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■ Space Optimisation
Space...
...not the final frontier
Chris Adams of dynamic storage experts Interroll adds his opinion to the recent ‘ShD
Investigates’ article about Space Optimisation.
ShD recently published a very interesting The previous article gave many good efficient use of the space. The added benefit of
article on high density storage solutions. examples of better utilising this ‘frontier’ to being able to speed up the operation should
This article gave some good examples of get more into the same space volume. also not be ignored, particularly in today’s
available solutions utilising rack and fork However, this is not the only frontier. markets where speed of response is so
lift trucks that make more use of Another consideration in most warehouse important.
warehouse space. Greater utilisation of applications is time. Time costs are for people Dynamic storage (or live storage as it is
warehouse space gives obvious better use of and materials handling equipment, e.g. fork sometimes known) is a solution that can
the costs to build and maintain, meaning lift trucks. Savings in time often provide even provide both benefits of time and space. This
lower costs per pallet stored. greater benefits than those given by more can be applied to pallets and/or cartons in the
warehouse. There are two
areas of dynamic storage:
bulk storage of pallets; and
picking from either pallets or
cartons.
Dynamic storage will also
add the key benefit of First-In
First-Out (FIFO). FIFO is a
major advantage to operations
that involve date critical items
such as food, drink and
pharmaceuticals as well as
many other items.
The key consideration in
analysing potential benefits is
to understand the stock profile
and also the mode of
operation. The vast majority
of warehouses follow the
Pareto principle of 80/20,
where 80% of the stock held
is only 20% of the items or
Stock Keeping Units (SKUs)
held.
These SKUs are the ‘A’
articles and the prime stock
segment for consideration in
24 ShD June 2007 www.PressOnShD.com
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