Punch above your weight
Edward Hutchison, managing director of BITO Storage Systems, looks at a storage solution that offers value for smaller operations.
Smaller operations can deploy a range of storage techniques and equipment to fine-tune the efficiency of their warehouses. Not only can they maximise their existing space, but they will also be better placed to compete with bigger competitors.
With smooth material flow, minimised floor space occupation, maximum utilisation of storage volume and immediate product availability, an SME can provide competitive logistics productivity and efficiency. More importantly it will give them the agility to respond to any changes in business circumstances.
Order picking from live storage is a great solution for SMEs. In these systems, banks of flow shelves can be installed to provide new or additional pick zones in free areas of their warehouses –resulting in faster picking operations. Other key benefits of live storage include reduced manpower and improved space saving, constant availability of stock for pickers and FIFO stock rotation.
Live systems are particularly suited to SMEs who need to compete with larger rivals that may be benefiting from the deployment of automation. While live storage will initially cost more than static shelving or traditional pallet racking, it gives a far greater pick location density – typically saving up to 20 per cent of floor space for small parts storage, for example, compared to static shelving, while travel time for pickers can be improved by two thirds.
Carton or pallet live storage is an agile solution that can adapt readily to changing business circumstances. For example, rather than set up new pick locations to deal with peaks that will be under-utilised for most of the year, companies can gain significant advantage from optimising existing pallet racking by retro fitting live storage flow shelves in the lower bays of existing racking to provide live storage.
Designed correctly, a live storage system will give an SME smooth material flow, minimised floor space occupation, maximum utilisation of storage volume and immediate product availability –all vital contributors towards improving logistics productivity and efficiency.
