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Imagine this. Your warehouse holds all of your current inventory, and more. There’s enough space for forklifts to get around, and finding items is a breeze. Your warehouse workers are happy, and business is booming. That dream can be your reality. All you have to do is keep efficiency top of mind. Your warehouse space is where you carry out business, so it’s important that every inch is being utilized. Below, we have outlined six tips for creating an effective layout, with the goal of creating more storage space.

Tip #1 – Assess Your Current Space

The first step in creating more space is looking at what you already have. It’s important to assess your current inventory and consider what else you’d like to store. Some space may be underutilized, so an optimal layout can help you pinpoint areas of potential. You may end up having more space than you thought! Apart from the inventory itself, knowing the dimensions and any restrictions in the space will help in determining what needs to be done. At Industrial Shelving Systems, our goal is to assist with space savings. When you work with us, we’ll come into your warehouse to help devise a storage solution plan. Efficiency is always top of mind for us, so we work to ensure you can fit as much as possible into your warehouse.

Tip #2 - Use the Optimal Storage System

You may have a storage plan in place right now, but sometimes using the right storage systems can make all the difference. One of our specialties is identifying the right storage solutions to best hold your inventory. Something we like doing is visiting your warehouse, assessing the type of inventory you have and how much there is. From there, we can recommend the best industrial shelving to hold your products. We’ll work our magic and present you with an optimal design to maximize your space.

Tip #3 - Extend Racking Up Vertically

If you think you’re completely out of space, look up. Extending your warehouse racking to new heights can make use of unutilized space. Be sure to measure your clear height, and from there, consider extending your pallet racking up. Items that are not utilized as much or are seasonal can be stored at the top of these warehouse racks with the higher turnover items closer to the bottom. Another great shelving option that takes advantage of vertical height is a mezzanine. This safe storage solution is cost effective and allows you to double the storage footprint of your building without expanding the walls. With three great options: free standing storage platform, full mat style storage platform, and catwalk style storage platform, you can choose the best mezzanine for your space.

Tip #4 - Reduce Aisle Width

Reducing your aisle widths may seem like a slight adjustment but makes all the difference in creating much needed space, especially if your inventory is increasing. While still ensuring that the aisle is wide enough for forklifts or other machinery, this extra space may allow you to add on another row of racking or even another set of shelving.

Tip #5 – Make Use of Labels

Labelling may seem like a simple thing, but this can help foster an organized environment. When storage is labelled, this creates a quick way to identify if something is out of place. Additionally, if products are continually stored in a logical and neat manner, this reduces the amount of time spent grabbing items, allowing more time for other operations.

Tip #6 – Implement Automation

Implementing automation into your warehouse can require more thought and planning, but it will save time, space, and money in the long run. Warehouse automation is a great way to reduce the amount of physical space needed in the warehouse and doubles as an efficient way to manage inventory. This can decrease the amount of time your warehouse workers are spending gathering items and can reduce errors made in the picking process. Be sure to check out our automation division, ISS Material Handling, if you’re interested in learning more!

Now that you have these tips handy, we encourage you to implement a few, sit back, and watch the difference they make in your warehouse operations. Want some help optimizing your storage space? Send our design experts a message to get started.