June Roundup: Warehousing, Manufacturing & Automation
Trends for industrial storage, handling and safety
We’ve curated a monthly list of relevant articles, tips and information from some of the smartest people in manufacturing, e-commerce, distribution, safety and more as well as some links to advice from Cisco-Eagle that we hope you’ll find helpful.
Warehousing rental costs on the rise
This should be no surprise at all in today’s inflationary environment.
According to the MHEDA Journal and author Gene Marks, the cost of finding and occupying a warehouse is on the rise despite an era of economic uncertainty. In most American markets, higher rents are being driven by record low vacancies and robust demand. In some metro areas, warehouse rental rates have risen as much as 20% halfway through 2022.
Key takeaways
- Find ways to utilize your existing space as efficiently as possible. It’s a good time not to need more space.
- Be sure your financial house is in order. It’s a seller’s market for industrial space, so a strong financial record can help you compete for the space you need. Landlords are in a position to demand more transparency from their tenants and can be choosier than in the past.
- Be ready to commit. Landlords are asking for, and getting, longer-term leases these days–as much as five years is standard.
- Work with a pro. It’s never been more complex and demanding to find and get the best deal on the best space. A real estate expert may be able to answer questions in ways that put you in the best position.
Read more: Cisco-Eagle’s guide to Space Optimization (PDF download)
Steel King releases pallet rack safety guide
Because pallet racks are the most common industrial storage method in the world, rack safety should always be a top priority.
Steel King has released a free PDF download–a guide to rack safety. It’s 12 pages of advice, illustrations and standards that anyone who runs a warehouse should read. Topics include rack damage and how it affects capacity, the riskiest areas of a facility and advice on rack safety inspections.
Key takeaways
- Beam deflection guideline. Beams will bend under heavy loads as designed, but they shouldn’t unless they’re loaded. If the beam is bent when unloaded, replace it. Even under load, beams shouldn’t deflect beyond tolerance. Maximum deflection is beam length divided by 180 at the midpoint under an evenly distributed load.
- Capacity is critical. Racks have more than one capacity rating, so it’s important to know both. Beams are straightforward and can accept evenly distributed loads per pair as listed in your specifications. Frame capacity is more complicated, as it is dictated by the amount of vertical space between beams as well as the frame’s construction. It’s advisable to consult a professional if you aren’t certain of either your rack’s actual capacity or its ability to bear the load you need it to.
- What’s around your racks? Good lighting, clear aisles and protective equipment at the column bases contribute to a safer rack environment.
The download has lots more great information. You can also consult our pallet rack blog for more rack safety tips.
More from the supply chain and warehousing world
- Practical Ecommerce covers “Supply Chain Bottlenecks from the Trenches”. Christopher Dobroth writes about his challenges sourcing products, along with high demand, labor shortages and price increases.
- From Automation.com, Claudia Jarrett makes the case for “Why Warehouse Managers Should Increase Investment in Automation.” It’s a matter of replacing repetitive manual tasks with automation. While automation is costly, manual processes tend to always be more expensive, slower and less safe in an environment of scarce labor and space.
- MHI has released the 2022 Distribution Center Metrics Report and Digital Tool, which measures 36 key operational warehousing and distribution center metrics over five balanced sets: customer, financial, capacity/quality, employee and “perfect order” subsets.
- Hytrol’s Chuck Waddle has advice on Working Alongside the Supply Chain Crisis. He emphasizes the need to squeeze efficiency out of your operations in a time of material instability, during which companies are forced to innovate by finding better ways to pick, transport and pack product quickly and efficiently.
- Modern Materials Handling has data on current labor trends – Survey: Talent and labor on the rise.
Scott Stone is Cisco-Eagle's Vice President of Marketing with more than thirty years of experience in material handling, warehousing and industrial operations. His work is published in multiple industry journals an websites on a variety of warehousing topics. He writes about automation, warehousing, safety, manufacturing and other areas of concern for industrial operations and those who operate them.