The Satellite Review Magazine 2017 Satellite Review Magazine_pages hi res | 页面 7

W
arehouse storage space is expensive, so
it makes sense to make the most of your
warehouse storage capacity in order to
reduce carrying costs and increase material han-
dling efficiency. Making a few changes to your
warehouse operations can pay off with big savings.
Here are a few material handling tips to make your
warehouse even better.
Improve Forecast Accuracy and
Inventory Management
Inaccurate forecasts result in excess inventory that
complicates warehouse inventory management. If
you’re still using a spreadsheet to generate fore-
casts, consider upgrading to a more sophisticated
solution. Modern forecasting tools include best-fit
algorithms and take seasonality and planned pro-
motions into account. Better forecasting will save
money on inventory acquisition, handling costs and
obsolescence.
An effective ERP (enterprise resource planning) or
inventory management solution can help by gen-
erating inventory requirements so you can reduce
on-hand inventory without reducing customer
service levels or increasing stockouts. Less inven-
tory takes less space, so your overall warehousing
and storage management performance will improve
automatically.
Optimize Your Warehouse Layout
Design
Analyze your physical characteristics of the ware-
house, the materials you need to store and the
material flow. Then, slot the warehouse to optimize
storage. Frequently picked items should be stored
near the front to minimize travel time within the
warehouse, and small and large items should be
stored in different racks to optimize shelve spacing
and minimize the chance of losing the small items.
Use All the Space You Have
Effectively
Warehouse space management requires thinking
in multiple directions, including vertical. With the
right industrial storage systems, you can build up
instead of adding more square footage. Using all
of the available vertical space will save on carrying
costs, enabling a more effective warehouse design.
The right warehouse storage systems can make all
the difference in operational efficiency.
Maximize Your Warehouse Material
Handling Equipment
The right material handling equipment can increase
productivity and improve safety for your team.
Make sure your equipment is suitable for the loads
you expect, and include a margin of safety in your
calculations. It’s also important that aisles are wide
enough for fork trucks to maneuver safely and that
they are equipped with working lights and a horn.
Your material handling equipment is key to opera-
tional efficiency, so take good care of it. Train your
team to do a pre-shift equipment checkup, and
schedule recommended maintenance regularly.
AS/RS Warehouse Storage
Solutions
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for
maximizing warehouse space and improving over-
all warehouse inventory management is by using
an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/
RS). These material handling systems store large
volumes of materials in a small footprint and help
eliminate errors. When integrated with a state-of-
the-art warehouse execution system (WES), they
can have a major impact on almost every aspect of
your warehousing and storage operations.
An AS/RS reduces travel time in the warehouse,
automatically improving efficiency as well as accu-
racy. Integrating your WES and ERP solutions with
an AS/RS will provide the ultimate solution in your
drive toward maximizing warehouse space without
losing operational efficiency.
These material handling suggestions are just the tip
of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to max-
imizing warehouse space. The dedicated team at
Westfalia Technologies can help you with every
aspect of warehouse space management, including
recommending the right material handling systems
for your unique business requirements.
www.WestfaliaUSA.com
The Satellite Review
7