Warehouse organization ideas to boost efficiency

The best warehouse organization ideas are those tried and tested in numerous client facilities across multiple sectors and validated by storage experts.

How to organize the warehouse

When organizing a warehouse, it’s essential to consider all the processes and operations performed daily, such as inventory management, order fulfillment, and shipment coordination. The purpose of storage systems is to improve efficiency in these spaces, reduce operating costs, and ensure high accuracy and quality for a company’s customers.

A crucial aspect of managing inflows and outflows is arranging product placement for easy identification and quick retrieval. Visible labels, properly adapted shelving, and efficient inventory control are critical for optimizing these work areas.

Another excellent strategy for supervising and digitalizing a facility is installing a warehouse management system like Easy WMS. This software intelligently assigns locations, sequences tasks, and automates information flows to minimize errors, provide real-time inventory visibility, and streamline key logistics processes. Additionally, it integrates with leading ERP solutions and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RSs) on the market.

Common mistakes when organizing a warehouse

Starting operations in a logistics facility without prior planning or the guidance of an expert team often leads to these problems:

• Inefficient design. If pick paths and product storage are suboptimal, valuable time and resources will be wasted by the day. Attention should be paid to loading docks, space layout, and the type of shelving, robots, and machinery to be used. In addition to causing bottlenecks, design flaws often lead to overstock due to improper product turnover.
• Lack of item location knowledge. If goods aren’t properly labeled or employees don’t have a WMS to indicate their positions, all processes will be delayed.
• Stockouts. When stock levels are unknown and real-time access to this information is unavailable, customers may not receive what they ordered.
• High return rates. If fulfillment processes aren’t sufficiently optimized, professionalized, or automated, there may be shipment errors or delays, resulting in customer dissatisfaction.

What are the best practices when organizing a warehouse?

Although no two facilities are the same and may require different solutions to reach their full potential, certain practices can significantly streamline operations. Here are some warehouse organization ideas we recommend:

Move away from paper-based management

Relying on paper-based organizational systems makes it difficult to archive information for future reference and could lead to lost data. To achieve real-time visibility into what’s occurring in your facility, transitioning away from pen and paper or Excel should be one of the first changes.

Apply the lean method

The Japanese management and operations philosophy known as the lean method identifies and eliminates activities that fail to add value to the production process. These include excess stock accumulation, bottlenecks, and unnecessary movements.

Leverage vertical space

Instead of expanding horizontally or relocating your facility, look at making the most of its height. AS/RSs can lift loads using stacker cranes or pallet shuttle systems, and rack-supported buildings can stand over 150' high.

Automate processes

The rise of online sales and events like Black Friday have transformed warehouse and distribution center operations. Installing automated systems like picking robots helps associates handle peak periods more efficiently.

Use the ABC analysis

The ABC inventory categorization technique organizes goods based on their relevance, value, and turnover. Type A items are the most strategic, B items move more slowly, and C items are those consumed the least.

Label products

Identifying products according to industry standards via barcodes that associates can read with RF scanners makes it easier to pick the correct merchandise.

Implement cross-docking

In cross-docking, goods spend minimal time in the warehouse between their receipt and subsequent distribution to the customer. Allocating a small space for this activity improves the use of storage areas in addition to reducing operations and material handling.

Collect metrics

Gathering data on warehouse tasks helps detect possible inefficiencies, identify areas for improvement, increase profit margins, and lower operational costs.

Deploy Easy WMS

The Easy WMS warehouse management system ensures fast, simple integration with any ERP and other third-party software. It’s a valuable tool for all of the scenarios mentioned above. Similarly, it integrates with Interlake Mecalux’s automated and robotic systems as well as solutions from external companies.

How AI can optimize warehouse organization?

AI is another valuable tool for improving warehouse organization. For instance, picking robots successfully sort items and fulfill orders using computer vision, while autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) navigate without predefined routes thanks to machine learning. Moreover, predictive maintenance keeps machinery running longer by avoiding unplanned downtime.

Practical use cases of how to organize an industrial warehouse

Many companies rely on AS/RSs and specialized management software to handle large volumes of inventory:

• Miguélez. This Spanish manufacturer of low-voltage electric cables stores more than 38,500 tons of products in its facilities. With two AS/RSs and a pallet racking system, Miguélez efficiently accommodates various product formats, including coil, spools, and reels.
• Blechwarenfabrik. At its Offheim (Germany) center, the company makes over 100 million containers a year. Operations are structured around two automated warehouses — one for raw materials and another for finished goods — and managed by Mecalux’s Easy WMS.
• Grégoire Besson. The French farm machinery manufacturer works with a wide range of sizes, weights, and product classifications. To optimize order processing, it combines cantilever racks, selective pallet racks, and a mini-load system at its Saint Germain sur Moine site.

How do you organize a small warehouse?

When your space is limited, warehouse organization becomes even more critical. To maximize its potential, bear in mind the three Fs: function, form, and flow of materials.

• Function. Define the operations that will take place in the facility.
• Form. In a small warehouse, every inch counts. The storage solutions you choose should maximize available space to support your project’s success.
• Flow of materials. With limited square footage, bottlenecks are more likely. Careful planning is vital for ensuring smooth movement of goods.

Organize your warehouse with Interlake Mecalux

At Interlake Mecalux, we upgrade operations in all kinds of facilities with storage systems, cutting-edge AS/RSs, and WMS solutions. We work closely with our clients, tailoring our software to their particular needs. Are you looking to take your supply chain to the next level? Be sure to contact us to learn more about Easy WMS and how we can optimize your logistics operations.