How to Make the Most of Warehouse Space

There’s a massive amount of warehouse space in the UK. In fact, the industrial and logistics sectors take up almost 28 million square feet in this country, not to mention all the other markets that occupy space across the nation. And it doesn’t stop there, as millions more square feet are being built as you read this article. 

But this incomprehensible figure may not mean much to you at all, as warehouse space for small businesses can often be limited, especially in the midst of crucial growth phases. This article will provide some crucial guidance on how to best utilise the limited room in a warehouse, so companies of various sizes and stages can make the most of what they have. 

Understanding how to divide warehouse space

Whether you plan on having warehouse extensions built or not, it’s vital to know how to properly separate and allocate areas in the building. By creating clear division, you facilitate better organisation, efficiency and security. 

Certain areas that should be clearly divided and marked as such include: 

• Offices and break rooms to keep admin away from physical labour
• Picking and fulfillment areas (in retail contexts)
• Specialised storage, such as high-value stock or temperature controlled items
• Loading and unloading bays with clear doors and markings
• Production, assembly or kitting areas for manufacturing warehouses
• High-value caging with electronic access control for specific materials
• Modular wall installation for temporary separations

All of these different zones should be clearly signposted and marked to ensure everyone is consistently aware of what belongs where. 

Balancing vertical and horizontal space

Warehouses have a square footage that most people consider the primary measure of its space, but in reality, it’s important to balance the vertical and horizontal areas to create a truly flexible warehouse space. 

Vertical utilisation

Some of the ways that you can use your vertical space include: 

• Implementing raised mezzanine floors, essentially creating a second floor for storage and movement
• High-bay racking, installed within fire codes to increase storage capacity without using excessive floor space
• Installing vertical lift modules, for automated filing and storage for smaller parts, saving space compared to static shelving
• Creating very narrow aisle systems for high-density storage, which can reclaim other floor space in certain areas

Horizontal optimisation

Along with looking upwards, there are ways to optimise your floor space significantly, such as: 

• Organising stock by priority, ensuring the fastest-moving items are closest to the shipping dock 
• Making sure aisles are all optimised to suit the equipment or machinery that will be occupying them
• Remove clutter and keep the warehouse as tidy as possible, ensuring that tripping hazards are removed and valuable footage is free to be used 

Understanding how to maximise your use of warehouse space in every direction will ensure nothing is wasted, allowing for increased productivity and stock space. 

Investing in extensions

If you’ve done all you can in terms of maximising the space available in your warehouse, there eventually comes a time when you need to scale things up. Some businesses rent their warehouse space, meaning if they need a larger work area, they’ll have to get a lease on a new, bigger site. For those who own their warehouses outright, extensions can be the right move. However, if you’re going to invest in an extension, you need to consider any local regulations and the suitability of any nearby land. 

Control your warehouse space, control your productivity

Mastering and maximising your warehouse space usage is an essential part of developing your most productive, efficient work rate. A clean, optimised space will inspire the same performance from your team, so don’t compromise on it!