Warehouse storage systems are at the core of most businesses that deal with goods. An up to date storage system affects productivity, cost efficiency and the safety of your workers, which is why ensuring that it is functioning effectively is important to the bottom line of your business. It can be difficult, however, to decide when it might be time to replace your existing warehouse storage systems, so here are a few tips on when you should start thinking about doing so:
You find you don’t have enough space for your activities
This is probably the most straightforward reason for replacing your warehouse storage system. You simply don’t have enough space. As the primary purpose of a storage system is to have a space to put your stock, this is a bit of a no-brainer. How you go about replacing your warehouse storage system is another question.
The first option is to buy a completely new pallet racking system that is bigger and better than your previous one, or if your existing one works fine you can buy additional racks to use instead. On the other hand, if you do find that you’ve used all the floor space that you can you might consider being a little more imaginative with the layout of your warehouse.
One of the interesting things you might consider is to install a mezzanine floor, which is a freestanding structure that acts as a second floor above your existing one. You may use it to double the amount of floor space you have, or you can use it to raise administrative and leisure areas like offices and lunch break rooms off the warehouse floor to create more space for stock.
Your productivity is starting to slow down
Often productivity is not the fault of employees but simply a function of the system that is in place in a warehouse. Fundamental to this is the pallet racking system you have chosen for the storage of your stock. Not all pallet racking systems are designed for every type of stock. Selective pallet racking is great when you have a variety of goods that need to be easy to reach, while double deep pallet racking is useful for increasing your available space or drive-in pallet racking for high-volume fast-moving stock. Replacing your current warehouse storage system with the right kind can seriously increase productivity.
Another issue might be stock that is overpacked and hard to find due to crowding. Once again a mezzanine floor can work wonders here, expanding the amount of floor space available for storage and movement, without having to move to a new location.
You find yourself constantly making repairs
An old warehouse storage system can be a serious headache. While a quality pallet racking system should last for years, it can begin to show wear-and-tear over time. If you find yourself constantly making repairs, particularly to vertical uprights, horizontal beans and diagonal braces, you might consider saving money in the long term by replacing your warehouse storage system.
You are moving to a new space
Moving to a new space is the perfect opportunity to look at your current storage system and decide whether you need to replace it. If the existing system is old or inefficient then a new one can be a cost-efficient investment into your business’s future. A pallet racking system or mezzanine floor can be easily replaced during a move, with the old system thrown away and the new one installed in the transition.