The layout of your facility dictates daily decisions about product location, picking paths and methods, receiving and shipping, and so forth. But what if that layout doesn't really meet your operation's needs? Unless you happen to be Sampson, you can't move columns (or dock doors, for that matter) to create a more efficient layout. But there are some steps you can take to make the most of the space you've got.
To help managers struggling with facility layout issues, consulting firm Gross & Associates and the Warehousing Education and Research Council have teamed up to offer a two-day seminar called "Maximizing Warehouse Space." Instructors will provide tips for analyzing and quantifying current operations, describe common warehouse design and layout mistakes, and discuss key factors to consider when designing a facility. Participants will learn how to evaluate different types of storage modules, lift trucks, conveyors, picking methods, and work flows. On day two of the seminar, attendees will put these tips and tools to use as they work as a group to redesign a fictional distribution center.
The next session of "Maximizing Warehouse Space" will be held Feb. 10-11 in Dallas. For more information, visit www.werc.org.
