In this video, we discuss how to maximize efficiency in your warehouse by planning the layout effectively. We talk about organizing boxes, planning aisle width, utilizing forklifts, and optimizing space for deliveries. Remember, organizing your warehouse layout is crucial for easy retrieval of items without much effort.
Planning your warehouse layout is all about organization. You should approach your warehouse layout the same way you'd plan a showroom layout — making everything accessible, flexible, and easy to retrieve.
1. Questions to Ask When Planning Your Layout
Before organizing your warehouse, consider the following:
Is there room to stack boxes, and if so, how high?
Will you use forklifts, and if so, what kind? Are your aisles wide enough to accommodate them?
Can large and small boxes be separated?
Can you separate your space into categories, with models organized together?
How much space do you need for prepping deliveries?
How much space do you need for receiving products?
Does your warehouse have Wi-Fi or internet access? (This is required for using pocket scan.)
2. Large Box Organization
Store like models and brands together. This makes retrieving items much easier when you know where similar products are located.
Label warehouse locations with location signs. This makes receiving items easier, since these locations also match up in RPS.
Use wide aisles with product labels facing out. Wide aisles accommodate forklifts, and outward-facing labels make it easier to scan items when receiving or delivering.
Never stack boxes higher than recommended, for two key reasons:
Safety – boxes stacked too high can become unsafe and may topple over.
Product damage – boxes stacked too high can crush the products underneath them.
3. Small Box Organization
Just like with large products, organize small products into categories and keep labels facing out for easy scanning. A few additional considerations:
Segregate service parts from install parts. This organization makes it easier to find what you need.
Use open boxes for picking parts. Since parts are often sold in bulk, an open box makes them easier to find and retrieve.
Set up min/max levels for ordering. This tells you how many of a product to keep in stock and how many to order.
4. Setting Up Min/Max Levels in RPS
Min/max levels let you set a minimum and maximum quantity to keep in stock for a given product, so you always know how many units to order.
Steps to View Order Requirements
Click Menu.
Go to Purchase Orders.
Click Order Requirements.
Click the Stock Levels tab.
Select the appropriate key.
Look up a specific model.
Example: How Min/Max Works
Suppose your minimum required stock is 10 units.
You currently have 12 on hand, but 21 have been allocated.
This leaves you -9 available.
To allocate the 9 units needed and still maintain your minimum of 10 in stock, you would need to order 19 units.
Setting Min/Max for a Model
Click the model number.
Click the black arrow next to the model.
This opens the min/max settings, where you can set your minimum and maximum stock levels.
For more detailed instructions on setting up min/maxes, check the link provided at the end of the original video.
5. Handling Damages and Open Box Products
Shrink-wrap open box items to protect them from damage.
Add a new inventory tag once an item has been received back into inventory.
Segregate damaged items. Since every manufacturer has a different process for returning damaged items, make sure damaged products don't make their way back into sellable inventory.
Summary
Design your warehouse layout around organization.
Keep aisles wide enough to retrieve products easily.
Keep labels facing out for easy scanning.
Organize products into categories to make finding them easier.
Use min/max levels in RPS to stay on top of ordering needs.
Handle damaged and open box items carefully to keep inventory accurate.