Out of space? You are not alone. With increasing SKUs and inventory levels, many warehouse operators are staging products in the aisles, using outside storage, and mixing SKUs in locations. All of this lowers labor productivity and impacts quality. So, where is the hidden capacity in your warehouse?
Finding Hidden Warehouse Capacity
October 15, 2019
Tags: warehouse, warehouse space savings, space saving
Posted in Space Optimization & Planning|
Vertical Considerations For Automated Programs
October 3, 2019
With e-commerce operations moving at an ever-increasing pace, you must take every advantage to meet consumer expectations. You not only want to save the customer time on their order, but also gain manufacturing and processing time by doing so. With careful consideration and a robust process, each aspect at play in a distribution center or warehouse could be an opportunity to save seconds.
To maximize every advantage, more facilities are turning towards automation to meet those strong demands. By utilizing automation, a distribution center can provide a more flexible and efficient environment in addition to more accurate orders delivered on time. The ability to scale and grow with automation is also an attractive one. But to jump headfirst into the automation process is a daunting task, and can cause an operations manager cause for concern. Two overlooked areas that can become a “tipping point” for this process are mezzanines and VRCs.
Tags: Mezzanines, vrc, mezzanine, vertical reciprocating
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Storage Wars: Buying Pallet Rack In The Age Of Tariffs
September 26, 2019
The only constant is change in today’s global economy. Many companies and operations are waiting with bated breath to see which way the prevailing tariff winds will blow. Warehouses are especially on edge about all of this, considering how international supply chains and manufacturing has become.
One area of concern coming up is that of pallet racks. In the past, a facility could take the chance on a lower-cost imported with the understanding that although the quality isn’t the same, costs may be lower. Now, with tariffs looming, what should you look for in thinking of replacing foreign rack?
Tags: ROI, Pallet Rack
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Navigating Your Way to Warehouse Savings
September 10, 2019
Today’s warehouse managers are fighting growing inventory levels, dealing with increased SKUS, and managing higher frequency of tiny orders. Dealing with this daily grind many often have no time to find or fix operational issues. If your company is not fortunate enough to have a team of industrial engineers, you could be missing many opportunities.
Tags: ROI, inventory, warehousing
Posted in Warehousing & Distribution|
Shoptalk Interview: Seismic Regulations And Your Warehouse
July 18, 2019
Buying standard storage racks for quick-shipment from a manufacturer used to be the norm. You relied on stocked inventory, but this is occurring less and less as racking becomes more specialized and regulations stricter. Today’s storage rack systems are generally considered a building-like element, and as such must meet a slew of regulations.
While these emerging ordinances are continuing to evolve, they can generate considerable headaches for even the most seasoned warehouse manager. You should seek expert guidance from a qualified design professional whenever the racking, foundation, or warehouse infrastructure must accommodate unusual stress, loading, function, or other non-standard factors.
To help you stay up to date with changing requirements and regulation, we discuss how partnering with an expert can help to ensure durable, cost-effective, compliant storage rack with Arlin Keck, an engineer at Steel King Industries, a designer and manufacturer of warehouse storage racks, pallet racks and material handling/safety products since 1970.
Tags: Pallet Rack, warehouse, Safety & Ergonomics, rack, Shoptalk
Posted in Pallet & Warehouse Racks|
Reasons to Replace Old Conveyors
July 16, 2019
Conveyor systems are usually built for durability and an extended working life. With consideration for certain factors like the type of product and usage rates, conveyors can run for years and generate excellent return-on-investment. However, ROI diminishes and the conveyor starts costing more money than it’s worth if it’s extended too long. Systems can be the lifeblood of warehouse operations, so relying on an old one can begin to cost more than replacing it.
There are signs to look for when you suspect your system is affecting your overall efficiency and bottom line.
Tags: Sustainability
Posted in Conveyor Optimization|
Carousels & Ecommerce
May 8, 2019
Once an afterthought in the warehouse, vertical carousels are being reborn in the omnichannel age as a fulfillment finish line product. Retailers are eyeing carousels to help them aid in customer retrieval of picked orders shipped to a retail location, which is giving the carousel a “moment” as a new last-mile darling.
Whether located in the back of the store for employees to use, or at the front for customers to pick up themselves, vertical carousels are showing to be a good fit for this new age of sales. But don’t sleep on their value in industrial settings or distribution channels.
Tags: industrial carousels, ecommerce, vertical carousel
Posted in Automation, Labor & Efficiency|
Load the Barbell: Heavy Lifting Options
April 18, 2019
When you need to move heavy loads, you want equipment that offers the flexibility of a CrossFitter with the power of a power-lifting beast. Lifting heavy loads is no small feat, and understanding which option will work best for your facility, plant, or warehouse will keep your lifts in good form without sacrificing strength.
Tags: manufacturing equipment, hoist, chain hoist, cranes, jib crane, gantry crane, warehousing, warehouse
Posted in Lifting & Lift Systems|
Pretty Much Everything Rolls on Casters
March 14, 2019
Casters are the unsung heroes of the material handling world. Whether you operate a warehouse, facility or plant, you utilize casters every day in your distribution or manufacturing environment.
When you take the time to review your production environment and the types of casters available to you, it is possible to save money, enhance safety and boost production by choosing the right products from the start. This step-by-step guide will help you find the best caster solutions for your workplace.
Tags: casters, industrial casters
Posted in Material Handling|
Dukes of Hazardous
February 26, 2019
For all the work that goes into preventing them, the majority of warehouses share many of the same safety hazards.
Due to the way warehouses handle items and process shipments, many of their workers are subject to similar risks for injury and product damage. While this can seem like an unending cycle of danger, there’s plenty of ways to mitigate these more prominent ones and keep everyone and everything in your warehouse safe from harm.
Tags: industrial safety, warehouse safety, ergonomics, facility safety
Posted in Safety & Ergonomics|