The application of modern technologies significantly improves procedural quality. Optimal warehousing of goods also involves designing ergonomic spaces. We place significant emphasis on:
- Practical spatial layouts;
- Safety and ergonomics.
Let’s briefly explore these aspects.
Practical Spatial Layout
An ergonomic warehouse design is based on four key zones—goods reception, storage, picking, and dispatch. The goods reception area handles deliveries, quick unloading, and preliminary quality checks. Once in the storage zone, goods are stored according to the company’s chosen strategy. Depending on traffic intensity and product rotation speed, items are appropriately segmented. Logistics warehouses also require picking areas designed to minimise employee travel between shelves, considering pedestrian movement and forklift operations. A well-designed warehouse also features an optimised dispatch area, enabling quick and accurate product dispatch.
Safety and Ergonomics
The goal of an efficiently functioning warehouse is to eliminate accidents involving humans and prevent goods damage. The first step to achieving these goals is identifying and clearly marking hazard zones. These are usually distinct, clearly visible markings, sometimes including physical barriers. Such preventive measures facilitate work in safe zones and encourage heightened caution in areas with increased accident risks.
Ergonomics, an integral part to all the aforementioned factors, is the final element. Warehousing and transportation involve planning ergonomic tools and workstations, anti-slip surfaces, and sufficiently wide work zones. Last but not least, let’s not forget the rest areas, which should provide adequate conditions for recovery.
Methods for Optimising Warehouse Processes
Today, effective warehouse management relies on several crucial optimisation methods:
- ABC analysis;
- Demand forecasting;
- Just-in-time approach.
The ABC method classifies goods based on their value and turnover, allowing focus on the most significant items (marked as category A), which generate the highest turnover. This further optimises storage and warehousing costs. Demand forecasting, based on trend analysis, seasonality, and historical data precisely determines procurement and production needs. The just-in-time approach however, reduces stock levels by delivering goods exactly when required, minimising storage space needs while lowering the risk of expiration.
