WAREHOUSE SET UP: 11 TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU LAY OUT YOUR WAREHOUSE      Jorgenson Material Handling helps companies expand into new facilities.  It happens quite often.  If you don’t believe us, check out some of our Proof of Performance (PoP) and see where we  have not only quickly, but efficiently maximizing space as well.  And so as a by-product of solving all those problems over the decades, we have a bit of experience we would like to pass along to you; free of charge. Here are some of our tips we want to share with all of you–even if you choose another material handling company.  (We do want you to know however, that we are in fact the best!)  So here are 11 tips on how to set up a warehouse…  1.  Plan your layout!  Don’t just wander in and start throwing pallet racking here and there based upon whim and sudden desire.  Your material handling company should have–SHOULD–have years of experience in laying out a warehouse facility.  Rely upon their experience and knowledge.  Tell them what you need done and then LISTEN to their suggestions closely.  Your basic floor plan needs to take into account such things as where receiving and shipping will take place–?  Where the staging areas are–?  Where the warehouse manager’s office will be–?  Where will your employees eat lunch–? How the pallet racking will be accessed to determine type of forklift, if any–? All of those things need to be planned in advance because if not, then as you move things here and there at your fancy, the more congested and hard to change the racking and overall flow of the warehouse will become. 2.  Check the loading dock/bays.  The loading dock and bays are the lifeline to your warehouse.  These need to be free from excess pallet racking and any undo storage which tends to accumulate near the loading docks.  The more you clutter this area, the harder it is for a forklift of pallet jack to move the product in and out of the warehouse, and this wastes precious time as you load and unload shipments.  So ask your material handling company rep what they plan on doing to maximize the space, yet allow for full, unobstructed access to the loading bays. 3.  Lay out the pallet racking and other shelving.  Draw up plans, explore options and really, really think about this.  Pallet racking is easy to set up when the building is empty.  Once it is filled, then moving and reconfiguring it is unbelievably difficult and time consuming.  Remember that phrase; “a stitch in time save nine”–?  Well  it is good to get your pallet racking layout done right the FIRST time! Rely upon your material handling pro to offer suggestions to your unique needs.  Ask questions about other projects, as that may jog their memory.  Make sure you explore all options before having the crews come in and assemble it. 4.  Buy the best!  If you are looking to cut corners and save a few dimes buying the cheaper stuff, odds are you’ll get just that–CHEAP.  Make sure you buy pallet racking and other industrial rated shelving that will stand the test of time.  If you buy heavy duty, robust and serious pallet racking and shelving, odds are you’ll never have to replace it unless there is a major catastrophe.  Plus if one day you decide you want to upgrade and not have to move it, you can sell the quality stuff.  (Incidentally one of our divisions; BuyMetalShelving.com buys and sells quality used pallet racking)  Buy purchasing top of the line pallet racking, you save yourself in safety and enjoying a longer life span with it as well. 5.  Set up.  Make sure a professional sets up your pallet racking.  They will make sure it is anchoring to the floor, and the floor slab will hold the weight the racking will carry.  By using a pro, attaching it securely to the walls will prevent injury and possible death, and those same professionals will let you know if you’ve allowed enough space between the spans for forklifts or other machines. Just having the peace of mind that knowing–without a shadow of doubt–that you have set up and secured your pallet racking will give you hours of sleep when it matters most. 6.  Have a staging area.  This could be a location where all pulled orders are boxed, labeled and prepped for shipping.  These areas need to offer plenty of room to accommodate both employees and equipment as orders are pulled and made ready. 7.  Be safe.  Having warning signs, safety notices and fire suppression/first aid equipment that is accessible in the areas most likely where accidents may occur.  These MUST also be in accordance to the applicable codes of the city, county and federal regulations.  8.  Ease your feet!  Standing for long periods of time can be tough on the back.  If you have laid out your packing and mailing stations in an area that is on a concrete slab, you need to buy rubber mats for your employees.  That rubber will make HUGE differences in their health and productivity.  If you’ve ever been to a trade show, look down and even though all trade shows are on concrete floors, look at the flooring in the booths.  Odds are they’ll have carpet with padding underneath because they know that standing on bare concrete is not healthy and most difficult. 9.  Short term parking.  Establish an area or room where warehouse items that are frequently used can be stored for the short term.  This includes cartons, boxes, packing materials, shipping materials and other items that tend to become clutter and obstruct the loading and shipping areas. 10.  Plan where on the outside of the building where you will place dumpsters, skips and trash compactors.  These need to be placed somewhere close to the warehouse so that employees don’t have to travel long distances to throw things away.  The closer to the actual building they are, this will also allow quick and efficient removal of waste from normal warehouse operations. BUT with that in mind, make sure that these waste receptacles are not in the way of large trailers or other transportation that will have to back up to your loading bays.  Make sure that there is a happy medium in the way you lay it out before trucks and drivers go nuts. 11.  Software.  Yes, even the IT geeks need their say.  Having a warehouse management system software that will increase accuracy, track orders that are making their way in and out of your warehouse as well as streamline all aspects of the warehouse. Having a good SaaS (software as a service) system will allow better flow and tracking to give your executives and sales staff a much better working picture of what is going on in between the four walls of your warehouse.  Having one that works with your industry will, in fact, offer greater transparency and subsequent accuracy which can–and will–reduce unwanted waste and pesky returned orders due to mistakes. For more information on how to get your warehouse set up with the right layout, high-quality products and more–contact us now so we can show you the ropes!