28 Feb CAD Warehouse Design – Incidentals, FIFO, and Permits
“If you are thinking about getting a CAD warehouse design done for you then there are a few things to consider. One of those things is the methodology with which your inventory will be handled as far as it relates to the first in-first out method of storage. FIFO for short.”
If you are thinking about getting a CAD warehouse design done for you then there are a few things to consider. One of those things is the methodology you select to handle your inventory. FIFO for short. It is most commonly associated with businesses where time is a massive factor. Timing factors in how potent their product is or if something will go bad. You can see this sort of method of storage at play in companies where food, medicinal drugs, and bioproducts such as blood supplies are tracked and stored.
You may also have some chemical agents in this category too as they may only be stable in a form for a defined amount of time. It could be your business is something we have never heard of yet. However, it does not change the fact that timing is a real issue in a business that needs to adhere to FIFO standards. Time issues are a cause for a loss of profitability. It may also have disastrous effects on the end-user. An end-user needs it to be potent or to be in working order when they receive and use the product.
Last In-First Out:
If you do not have to follow FIFO rules then you have more options for your warehouse design. It is because you do not have to optimize your warehouse for the movement of a product from one end to another. It also gives you more room to select different types of pallet racks for your business. A “pallet flow rack” or “gravity flow rack” makes the most sense for your business. It is because it allows you to place newer products in the back of the rack system and the oldest comes out of the front where you pick the items. The system pushes the next oldest product to the front of the line. It does so through the use of gravity and specially designed rollers. The rollers make sure that the product does not sustain damage as it travels to the front. However, since you do not have to follow FIFO then you can use another type of pallet rack called a pushback rack system.
A pushback rack system follows last in-first out which is the reverse of FIFO. Newer products load into the area where you pick the items. The design means that the newest product leaves first. It also means you do not have to optimize for maximum speed from one area to the next. It is because of “danger zones” or times that a product is out of cold storage. If you still want to have that done then you can. It is not totally necessary which gives you more room to plan for other developments over time.
“If you have storage shelves or racks taller than 5’9” then it will probably come up as well. Your warehouse needs to be planned with this in mind and procuring industrial-grade storage racks with proper seismic testing/calculations is very important.”
Another thing you might want to think about is the incidentals you will need in your warehouse. It makes sense to work with a company skilled in this area. They have worked with other companies like you. The experience of doing that can help you get things you need that you did not know you need upfront. Maybe it is a pallet jack because you forgot that you will need one and you have to figure out where that will be stored when not in use. Perhaps it is rolling shelf units you can use to transport office equipment or other tools around. It is good to lean on someone who has experience planning out a warehouse design for maximum effectiveness. It is especially useful when that business has worked with your particular business type before. They can help you make sure that you are completely ready. Moreover, they will help you when it is time to open the doors to the warehouse. They can also help during a warehouse redesign.
A CAD rendering redesign will help the productivity of your workforce. There are other little things that can help that you might not think about like pallet rack safety pins. Safety pins will keep your shelves from falling on you or your employees. Every little piece of information could be useful for your business in the future.
Permit Process:
There is another subject that you have to keep in mind. The subject is the permit process for your storage shelving or racks. If you plan to store your products vertically then permitting is something that will come up. If you have storage shelves or racks taller than 5’9” then it will probably come up as well. Your warehouse needs to be planned with this in mind and procuring industrial-grade storage racks with seismic testing/calculations is very important. You do not always know which racks do have it. You should be asking for the seismic calculations and testing when you are looking to purchase a rack. The company assisting you should know. They should supply it or ask for it so you do not have to worry about it. They should also help you get through the process of having a fully legal warehouse. You will have a warehouse with all the permits it needs to operate.
If it sounds like a lot of work and a lot of paperwork then you are correct. It is true if you want it set up properly. Truth is that many people do this haphazardly and face fines and fixes later that can be costly. Why not plan it all out first. You can move on later when you are sure what you have going on in your business. It will avoid a lot of problems. You do this just by planning and working with someone or a company that has experience and knowledge. That experience and knowledge can help you through your journey to a fully functioning legal warehouse.
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