width can shrink even further.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to optimize the way you organize your racks so they best serve your business needs. If you’re shipping out a lot of bulk orders, stacking pallets of like products tightly together in blocks could greatly increase warehouse capacity. Conversely, single or double selective-rack setups may allow for more efficient picking if your inventory is varied, although you may not be able to keep as many products around at one time.
Of course, the shape of the building you’re operating your business in will have a significant impact on what rack pattern best suits your needs. For rectangular warehouses, it’s generally best to arrange racks length-wise, but each warehouse operator should analyze the amount of space they have to ensure they’re making the best use of it.
Get Creative with Unused Areas
Even if your warehouse is already set up for maximum efficiency, there may still be storage space hiding in places you wouldn’t think to look. For instance, if you have six feet of clearance over your shipping and receiving dock doors, that’s enough space to store six-foot-high pallets on top of some added shelving.
Likewise, if your warehouse clears height and building code regulations, investing in the construction of a mezzanine within your warehouse could dramatically increase storage capacity. Even if you don’t store inventory on this kind of elevated platform, moving smaller supplies and office personnel up there could free up significant storage space on the ground.