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05
Oct
2021

What is an Effective and Organized Warehouse Storage Facility?

by Michael Kotendzhi | Warehousing
What is an Effective and Organized Warehouse Storage Facility

An effective and organized warehouse storage facility is an essential part of many successful businesses. It's one of those long-term benefiting factors that can give you a considerable competitive advantage. If properly organized, it helps running your business operations smoothly and efficiently. In a way, it makes your business's functionality, safety, and efficiency less of a concern. On the other side, a cluttered and disorganized warehouse only causes numerous unnecessary challenges. And significantly increases the risk of making all kinds of mistakes.

Organized Warehouse Storage Facility for Improved Effectiveness and Productivity

Proper organization of a warehouse storage facility means more than just taking care of the layout design and space optimization. It also includes many other concerns that make warehousing and distribution services more effective. The correct labeling, management software systems, and picking and distributing technologies are just the tip of the iceberg. These are all factors that can help improve your business operations and help keep your customers satisfied. However, keeping everything in order, clean, and managed properly is far from easy, especially when you need a facility that supports your business goals and ensures an increase in productivity. It's even harder when you need to select the right warehousing service provider without knowing what the proper organization of storage facilities should look like.

For a better perspective about what makes a warehouse storage facility effective and organized, here are some key factors to take into consideration:

  • Warehouse automation and software
  • Space management
  • Inventory management
  • Safety measures

Warehouse automation and software

Today, the use of advanced technologies is essential. Many innovative solutions and systems can improve various business operations. In this case, warehouse automation allows you to automate the processes to make everything more efficient. Any storage facility that utilizes warehouse automation can solve multiple organization issues. From logistics to space optimization to inventory management, each segment is much easier to handle. Not to mention it considerably eliminates the potential for human errors. But, this doesn't mean these solutions completely exclude and replace employees. They still require a human factor to properly manage the system and operations. But, it greatly eases the routine tasks and optimization problems many facilities struggle with.

Besides automation, an effective and organized warehouse storage also relies on other quality logistics and warehousing solutions. Warehouse management software like Stark TMS is a good example of an encompassing system. In general, this type of management software improves communication, increases efficiency, and is exceptionally secure. But the main benefit is that they are great for managing storage facilities of any scale. Both ordinary storage and large freight brokers use them to manage different tasks like data entry and reporting.

Space management

At the mere mention of the organized warehouse storage facility, you probably think of space management. Knowing how to properly distribute and sort out the inventory is one of the essential factors. You need to use procedures that allow you to quickly find the required items, prepare them, and send them out without much trouble, especially if you are in the business of shipping goods to your customers. However, the main factor here is to first consider adequate flooring plans. The organization itself will depend on how much space a warehouse has and how all segments are separated and laid out.

For example, adequately organized storage facilities have separate zones for different equipment. It's not essential for regular items and equipment, but it becomes critical when you need to store delicate items. One of the best examples is climate-controlled storage within the same warehouse facility. Another concern is what types of containers and equipment are in use. And finally, what shelving systems, like pallet racking, provide the best space optimization.

Inventory management

Without good inventory management, you cannot have an effective and organized warehouse storage facility. A complete inventory should be classified to make the most of the available space and make it easy to find and deliver the desired items. Another aspect of proper inventory management is accessibility. This, in general, reduces the picking times and makes it easier for personnel to provide satisfactory delivery times.

One of the solutions to this problem is to use robust labeling and tracking systems. And, besides inventory labeling, this includes equipment and supplies labeling as well. Everything that can ensure the fast and efficient location and distribution of items and goods within the warehouse.

Safety measures

Proper inventory organization means an effective and well-organized warehouse storage facility. However, without appropriate safety measures, none of this matters. A warehouse is generally considered one of the more dangerous working spaces. Considering the size and weight of some of the items, management and distribution come at a risk. Given these points, the safety of workers is one of the primary concerns.

An effective and organized warehouse storage facility ensures the equipment, tools, and machines do not pose a danger to employees. Everything has to be in the proper condition to avoid any potential injury. Taking care of the level of expertise of employers, providing adequate training, and ensuring the equipment is in mint condition also help you avoid incidents and damage to stored property.

For over 30 years, 18 Wheels Logistics has strived to be the most customer-centric trucking, warehousing, and logistics company around. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 18 Wheels relies on experience and integrity to make customers happy and remain on the cutting edge of shipping and logistics management.

If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to us about your shipping needs, please call us at (604) 439-8938. 


Michael Kotendzhi is President of Operations & Transportation and a partner at 18 Wheels. Michael has over 15 years of experience and is equipped with a degree in Logistics from the University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business. As well as a background in logistics from XPO Logistics (formally Kelron Logistics), North America's largest contract warehousing provider.

Michael's experience includes supply chain management, reverse logistics, & domestic transportation. He has developed 18 Wheels' trucking solutions, effectively utilizing the sister company's vehicle fleet and building a transportation supply-chain network across North America.