Warehouses are some of the most important but also complex areas of the logistics industry. Far from being big spaces into which stock and products are randomly thrown, warehouses require extensive organisation in order to achieve even a low level of functionality.
Having a well-thought-out warehouse occupancy planning process is a great way to get the ball rolling. Here, we explore what that process might look like, from how you can use data to inform your approach to the importance of slotting optimisation.
Gather + analyse data
No two warehouse occupancy planning processes should look the same. Instead of following other plans to the letter, your approach must be based on extensive data analysis.
If you’re setting up a warehouse for the first time, then it will need to be based on seasonal demand predictions, predictions on how your business will scale, and the kinds of technologies you’re planning on using.
For existing warehouses, it can be even easier. You’ll already have data related to these points that you can base your predictions on, and have a better understanding of existing areas that need working on.
Design it around automated systems
Gone are the days of warehouses that revolve solely around human-operated machines and manual labour. To optimise your warehouse occupancy, you need to design everything around some kind of automated loading and sorting system from a specialist such as Joloda Hydraroll.
These systems don’t only make loading and packing much faster and more efficient, but they can also have a huge impact on space optimisation. Requiring much less space between shelves than forklift trucks, you can have a far more compact storage arrangement that increases occupancy efficiency to no end.
Make it modular
Your warehouse needs will likely change surprisingly quickly, and it’s important that you’re able to easily adapt to those changes. A good approach to take is to make your warehouse design modular; have shelves and loading systems that can be shifted around to make the space more or less suited to different situations, if at all possible. This might be more expensive in some cases, but it can help to ensure that you don’t design a warehouse that becomes redundant in just a short time.
Slotting optimisation
Lastly, slotting optimisation needs to be an area of focus for all warehouse managers. There are multiple data points that should inform where different items are stored, and these need to be considered at all times.
For example, seasonal items that will only be shifted at certain times of year need to be much less accessible than items that you’ll be shipping regularly throughout the year. Optimising this requires extensive data collection and analysis, but it can have a huge impact on your ability to optimise warehouse occupancy.
Warehouse occupancy planning is something that you’ll constantly need to come back to as the months and years go by. Logistics is a slippery area, and you need to be able to keep up with changing requirements as and when they pop up.
