In laying out pallet storage there are other issues to consider besides space utilization.For example, in some warehouses, such as those of food distributors, it is important to move product in accordance with the rule of “First In First Out” (FIFO). Some special types of rack such as pallet flow rack support FIFO; but otherwise FIFO can be guaranteed only to within the lane depth. Making lanes deeper might give better space utilization; but it reduces compliance with FIFO. In addition, deeper lanes can increase insert/extract times.
Computer distributors handle a challenging mix: Their pallets tend to be either high and light, such as a pallet of printers, which can be 7 feet high (2.1 meters); or low and heavy, such as a pallet of software or printed documentation.
The management of pallets is a constant problem: They flow downstream in the supply chain and so must be either replaced or recirculated; they become damaged; they eventually have to be replaced. Some companies address these problems by maintaining a communal pool of high-quality pallets that they recirculate among their clients, each of whom pays rent for the pallets they use.
The ability to floorstack can be seasonal. Corrugated cardboard, the paper product of which most cartons are constructed, tends to absorb moisture. This means that cartons can weaken under prolonged exposure to high humidity. For example, in At
lanta, Georgia, USA, many SKUs that can be floorstacked during the winters, which are relatively dry, cannot be floorstacked during the summers, which are hot and humid.
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