No matter what business or industry you’re in, when you’re running a warehouse or workshop, one of the most important factors you need to consider is the efficiency of your storage systems – and the most effective system is based on the basics of organization. A well-planned industrial storage system not only presents your business in a professional light, it can vastly improve your workflow and, therefore, the efficiency and output of your employees and your overall profitability.
However, unlimited space is not a luxury every business has, so a little lateral thinking may often be required.
The importance of utilizing floorspace
Floorspace is a valuable commodity to any business, but particularly when it comes to those requiring a warehouse or workshop facility to operate. If your business has limited floorspace available, the key is making it work both smarter and harder. The practical storage of tools, parts and inventory is of vital importance to your workflow in terms of retrieval time and increased organization and productivity.
Maximizing your floorspace comes down to the design and implementation of a custom tailored solution – in other words, what works best for your space and individual needs. The things you need to consider when working with a small space are:
- Maintaining inventory control
- Affording quick and easy access to critical tools, parts and inventory
- Maximizing available space (small footprint products, going vertical)
- Flexibility for changing needs
- Protection and security for expensive tools and inventory
- Maintaining a clean, organized work area
At Workspace NW we’re experts in making the most of small spaces, with our high density solutions, which include products like steel cabinets with storage, vertical racking, drawer dividers and more. We service a huge range of industries, so whatever your needs, we’ve got you covered.
Modular makes sense
The secret (and it’s really no secret!) to stay ahead of the game and be flexible to the changing needs of your business is the use of modular products. The implementation of innovative modular storage components can and will transform your workspace – no matter how much or how little square footage is at your disposal.
No two businesses are the same, so it doesn’t make sense to focus on a one-size fits-all approach to storage systems – particularly if you’re dealing with a small space. With a durable modular system, you’ll be on the front foot when it comes to the most vital things to optimize your workflow:
- convenience
- flexibility
- customization
Our custom tailored solutions make use of a range of different components and strategies, and there’s nowhere that benefits more from this kind of approach than a warehouse or workshop with limited available space. When you go modular, there’s no need for expensive moves or expansions, your storage will flex and adapt with your changing needs.
Modular storage cabinets with drawers
Making the most of your space means ensuring that every critical item that needs storing can be easily identified, protected, and retrieved in an efficient and timely manner. Our steel cabinets with storage from trusted companies like Lista, Stanley and Vidmar are specifically designed to be customizable to whatever needs a client has.
When you’re storing sensitive, irregularly-shaped, high-value tools and parts, or high-volume inventory, the importance of dedicated and identifiable locations for every item is paramount. Modular steel cabinets with storage are available in a variety of heights and footprints, and precisely because they are modular, it means the system can be tailored to whatever a business needs to maintain a smooth and efficient workflow.
For those with limited square footage, the incorporation of mobile cabinets and toolboxes (which can be moved around the workshop or warehouse) is a great way of optimizing space, as is installing high-density modular cabinets underneath work surfaces.
Vertical stacking
Making use of vertical space is one of the most effective ways of maximizing floorspace in a small warehouse or workshop. If you’re gaining SKUs and can’t afford, or don’t want to expand premises or move to a new one, going up is the only direction you need to know about! Stacked systems, like the Mini-mezz from Vidmar, allow you to greatly increase your capacity by adding modular steel cabinets with storage where and when needed. If you need to store bulky or heavier items, a pallet rack system like the Vidmar STAK system allows you to retrieve items without the use of a forklift.
The use of a vertical system allows you to quickly and easily identify and access items without the time-consuming effort of having to search aisles or shelving for critical items. Using modular components means the system can remain flexible and adapt to the changing needs of a business.
Vertical storage can:
- Increase your operational efficiency (less time to retrieve critical items)
- Maximize floorspace (by going ‘up’, your available floorspace is freed up, eliminating ‘dead’ space)
- Optimize security (innovative modular vertical components protect sensitive items and promote accountability)
- Improve useability and ergonomics (ease of access for staff is facilitated in numerous ways)
- Gain storage density
- Increase staff productivity
Drawer dividers
When floorspace is at a premium, every square inch counts, and so even the space within modular steel cabinets with storage can be maximized.
Pull out drawers with drawer dividers allow you to streamline the organization of small tools, parts and inventory by segmenting them. It prevents tools, parts or SKUs from getting mixed up together, which can make rapid identification and retrieval much harder. Adding this kind of efficiency makes it easier for employees to find what they want, and elevates the effectiveness of your system to a higher degree.
Even more precise organization can be afforded by the use of customizable trays to store very small parts (bolts, screws etc), which can be stacked within the drawers.
In a small space, the use of steel cabinets with storage using drawer dividers will not only enhance productivity and workflow, but also the security and ease of access means that employees’ health and safety is protected. Modular units can be spaced correctly and efficiently for the most efficient, safe and comfortable accessibility without the need for excessive bending or stretching.
Compact layouts
When your operations need to function within the constraints of a small warehouse or workshop, it’s imperative that a compact, considered layout is designed to your individual needs. Space utilization is key to every aspect of the workflow, including storage and retrieval of critical items and inventory, staff performance and productivity, and the flow of tools, equipment and materials.
The most important considerations for an effective layout are:
- Effective management of available space
- Facilitation of free movement (aisle width, use of vertical space)
- Efficient handling of materials, tools, parts and inventory
- Flexibility for future growth and increase in SKUs
- Staff morale and productivity
In a nutshell, your layout needs to facilitate the ability of your business to run as efficiently as possible. It’s certainly more of a challenge when the space at your disposal is limited, but the implementation of a flexible, modular storage system, which is designed to grow and adapt as your business evolves, is the most crucial element of a compact warehouse or workshop layout.
Get in Touch
If you’re looking to maximize the limited floorspace of your warehouse or workshop to make your business run more smoothly and efficiently, increase profits, improve the productivity and morale of staff, and help present you in a professional manner, get in touch with the team at Workspace NW. We’ll design and implement a tailored, American-made modular storage solution based on your individual needs, which will overhaul your productivity and optimize your efficiency regarding the way you store consumables, equipment and tools. Ready to transform your workspace? We’re ready to help!
