eBook - Warehouse Solutions (EM21060) - Book - Page 6
EMPLOYEE AND PEDESTRIAN
SPACE
As you design your facility layout and
flow, ensure you do not forget space for
your employees. This may include office
space and packing, labeling and weighing
stations, as well as ample space for
employees to travel through the facility.
Establish designated walkways that
separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic to
limit the potential for interaction. Signage
that identifies these different warehouse
areas should be strategically placed
to be visible to pedestrians and forklift
operators. Walkways should be outlined
and defined by guard rails, durable floor
tape, painted lines or UL-approved line
and image projectors.
A good rule of thumb is
that once your facility
reaches 80% of its storage
capacity, you should
consider it full since you
need space to maneuver
equipment and move
pallets.
ROOM FOR GROWTH
While you must have the workflow and
layout that meets your current needs, they
also should be able to adapt and align
with growth strategies, accommodate
planned or unplanned fluctuations in
demand, and integrate new product
production or distribution. A good rule of
thumb is that once your facility reaches
80% of its storage capacity, you should
consider it full since you need space to
maneuver equipment and move pallets.
At this point, you need to consider adding
another building, expanding the existing
building or deploying a different storage
method, such as narrow aisle or high-bay
storage.
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