A review on few strategies that will help to optimise the industrial warehousing operations

  With increased globalisation, the need for efficient warehousing operations has also gone up. In this growing era of automation, the warehouses are becoming less labour oriented. Manual operations are now being replaced by sophisticated technologies to cater the requirements of manufacturers as well as the customers. In an urge to deliver maximum with the available resources, optimising operations has become a prerequisite. Some strategies which can be implemented to make operations productive in warehouses are:

1.    Maximise storage space:
 Racking occupies a large amount of warehousing space but often there is a lack of understanding that there is a smart way to choose and set up racking in a warehouse. “Well installed and managed racking systems have led to increase in output of warehouses by manifolds. The storage space can also be maximised by shifting work areas on mezzanine structure, which is a very basic solution. The next generation warehousing suggests using alternate storage techniques for complete utilisation of warehouse space,” says Rahul Sagar, Assistant General Manager – Marketing, Maini Materials Movement.

Some of the advanced storage techniques to optimise warehouse space include:
• Narrow aisle pallet rack
• Very narrow aisle pallet rack
• Double deep pallet rack and  pushback rack.

Efficient material handling    equipment:
Material handling industry has witnessed an innovation boom in the past few years. In spite of the fact that customised material handling equipment are now available for every kind of operation in the industry, people are still tied to conventional material handling technology out of the fear of capital investment without realising the savings they can achieve in a long run by eliminating labour costs. New age equipment like reach trucks have proved out to be a must have for smart warehouses. Most of the high reach modern warehouses now a days deploy distinctive types of reach trucks, as they are designed mainly for warehouse operation, giving full lift height with outstanding manoeuvrability. Double deep reach trucks are designed specifically for demanding applications like cold chain, with greater lift and travel speeds and higher lift heights. It permits operators to be seated, lean or stand with optimum flexibility.

Automate operations:
Automated warehousing systems provide the maximum possible usage of available floor space and building height. It offers advantages in areas of dock management, put-away, sortation, picking and tracking. Streamlined operations in automated warehouses help to increase productivity and save time. The essential elements of an automated warehouse are AS and RS systems, layer forming and robotic palletizers, appropriate material handling equipment and transfer cars. AS and RS systems offer following benefits:
• Optimal space utilisation
• Expanded storage capacity
• Shorter supply chain
• Increased delivery accuracy.

4.    Incorporate WMS:
 Warehouse Management System (WMS) has become a necessity in order to synchronise the automated functions with other warehouse tasks. It enables one to have a real time visibility of one’s warehouse operation and helps to plan the upcoming tasks accordingly.

“An adaptable WMS can provide all the tools needed to set up in a store fulfilment operation, including order capture, store mapping, work queue management, wave planning and real time inventory tracking. It helps to maintain more accurate inventory levels through improved supply chain planning and more efficient product replenishment,” says Sagar.

Sagar adds that Maini Materials Movement (A Maini Group Company) has been instrumental in helping its clients in building next generation warehouses to improve its supply chain efficiency. Armes Maini Storage Systems (a JV between Ferretto Group from Italy and Maini Group) offers diversified products ranging from the basic pallet racking to the complex automated storage and retrieval system. Maini Materials Movement also has a strategic alliance with the Hyster-Yale Group, USA for the sale and marketing of the Yale brand of counter balance fork lift trucks; reach trucks, order pickers, very narrow aisle equipment and the manufacture of the RCF series and MR series in India.

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New age equipment like reach trucks have proved out to be a must have for smart warehouses.

Rahul Sagar,
Assistant General Manager – Marketing,
Maini Materials Movement