As a
warehouse owner, you’re always going to want to make sure that your operation
is as smooth and efficient as possible to maximise the profits you can make
through your business. According to research carried out by Proudfoot Consulting, 29% of all
employees across a number of industries are unproductive at work. If you’re a
small or medium-sized business, this shortfall in productivity can have a
profound resonance for the success of the operation; it can literally make or
break some organisations.
Making the
work environment as comfortable and easy as possible to work in can
dramatically increase the productivity of your employees and, thus, improve
your profits and longevity. Having an unproductive workplace can increase the
stress of employees and can also breed conflicts between members of staff. The
reasons for low levels of productivity in the workplace are many, but largely
come down to mismanagement of resources and people.
A lack of
employee training can lead to a drastic reduction in productivity, as employees
would not be well versed enough in best practice and how to do their jobs
effectively. However, it’s not just down to a lack of knowledge; the environment
of work can have an impact too. If there is ineffective management and
supervision from the team leaders and management staff, then this can have a
trickle-down effect on production. Similarly, if the actual workplace is
cluttered and unorganised then this can have an effect on employees. Having a
workplace that is so unorganised that it makes work more difficult inevitably
means that work rate and quality diminishes too.
If you own a
warehouse, then an unproductive staff and disorganised structure can easily
lead to lost or misplaced stock, damaged items and mismanaged orders. These
issues can have a dire impact on the reputation of your organisation in no time
at all and what can be lost in a short amount of time can take years to
successfully regain.
One of the
best ways to ensure the productivity, effectiveness and profitability of your
warehouse moving forward is to use the space wisely and get the most out of
what you’ve got available to you. Read on to discover how and why you should
make the most out of your warehouse space with a new racking and shelving
system.
From Shelving and Racking To Mezzanine Floors:
The Options Available
Mezzanine Floors
Installing a
mezzanine floor is one of the very best ways to optimise the space you have at
your warehouse, decrease clutter, make the building safer and, therefore,
improve productivity and profitability.
Warehouses
are usually quite difficult to manage at the best of times. The tall ceilings
typical of warehouses mean that it can be hard to make the best use of the
space and warehouse stock can often be placed in very hard to reach places.
Rather than investing in more equipment to reach these high places, it’s often
a good idea to install a new floor instead.
Not only do
mezzanine floors help to declutter the office space and make it easier to
navigate, but it can also provide you with much more space and delay the need
for an upsizing in the property. If you’ve noticed that you’re fast running out
of floor space but you still have plenty of vertical space, then installing a
mezzanine floor is the perfect solution. Providing your warehouse with 50% more
space means that you can save money on moving warehouse, make the place much
safer and improve productivity in the workforce by making it easier to
navigate.
Cantilever Racking
Cantilever
racking is another great way to improve the efficiency of your storage options,
create more space and declutter your property. This storage system is robust,
durable, flexible and allows for the safe storage or large pieces of material
like steel bars or timber.
If you want
to increase the space available to you, then cantilever racking is a versatile
way to do so. Manufacturers of this style of storage solution can adjust the
height and width of these solutions for a bespoke fit within your warehouse.
If you have
some outside space that isn’t being used at the current time, then you could
even install a large network of cantilever racking with a roof to move much of
the stock which is inside to the outside space. The possibilities are endless
and reduce clutter which, again, will help to improve the productivity within
the workforce.
Storage
Cabinets
Storage
cabinets are a perfect way to house potentially hazardous material or
equipment. If you operate in a medical warehouse, or you work closely with
tools and materials that could potentially cause harm if left unattended, then
it’s imperative to make sure that they are separated.
This option
also makes it much easier to navigate the equipment within the warehouse. If
you have a bank of storage cabinets in an area of the warehouse where all of
the hazardous or harmful equipment goes then it will be much safer and easier
to store it and then find it when the time comes.
Health and Safety Concerns for Poor Shelves and
Storage Facilities
Unless you
have secure storage facilities in your warehouse, you can be found in breach of
regulation on health and safety. As an employer, you have a duty of care over
your employees and may be found liable if there is a serious accident at the
warehouse. Needless to say, accidents can have severe legal and financial
implications on your business if you’re taken to court for an accident at your
warehouse. You also have a moral obligation to provide your workforce with a
suitable place of work where they are not under any danger of injury.
By
optimising your warehouse with suitable storage facilities, you can help
prevent any possible accidents on your property. As well as protecting your
staff, you will be protecting your stock, profits and yourself against a
potentially ruinous lawsuit.
From Storage Racks to Self-Storage
Another way
to make the best use of your warehouse space is to add a new revenue stream to
your business and convert some of the property to a self-storage facility. If
you’ve found that there is a relatively large section of your warehouse that is
not being used and will not have to be used in the near future, you can section
this part of the warehouse off and turn it into a storage facility for paying
customers.
Wasted space
at your property equals a loss of capital. To redress this imbalance you can
simply hire a firm like Racking & Shelving to install self-storage units.
This is a great way to make the most of the space you’ve got as well as grow
your business into other areas. If it becomes successful, it might even become
a whole new enterprise for you to explore!
Racking and Shelving Ltd have Efficient and
Effective Shelving Systems For Your Business in Northern Ireland
For over 15
years, Racking & Shelving Ltd have been designing and supplying a wide
range of storage solutions for businesses across Northern Ireland including
industrial racks and storage cabinets.
Our years of
experience in the design, manufacturing, delivery and installation of
commercial storage systems means that we have the dexterity to build an entire
mezzanine floor at your property to give you extra space or keep it simple with
warehouse racking.
Making the
most of the space available to you at your commercial or industrial property
can help to save you money, improve workforce productivity and improve health
and safety. Doing so is a crucial step in [Finish]
To find out more,
contact us.
You can find us at 10 Fergusons Way, Kilbegs Business Park, Kilbegs Road, Antrim,
Northern Ireland, BT41 4LZ, call us on 028 9442 9037 or email us at
info@rslni.com.
