If you are the manager of a warehouse, factory or distribution center, you have probably wondered what you could do to have the perfect storage system.
Unfortunately, this is an unanswered question, as every business can be constantly improved.
However, that doesn't mean we can't try, does it? Aiming to put together a storage system ideal can be beneficial for your company: everyone wins when the organization strives to improve flows, space and operations.
With this in mind, Bertolini Storage System has put together comprehensive content on the subject. Below, you will find all the necessary information about How to set up the perfect storage system, starting with the ideal location and addressing issues such as inventory model, supplier efficiency and what storage solutions are available.
Check it out!
Learn how to choose the ideal location
Before assembling the perfect storage system, you need to ensure that the space is well located. This factor is very important, as it directly affects the achievement of goals and the maximization of profits.
After all, the closer you are to suppliers and customers, the faster goods can come and go. At the same time, large cities tend to have high prices per square meter, making it difficult to build large spaces.
Decide the warehouse location It is not an easy task, so we recommend that you take into account crucial factors such as:
Strategic location
Where are your main customers and suppliers? Where are the most cost-effective locations for raw materials and supplies? The answers to these questions will help you decide on the warehouse location.
Remember that your business needs to be physically close to inputs that directly impact production, whether they are materials or organizational. However, having a strategic location also means rethinking what is a priority for the company. Would it be minimizing transportation costs? Having qualified labor nearby? Or giving priority to fast deliveries?
Proximity to distribution centers
When deciding on the warehouse location, we cannot ignore the importance of distribution centers. They are responsible for distributing the product and vary according to the company's sector — for example, retail factories are usually located near urban centers to speed up deliveries.
When we talk about the location of the warehouse, it is important to emphasize that proximity to distribution centers also impacts the flow of goods. Therefore, if you choose to stay away from urban areas, check whether the location has, at the very least, easy access to the country's main highways and roads.
Structure quality
Of course, strategic location and proximity to distribution centers are important, but we cannot forget the quality of the structure. Your warehouse needs to meet the company's operational demands, so issues such as floor resistance, layout, ceiling height and security system are crucial.
Understand the flow of materials in the warehouse
After the stage of warehouse location, a good manager needs to know the flow of materials in his organization.
Material flow aims to transport and store such materials throughout the production process, with the minimum possible transfers and taking care of losses and damages. Having this course in mind helps to think of strategies that reduce the chances of error and enhance results.
In general, the material flow in the warehouse follows the model described below:
1. Receipt
It all starts when the inputs arrive. With the help of forklifts and graders, the items are separated according to their specifications, and then moved on to the next stage.
2. Conference
Before the goods are sent to the warehouse, they must be checked to ensure that they match the order. This is where the responsible employees check that the quantity is correct, that all items have been delivered and that none of them have been damaged during transportation.
3. Storage
It is at this stage of the material flow in the warehouse The operator checks the address code and whether it is in compliance with the location to which it was destined. Once confirmed, the forklift stores the material.
4. Identification
Just imagine the confusion if the products were not identified! After being stored, the materials need to receive some type of identification, which records not only their main characteristics, but also their location within the warehouse. This data, in turn, must be included in a system so that they can be found quickly whenever necessary.
5. Separation
Avoid bringing together storage and separation areas in one space, as this can negatively impact the material flow in the warehouse. Ideally, they should be close together so that employees can move easily between areas.
6. Packaging
Once the company receives the order, it needs to package the product so that it can be sent to its final destination. The main objective of this step is to ensure the safety and integrity of the merchandise throughout its journey, so it is necessary to use bubble wrap, stretch film or foam.
7. Expedition
Finally, the goods are sent to the industrialization process using appropriate equipment or are transferred to vehicles to be taken to their final destination.
Discover the storage solutions available
So that the material flow in the warehouse happen without major problems or interruptions, you need to have the storage equipment certain. Each solution meets certain needs and the most common models are:
Pallet rack system
This system facilitates the search for goods and can adapt to changes in size in relation to the space in which they are located.
You storage equipment Pallet trucks operate correctly in order separation, work with medium to high product turnover and can be expanded to large structures. Thus, they work in any positioning direction.
