5 points of improvement for the right warehouse layout

Choosing the right solutions for your warehouse layout is no easy matter. Where should you start? To get you started, we collected five essential questions and looked for the appropriate answers. This will ensure that you can create order out of chaos and also meet all standards in terms of hygiene and safety.

Five points of improvement for your warehouse layout

With the following 5 questions & answers, we want to give you a handle to make improvements wherever you want. Whether in transport, storage, picking or daily maintenance. With them, you will steamroll your warehouse and office into a safe, clean and organised working environment.

► 1. How do I easily move my goods?

Moving boxes weighing several hundred kilos is no easy task. In a large warehouse, you will soon have to transport these goods over quite a distance. To relieve your back as much as possible, it is then best to use rolling stock. Just think of:

• Transpallets: transpallets are the best solution for transporting your largest goods or bulky pallets. So you can transport the heaviest loads in your warehouse with a minimum of effort.
• Pallet trucks: a pallet truck or trolley allows you to easily move boxes of medium size and weight (up to 600 kg load depending on the model).
• Hand trucks: a hand truck takes up little space and allows you to easily transport a stack of boxes (up to 400 kg load depending on the model). Thanks to the versions with a push plate, you don’t even have to bend over and thus put less strain on your back.

► 2. How do I store my products clearly?

Products lying around in your warehouse taking on a life of their own? A nightmare when you want to keep everything orderly and tidy. Without the right warehouse layout, you risk spending hours looking for the right product. Some products will also need extra protection from dust or dirt. So you also need to take this into account when choosing the right warehouse layout:

• Plastic stacking bins: stacking bins are simply placed on top of one another. You thus gain a lot of space and can sort your products nicely. The versions with front opening make it easy to put the products in or remove them from the bin.
• Multipurpose boxes: this type of box can be completely closed, giving your products extra protection against dust or dirt. They are perfectly stackable and transparent so you can easily see which products are in the box. The models with front opening also allow you to quickly remove your products from the box. Ideal during order picking!
• Storage bins: cardboard storage bins are an environmentally-friendly and sturdy solution for organising and storing your products. You arrange your products by type or size, for example, and thus always keep a good overview.

We already have the storage bins, now we just need to put them in a rack for maximum space saving. Warehouse racks allow you to organise loose products as well as stack your storage bins. To complete the picture, you can then add industrial labels to each storage area. This way, it is clear at a glance where a particular product is located.

► 3. How do I pack my products efficiently?

How do I pack my products efficiently? A simple question with an extensive choice of solutions. In terms of warehouse equipment, for example, you can think of integrating:

• Packing tables: packing is much easier with a packing table. You have everything within reach and can continue working without interruptions. The accessories for a packing table are endless, so you can adapt it perfectly to your needs.
• Unwinders: unwinders and cutting stands are indispensable at every packing station. You always have your packaging material to hand and can cut it to size. This prevents unnecessary waste!
• Breaking knives and shears: they are small, but indispensable in any working environment. So make sure every packaging station or employee is equipped with their own cutter and scissors.

► 4. How do I keep my warehouse and office clean?

Order and cleanliness are seen as an important factor in keeping the overall atmosphere in the workplace optimal. What should you definitely have in house to keep everything spotless?

• Mats: the necessary mats will keep your floor clean everywhere. This prevents dirt from spreading in your warehouse or office.
• Bin liners: never leave waste lying around, but throw it away immediately in a suitable bin liner. Coloured bin liners also make sorting easier.
• Waste bins and waste bag holders: always have waste bins in sufficient locations in your warehouse and office. In this way, you can already prevent waste lying around and sort everything correctly.
• Cleaning paper and cleaning materials: to get rid of dirty stains quickly, always have a supply of cleaning paper handy. There are different types, both for light use in the office and for industrial use in e.g. garages, workshops, warehouses, etc.

► 5. How do I ensure safety in my warehouse?

Safety first! A golden rule in any workplace. So make sure your staff always work in a safe working environment. To help them do this, it is also advisable to use:

• Disposable gloves: whether you have to work with rough, sharp, greasy or chemical products, it is always safer to use a suitable pair of gloves.
• Safety clothing: safety jackets, safety helmets, earplugs, protective coveralls, etc. They all do their service to ensure the safety of your workers.
• Safety glasses and dust masks: protect your workers’ eyes with safety glasses and prevent them from breathing dust with a dust mask.
• Signalling tape: provide your warehouse and storage areas with the necessary signalling tape so that it is clear to everyone where the danger zones are located.