How to manage your warehouse stock efficiently

The correct management and organisation of stock is essential for the proper functioning of a warehouse: the entire logistics chain depends on it. It is therefore necessary to know the basic concepts of storage to gain efficiency and choose the best management method for your warehouse.

The basic rules for optimal inventory management in a warehouse

From the control of the methodology to its application, including optimisation, stock management in a warehouse must follow certain rules:

Master the ABC product classification method

The ABC method is a classification method often used in warehouses to optimise the distribution of inventory in a warehouse. The idea is to categorise in order of importance your products to divide them into three groups: A, B and C

• Category A items are usually in high demand, high turnover or the most urgent items. They usually represent the highest revenue for the company and account for 80% of sales (Pareto Rule 80-20)
• Category B are items of secondary importance.
• Category C are low demand, very low turnover items.

this categorisation aims to achieve greater inventory control by prioritising those products with the highest value, or which require a differential level of control. The closer the goods with the highest demand are to the loading and unloading areas of the warehouse, the lower the handling costs will be

how to implement this system?

The management of A, B and C products must respect some rules to make it more efficient

• Store the A products on the most accessibleshelves: entrance of the warehouse, central areas…
• B and C products, which tend to be less in demand, can be placed on external shelves, usually less accessible.

by optimising the organisation of products within the warehouse, the most requested products will be found more easily, reducing time and increasing efficiency.

Optimise storage space

How to optimise storage space to facilitate the logistics flow?

It is important to manage the space available to facilitate the movement of goods. This will vary depending on the product to be stored or the method used

• For archives: almost no space is needed between products
• For manual handling: leave a small space at the top and sides to access the goods
• For mechanical handling: leave 75mm at the sides and 100mm at the top

la optimización de los flujos logísticos: sistemas LIFO Y FIFO

Hay dos métodos principales para gestionar el almacenamiento entrante y saliente.

El sistema FIFO

El sistema FIFO(First In, First Out –“Primero en entrar, primero en salir”) es ideal para el almacenamiento de productos perecederos (alimentos, medicamentos, cosméticos…) de forma que saldrán primero aquellos que están más próximos a su fecha de caducidad,

También permite una buena rotación de existencias.

El sistema LIFO

A diferencia de FIFO, LIFO(Last In First Out,“Último en entrar, primero en salir“) funciona de la siguiente manera: el último producto entrado en es el primero en salir del almacén, teniendo por tanto prioridad las nuevas mercancías.

¿Cómo gestionar la manutención de tu almacén?

En un almacén se mueve mercancía, equipos y personas, y es importante analizar y optimizar todos esos movimientos. Descargas, recepción, preparación de pedidos, etiquetado, controles de calidad...

Los medios de manutención son

• Manual transport: pallet trucks, forklifts, stackers…
• Mechanical transport: forklift trucks, order pickers…
• Others: automated guided vehicles, conveyor belts or rollers, overhead cranes…

manual, semi-automatic or automatic, which is the most efficient method of palletisation?

• Manual palletisation consists of placing the products/boxes on the pallet and then filming them by hand to ensure the stability and solidity of the whole.
• Semi-automatic palletising is carried out by an automatic palletiser controlled by human hands.
• The automatic palletisingthe robot, or wrapping machine, will film more quickly, with minimal manual intervention and maximum efficiency.

choose a good rack for storage

There are different supports adapted to the type of racking and storage

• Adjustable chipboard racking for light products: Ideal for light storage, up to 150 kg.
• Adjustable metal racking for medium-heavy products: Practical and aesthetically pleasing with a capacity of up to 200 kg.
• Adjustable chipboard shelving for heavy products: It has a large capacity and supports up to 600 kg.

once your needs are established, depending on the nature of your products, the turnover rate of your products and the handling system, you can decide on the racking to choose.It is also important to inform, and train, your employees on the rules set up in the warehouse to ensure a smooth logistical flow.

The 4 key points to remember

• Mastering the ABC method will allow you to know your products better and adapt your storage accordingly.
• Logistics optimisation involves incoming and outgoing goods systems, called LIFO and FIFO.
• Proper handling of goods, a correct logistical flow and the right choice of storage equipment can help to reduce logistics costs and gain efficiency.

at Rajapack we are experts in packaging, so if you have any doubts, you have landed in the perfect place, call 902 20 30 06. You can also send an email to contacto@rajapack.es or visit our website:

Source of images: Thinkstock®