In terms of operation, the pallet truck is compatible with all types of forklifts available on the market. It also supports different combinations of dimensions, weight and load volume.
Bertolini offers three types of pallet racking systems:
– Conventional;
– Double depth;
– Narrow corridor.
Regardless of the types of storage equipment chosen, managers will notice improvements in inventory control, storage optimization and organization for the company.
Self-supporting warehouse
Bertolini Sistemas de Armazenagem's self-supporting system reduces the need for common steps in the construction of a conventional warehouse, making the investment more profitable.
Those storage equipment They are made up of the highest level of engineering solutions, capable of withstanding large loads and heights. Their structure protects the goods from any adverse weather conditions, minimizing the risk of damage.
Furthermore, the self-supporting warehouse is developed vertically, being adaptable to the spaces. It offers different degrees of automation and combines intelligent structure, high performance and resistance.
Flow rack system
The popularity of the flow rack is attributed to its operation: gravity does almost all the work. Thanks to a conveyor belt or rollers, the material enters from one side and exits from the other. When the material is removed, the next item takes its place.
Thus, the order maintains that the first to enter is the first to leave, according to the philosophy (put in italics) First In, First Out (FIFO). This philosophy is essential in organizations that deal with tighter shelf lives, such as perishable foods.
When we think about this philosophy, it’s easy to understand why flow racking is so beneficial: the “waiting lines” move as new products are placed in the queue. Therefore, the first ones in are the first ones out, improving the flow control.
Other advantages of the flow rack system include:
– Perfect integration with other systems;
– High productivity performance;
– Savings of up to 70% in travel time.
Cantilever system
Within the universe of storage equipment, the cantilever is especially recommended for companies that need to store large parts, products and goods. Its horizontal and vertical structures benefit all processes carried out within the environment in which it will be inserted.
Another advantage of the Cantilever system is that it is easily adaptable and can be modified to better meet the company's needs. The implementation of this equipment includes important aspects that have been designed and prepared for the company's future: flooring and leveling.
Its adoption brings great benefits to the warehouse as it is a resistant system, providing a truly positive investment. In addition, its simplified structure increases the flow of daily activities. It is also capable of storing different types of material, with a fast operational process and suitable for changes.
Shelving system
Finally, we have the shelving system. Bertolini Storage Systems developed the Lightweight Shelving System based on the technical knowledge and needs of companies that operate with storage. This equipment offers logistics processes the storage of items on a continuous surface, without the need for utility accessories, such as boxes and pallets.
Therefore, the main advantage of this system is its flexibility in use for storage processes. In addition, its operation allows the loading and removal of products to be done manually, which is ideal for small businesses.
This storage equipment changes the layout of the space, as it is possible to add one or more walkway floors. Likewise, shelf levels can be added, which help in the development of operations.
Evaluate the efficiency of the supplier or strategic partner
It's impossible assemble the perfect storage system without having good suppliers. They are essential for the company to be able to provide its products and services at low cost and with high agility. However, having a broad supply network is not enough — it is necessary to carry out an assessment to see if the contracted companies are actually being efficient.
Despite knowing the importance of this process, many managers do not know which criteria to use when carrying out the evaluation. Generally, the most considered factors are:
Delivery time
The longer your delivery time, the more dissatisfied your customer will be. To ensure that your production is not delayed due to a lack of supplies, you need suppliers who meet estimated delivery times.
Evaluating this criterion is quite simple: just pull up your order history and see if deliveries were made on time and with a high level of quality. Of course, occasional delays can happen, but if your history reveals constant delays, you may need to change suppliers.
Price
Although we cannot base the quality of a supplier on the price charged, this factor weighs heavily in the decision of which company to choose. In these times, the best thing to do is to find a balance, that is, which strategic partner has the best cost-benefit.
If possible, talk to other customers of the supplier to see if the price they offer reflects the service provided.
Ability to adapt
All companies, regardless of the industry they operate in, need to have a plan. This is the only way they can meet their deadlines and meet customer expectations. However, unexpected events do happen — and it is in these types of situations that you can see your suppliers’ ability to adapt.
