So you have a building, and you want to know what the first steps are to get your warehouse operations up and running. The first thing you will need is basic knowledge of the facility. Where are the dock doors and how will inventory be loaded? You also need to know information about your forklifts. The height that the forklift can lift, its width, and its turning radius are things you should note before you begin deciding on the pallet rack and storage equipment.
Next, you will need a drawing of the building, and you need to decide where to put the pallet rack. If you don’t have a drawing, or aren’t comfortable doing it yourself, your rack dealer would need to come out to your facility to do some measurements. If you aren’t sure of where exactly to lay them out, a reputable dealer should be able to take care of that for you if you provide the basic information I discussed in the first paragraph of this post. You will want to think about exactly what your business does and what it will be storing to get the most out of your choice of pallet rack system, as there are a few different types.
There are a few other details that are important before you get all of your equipment and finalize a design. Definitely note the ceiling heights, and if there are any hanging lights, pipes, or a sprinkler system that would obstruct the rack. You should also know where the columns are, if there are any in your building.
With these first steps, you are well on your way to getting your operations going. Check our warehouse design service for examples of drawings and more information on designing your warehouse, and contact us with any questions.
