With warehouses needing to be flexible, accessible and efficient, these 5 principles are important to consider in order to stay competitive.
1. One way flow
One of the biggest factors in any warehouse is creating a flow system that allows products to avoid doubling back, double handling or any unnecessary steps. They aim is to create a logical sequence of operations where each function is located as closely as possible to the proceeding function.
2. Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of those principles that is often forgotten when considering the design of a warehouse or distribution centre. However, figuring out how to save on energy can keep costs down and also contribute to the environment. Simple things such as keeping the doors closed or turning off unused lights can save on energy.
Putting in systems to reduce energy can also help to increase the value of your warehouse. If you’re redesigning your space in order to sell your property, energy efficiency can make your warehouse more attractive to potential buyers. If you’re in doubt, you can speak to a local real estate agent about which features are in high demand for businesses in your area.
3. Minimal manual handling
This may seem like an obvious principle to follow but many warehouse operations manually handle goods up to 10 times. When designing your warehouse and how a product moves through it, you should ensure that goods are manually handled no more than 5 times. The more a product is touched, the more it will cost you in the long run.
4. Future proofing
With warehouses being an expensive investment, it’s vital to make sure that it won’t outgrow your business too quickly. You should take into consideration future growth and any new goods that might be introduced. Leave room to adjust and adapt to changing conditions so that you can continue using your warehouse for as long as possible.
Eventually, if you do outgrow your warehouse or decide to sell it for a different reason, having a flexible space will open your warehouse up to a wider range of buyers. For instance, leaving room to add extra loading docks, machinery and new technology will not only benefit you, it will appeal to other businesses.
5. Evaluate and document
The final principle you should follow in the process of designing your warehouse for functionality is continual evaluation and documentation. Any facts you discover or assumptions you make should be noted down so that you can look back on them in the future. Documentation will also help you comply with legal and operational business issues.
Taking a methodological approach to designing your warehouse is crucial to ensure your processes are streamlined and efficient. It’s important to not only understand your product in its current state but also how it could potentially change in the future. A thorough design will help you save on costs and will increase the value of your warehouse.
Guest author: James Pointon is a Commercial Manager at OpenAgent.com.au, an online agent comparison website helping Australians to sell, buy and own property.
