An optimized warehouse makes life easier for employees and customers alike. Unfortunately, cluttered and chaotic workspaces are common. Problematic pallet racking is often to blame, as are unclear or insufficient labels. With a few modest adjustments, however, it's possible to revitalize an otherwise dysfunctional warehouse environment.

Maximum storage density is always the goal, but it should not come at the cost of efficient retrieval or worker safety. Today's most creative pallet racking solutions provide the best of both worlds: exceptional efficiency and high volume storage.

The goal is to make the most of every minute and square foot. Effective warehouse storage can accomplish all of this and more — especially if it incorporates strategic pallet storage racks.

Below, we go over the different benefits of improving your storage system, and ideas on how to do so.

Benefits of Improved Pallet Storage

Strong warehouse organization is absolutely critical in today's competitive market. There is no room for error or inefficiency in your enterprise's workflow. Even modest adjustments to your pallet storage setup could deliver huge cost savings and productivity improvements. Key benefits worth considering include:

Increased Storage Density

Given the rise of micro fulfillment and general increases in operational costs, it should come as no surprise that business leaders feel pressed to do more with less. If storage density can be improved, there's no need to pay for larger, less efficient spaces.

Facilities with exceptional storage density also tend to be more scalable; while this usable space may not always be required, it makes it possible to handle sudden spikes in demand with ease.

Decreased Order Fulfillment Times

Immediate access to inventory is crucial in an age of heightened customer demands. Not only does faster order fulfillment lead to greater customer satisfaction, but the strategic inventory management required to achieve this expedited pace also limits time and labor costs.

Keep Workers Safe

Improvements to density and efficiency should not come at the cost of worker safety. All pallet rack storage ideas must emphasize employee protection. Often, improvements aimed to increase productivity have the positive accompanying effect of boosting workers' long-term health and safety. For example, automated solutions such as pallet shuttles limit the need for heavy lifting or dealing with heights. 

6 Pallet Rack Storage Ideas to Increase Efficiency

There is no universal solution for pallet storage. A variety of factors must be taken into account; it helps to examine different pallet storage ideas before narrowing your options based on the situation at hand.

Consider implementing these pallet rack ideas to make your warehouse or distribution center safer and more efficient.

1. Add Vertical Space

Warehouses can only obtain so much square footage, but vertical space often goes unused. Perhaps it's time to ditch the single uprights and add extra levels to the mix.

The easiest solution? Stacking pallets vertically. This is a wonderful option for storing larger items while also freeing up valuable floor space. Of course, the decisions don't end there. Many types of pallet racks exist, so you'll need to choose the right setup for your facility. Top racking systems include:

• Selective pallet racking. Featuring single-deep rows with several levels, selective systems are ideal for high-SKU operations, especially when FIFO (first in, first out) is required.
• Drive-in and drive-through pallet racks. If items don't need to be moved as quickly, drive-in pallet racks may optimize storage space for LIFO (last in, first out) solutions. With this system, forklifts are limited to one side. Drive-through options are preferred when high utilization rates are necessary. They work best for FILO (first in, last out) inventory that needs to move quickly. Under this approach, forklifts load on one side and unload on the other. 
• Push-back pallet racks. High-density push-back racks offer single-lane selectivity for faster picking. This is a great middle-ground solution for those unwilling to compromise on either volume or efficiency.
• Pallet flow racks. Pallets are loaded in the back of the system and then flow to the front for picking, pallet flow racks are ideal for FIFO inventory where there are a smaller number of high-volume SKUs.

Freestanding mezzanines and catwalks can be added to further enhance both capacity and flexibility. Cantilever racks may prove necessary for items that cannot be properly stored via pallets.

2. Clear Aisles

Inventory should never block aisles. Not only does this constitute a huge safety hazard, but it also limits warehouse productivity. Labeling promotes clear aisles by providing visual cues regarding the flow of traffic and the proper spaces in which items should actually be kept. Highlight fixed spaces in which major assets can be stored — and use a high-density pallet racking system to handle inventory.

3. Sort Orders

Items stored in your warehouse should be categorized according to sales volume. The most popular items will ideally be the most accessible, as this will reduce retrieval time. 

When in doubt, turn to the ABC Analysis of Inventory as a warehouse management blueprint for profiling your orders. This incorporates three distinct categories:

• A: Bestsellers that take up limited space
• B: Mid-range items that are typically bulkier than products in category A.
• C: The remainder of your inventory, including the largest items with the least impressive sales figures.

Keep in mind that products firmly found in category A during one season may shift to category B or C later on. Be prepared to adjust categories and locations according to seasonal shifts in demand.

4. Change Layout

If your warehouse's current layout limits efficiency or storage capacity, what's keeping you from making strategic changes? A different layout could transform how your warehouse operates. 

As you develop a new, more targeted floor plan, pay close attention to your workflow. The goal should be to avoid crossover whenever possible. This is only possible if all areas are clearly defined. As mentioned previously, this is best accomplished with a strategic labeling system. 

The experts at WH1 can help with your layout design needs.

5. Remove Bottlenecks

Traffic jams should never exist within the warehouse environment, and yet, such hold ups are all too common. Known as bottlenecks, these situations involve sudden and significant delays to an otherwise streamlined warehouse process flow.

Even if the rest of the warehouse operates at maximum efficiency, bottlenecks will impede productivity until they're resolved.

Bottlenecks are common, but not inevitable. Audit your operation to determine where they exist and whether any of the previously mentioned warehouse solutions could be helpful for resolving them.

Often, they result from poor labeling or excessive crossover traffic — so once you address these problems, you may find that major holdups become a thing of the past. Other common issues worth fixing include:

• Improper allocation of workers to high-need tasks
• Outdated or poorly maintained equipment
• Poor lines of communication 
• Unreliable WiFi connection

Bottlenecks may also occur if your pallet racking system or general warehouse design is not chosen according to your specific material handling needs. For example, if high selectivity is required but you choose a system that prioritizes high density, bottlenecks are all but guaranteed.

6. Efficiently Receive Inventory

An effective workflow should free up valuable space for receiving inventory. Often, however, receiving is a cumbersome process filled with delays and miscounted items. Many large-scale accuracy concerns involve receiving, so it's extra important to optimize this process. 

Effective receiving starts with a reasonably spacious dock, where workers can operate more effectively. Free up space by using strategic pallet solutions elsewhere in your facility. Many of the pallet storage ideas mentioned previously should eliminate blockages and expand much-needed dock space. 

Add real-time tracking to the mix to provide greater insight into the receiving process. Through careful tracking, you can determine early on whether miscounts or other errors have occurred. These can then be fixed quickly, before they lead to bigger problems.

Transform Your Pallet Rack Setup With Help From Warehouse1

If the pallet rack storage systems highlighted above are any indication, customized solutions are essential for streamlining your warehouse. The wrong approach could lead to costly errors and inefficiencies.

Changing up your warehouse layout or workflow may seem intimidating, but you don't have to go at it alone. At Warehouse1, we're happy to provide the insight and guidance you need. Contact us today to learn more about our warehouse pallet racking solutions.