Of course, because these are unforeseen situations, they will not always be able to meet the demands. However, their supplier evaluation You need to list your partners’ ability to adapt. Ask yourself the following questions: How do they react to requests that were not originally agreed upon? Are they able to streamline the process and meet demands frequently, or do they end up hindering more than helping?
Customer service
Finally, we have a metric that many people overlook, but is extremely important: customer service. Think about the times you had to contact your supplier, whether to place an order or ask a question. Were your points of contact efficient and helpful? Did they exceed expectations or leave something to be desired?
When evaluating a supplier, it is very important to take customer service into consideration, as this is the contact you will have with the company. If partners are not careful when dealing with companies, this can mean internal communication problems that, in turn, can impact the quality and time of deliveries.
Avoid accidents
THE perfect storage system It needs to be an accident-proof environment. Unfortunately, many organizations do not pay due attention to safety measures and this makes Brazil the fourth-largest country in the world in terms of workplace accidents.
According to the Labor Prosecutor's Office, since 2012, more than 700 million days of work have been lost due to accidents. This generates expenses that exceed R$70 billion.
Without security in logistics warehouses, workers are exposed to risks that can be fatal — but that's not the only reason why it's necessary to know how to prevent workplace accidents. Ignoring safety when storing materials and products has a direct impact on the company's financial side, since accidents can cause:
– Need for new hires;
– Removal of workers;
– Prohibition of the environment.
The big issue is that many companies see security mechanisms in warehouses as an expense, while they should be seen as long-term investments. This includes the formation of an Internal Accident Prevention Committee (CIPA), signage of spaces, rigorous selection of storage systems, among others.
It all starts with the risk assessment. It may seem obvious, but it is always worth reinforcing: every company must provide its workers with completely safe facilities. This is not just a concern, it is the law — there is a set of regulatory standards on occupational health and safety. Failure to comply with these rules will result in the application of the penalties provided for in the relevant legislation.
Prevention happens in five steps:
1. Identify possible risks to exposed workers;
2. Assess and prioritize risks;
3. Plan the necessary preventive measures;
4. Adopt such measures;
5. Monitor and review processes.
We also approached the Internal Accident Prevention Committee, better known as CIPA, as a way to promote security in logistics warehouses. Every company with more than 50 employees is required to have one, according to art. 163 of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT). The purpose of this body is simple: to prevent accidents and illnesses resulting from work, combining work with the preservation of life and the promotion of employee health.
However, in many cases, we see that the CIPA is treated merely as a formality so that the organization is not fined. It is extremely important that managers encourage their employees to participate in this organization, so that it has an active voice within the company and looks after the interests of its employees.
Volunteers are responsible for monitoring working conditions, analyzing risks, and carrying out safety inspections. In other words, everything that is necessary to ensure that prevention work is done correctly.
We cannot forget the crucial role of safety signs. Regulatory Standard 5, NR 5, states that companies must adopt colors to indicate and warn about existing dangers and other safety-related information, such as:
– Equipment and piping areas, in addition to warning about risks;
– Emergency exits and fire extinguishers;
– Use of mandatory equipment for that area of the company;
– Pedestrian crossing in areas where free movement is not safe.
Finally, to ensure the security in logistics warehouses, managers need to choose very carefully the storage equipment. The supplier must be committed to the well-being of its employees, in addition to delivering good storage solutions. The products must have undergone rigorous safety tests, as this is one of the ways to prevent workplace accidents.
Bertolini Sistemas de Armazenagem has been in the market for over 30 years, and is a reference in its segment. This successful trajectory has only been possible thanks to constant investment in training and cutting-edge technology to produce the most effective and safe solutions.
This mega content was designed to help factory, warehouse and distribution center managers. Even though there is no such thing as a “perfect storage system”, we can always strive for excellence.
This is what Bertolini Sistemas de Armazenagem has been doing since 1984. The company is committed to sustainable growth combined with environmental awareness and social responsibility.
Bertolini works alongside its clients, with a specialized technical team to study and plan the best solution with the best products, according to the needs of each partner. Thus, it generates value with innovation and competitiveness, standing out as a reference in South America in its segment.
After all, it’s not just about storing, it’s about how to store. Bertolini has the answer to your problem, so get in touch by calling (54) 2102-4991 and see what we can do to elevate your business.
