Collaborative Post
Does your business need a warehouse? If so, what should you do?
One idea is to use a third-party service provider like Space Logistics or Amazon Fulfilment. But, managing product inventory in-house is sometimes more cost-effective. If you’re new to setting up a warehouse, you probably don’t know how to get started and what to do!
Photo by Petrebels on Unsplash
Don’t worry because this handy guide has got your back. Keep reading to find out what you need to know and how to set up your warehouse to be as efficient, safe, and cost-effective as possible:
Where Should You Set Up Your Warehouse?
Location is always an important point to consider. You can ignore this section if you already have a warehouse ready to use. Otherwise, you need to consider the best location for your warehousing and logistics needs.
In an ideal world, your warehouse will be close to your offices. If you lease your office space, you might even find that your landlord offers warehouse leasing in the same location.
How Should You Plan The Space?
Once you’ve sorted your warehouse storage, you must think about how you will plan the space within it. Stock quantity, which products have a high sales turnover, and where to place an office, kitchen, and toilets are just some of the other points to think over. It can also be worth considering how you use the vertical space available to you. Solutions like vertical lift storage systems, traditional pallet racking, and mezzanine floors can be worth factoring into the plans early, as they can increase capacity without expanding your footprint.
Use an architect to help you determine your storage needs and design practical storage and office solutions that make the best use of the space. Alternatively, use some space layout software on a computer or tablet to help you.
What Equipment Should You Buy?
Sometimes, it makes sense to hire or lease the things you need to keep your capital expenditure down – especially if you’ve just set up your business. For example, using a forklift hire company can make the best sense for your needs instead of buying items.
The equipment you need will depend on a few factors, like the size of your warehouse, whether you’re storing pallets on shelves or not, and how much packaging materials you will likely consume each day.
Choosing the right tools is about more than just moving boxes from one place to another. You need items that protect your staff from injury while keeping daily operations moving quickly. Many businesses look for trusted suppliers like Verdex to source heavy-duty hand trucks and lifting tables. Having these tools on hand prevents physical strain on your workers. It also helps prevent accidental damage to your stock during transport.
Who Should You Hire?
Who will you use to keep your warehouse operating like a well-oiled machine? Hiring top talent is just as important as choosing the right location or getting the right equipment for your warehouse.
The people you hire should have prior warehouse experience, the right skills for the job, and be happy to work as part of a happy team.
5 Steps To Keep Your Warehouse Safe
Lastly, safety should be your number one priority when you operate a warehouse. Accidents can happen, but your job is to minimise the risk of those accidents from happening. Here are five ways you can keep your warehouse safe:
- Make sure everyone has the right training for their roles;
- Have your staff wear the correct PPE (personal protective equipment);
- Conduct regular safety inspections;
- Ensure all aisles are kept clear and clean at all times;
- Establish and communicate emergency response procedures.
Final Thoughts
The above tips and ideas aren’t exhaustive but serve as critical points of consideration that you should remember. Good luck with your new warehouse project!