Warehouse Space Planning: Creating a Layout

In the first two articles of the series, we talked about assessing your current warehouse space usage and beginning the search for a new warehouse. We went over the importance of taking the time to accurately gauge how you’re currently using your existing warehouse space before making plans for the new space, and how important it is to include hard data in this assessment. Then we moved on to the process of finding a new warehouse space that will accommodate your storage and logistics systems, and that is tailored to your unique business needs. During this phase, it’s extremely important to be thinking about the type of storage system you’re planning to use, such as drive in rack or selective pallet racking. We’ll also want to be cognizant of factors like state and local codes.

Warehouse Layout Design

At this point, we’ve looked at our current warehouse space usage and used this data to map out our future storage and warehouse space needs. We’ve then used these criteria to find and select eligible storage spaces. Now that we’ve tackled these challenges, it’s time to create a warehouse layout that will serve your business’s needs and ultimately give you a return on your investment. For this step, be sure to find a professional who knows how to design a warehouse layout.

Warehouse Floor Plan Layout

Like our first two phases (determining your space usage and beginning the search for a new warehouse), there are plenty of variables to work with when crafting a warehouse floor plan. For example, the shape of one building may prove to be more suitable to our needs than another because of the aisle widths we require. Another example is the spacing of building columns. Depending on your objectives, your storage system may demand a certain building column spacing, or a dock location that minimizes travel time and leaves room for staging.

Once the layout is complete and all parties are happy with the result, any storage height restrictions should again be reviewed. Crucial but often forgotten variables like clearance to sprinkler systems and lighting will be key factors in warehouse space planning. It’s important to bear in mind that having a certain clear height in your warehouse doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be able to store product that high. We want to avoid signing a lease, only to find out afterward that only 22’ of the 25’ clear height can accommodate storage due to sprinkler systems and/or local codes.

Get Help with Designing Your Ideal Warehouse Storage Space

If you’re going to be purchasing a pallet racking system for your new storage space, the wise move is to work with a specialist that can provide both consultation and the material itself. A professional with experience in warehouse storage design will also be able to facilitate crucial steps in the planning process, like pulling permits, verifying code compliance, and making sure the concrete slab can support the storage system. This will save your company both time and money by ensuring that everything is done right the first time.