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August 15, 2024In many forms of business and industry, a warehouse is essential. This building plays a vital role in the smooth operation of many different firms. It is a space where raw materials and finished goods can be securely stored before they are used or transferred to suppliers. In some cases, the environment of the warehouse will need to be regulated, perhaps in terms of temperature or lighting, such as when storing food products or plants.
Put simply, a well-designed warehouse will help to ensure the smooth functioning of a business and that it can safely store and distribute goods when required. In this article, there is a focus on some of the steps that are required when setting up your warehouse and kitting it out to function effectively and safely. From preliminary design considerations to key equipment and essential signage, this article will provide advice and information for any business owner or manager who needs to set up and maintain an efficient warehouse environment.
Determine the volume of goods that will be stored
Firstly, it is vitally important to consider the volume and type of goods that will be stored in the warehouse. This will determine the overall size of the structure, including its height, and what types of storage media will be required. You must also be able to determine the future storage needs of your firm. If your business is experiencing rapid growth and it is expected that you will be increasing production volumes, your warehouse should be able to cope with increased capacity requirements in the future.
You should also have a clear floor plan in the design stage of your warehouse that dictates where certain goods will be stored most efficiently. Items that need to be moved frequently should be easy to access, whilst less used goods can be positioned further into the warehouse or at higher levels of the building.
Essential equipment to consider
Once you are happy with your warehouse layout and its overall design, you need to start considering essential items of equipment that will allow you to store and retrieve goods efficiently. Staff will typically be required to retrieve items from the warehouse and will need the tools and equipment to do this safely. Basic equipment to consider when moving smaller items are step ladders.
Companies such as Seton supply a wide range of ladders to industry and will have a range that includes smaller steps and platforms to large ladders that allow the safe removal of goods from height. However, if your firm needs to move heavy and bulky goods, you will likely need to accomplish this with vehicles, rather than human lifting. In larger warehouses, forklift trucks are considered essential equipment. They can safely lift and move materials and items that are too heavy for a human operative. You will need to consider the dimensions of the warehouse and the passages between storage areas to determine a vehicle that is suitable for both the task and the warehouse environment.
Signage for warehouses
Briefly, all warehouses will need to have a range of signage that helps to keep workers safe and inform them of any hazards that may be present. These can range from forklift signage that informs staff to stay clear of certain areas of the warehouse (e.g., where there are designated forklift-only zones) to signs that remind staff to wear suitable safety equipment in certain areas (such as ear protectors in noisy warehouse environments or protective headgear when retrieving goods from height).
