When warehouse expansion is not an option

Many executives are faced with the challenge of finding additional space and choosing a new construction is not always the most cost-effective solution. The issue is that companies need to expand and moving to a new facility is pricey. More precisely, a new construction supposes finding the right location, buying the property, actually building the new facility and relocating the infrastructure and the equipment to the new premises. As anyone can imagine, both the costs of disassembling and moving the machinery together with the entire processing line are extremely high. Additionally, leasing is not a good solution since the costs associated with a short 3-year lease rise to over half a million.

When the company is squeezed out of space, it is necessary to consider that the main issue is actually poor space utilisation, which is often the result of steady growth and changing storage requirements. Even though traditionally warehouses are built so as to handle projected volumes, they are typically expected to adjust to the demands of the customers and implicitly become more efficient. In order to accomplish short-term goals such as mixing loads to simplify customer processing warehouses resort to customisation steps. These steps take up floor space. Poor space is also the direct result of not using low vertical space. The logical solution is to redesign the warehouse so as to accommodate more room.

When there is need for more space, the logical step is to go up rather than go out. In other words, with simple industrial shelving systems businesses are able to optimise the existing space. Shelving units may be very similar in appearance, there are noticeable differences between them. Industrial shelves in particular are designed to allow you to fit more into less. Not only are they manufactured from strong material such as steel and metal, but they are also very flexible and adjustable. Shelving opens up locations and allows faster moving products. Additionally, order picking labour associated with slow movers is significantly improved. Those who experience difficulties with space organisation can call a designer that will visit the site for free and that shows exactly how you can achieve more space with long span shelving systems.

Another option is to resort to mezzanine floors which are specifically built to fit specific areas. Either single or multi-level, they can be installed in processing plants, retail stores, warehouses, distribution centres and more. What the mezzanine does is adding a second or third level, meaning that it double the existing space. However, the most typical solution is to get new workbenches that both save space and please the employees, since they are made in different sizes and using different materials, they actually make a change in the performance of the business.

Taking into consideration that the equipment you have is the core of the business, you have to make the right choice. The solutions presented above make sense because they are cost-effective and allow you to accommodate more space. In the end, the business should consider its specific operational requirements before making any changes.

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