Utilizing the available space in a storage facility is the backbone of most warehousing businesses. Despite how large your floor space is, finding innovative ways of maximizing the usage of the available space is crucial.
You want to avoid common warehousing problems such as workflow inefficiencies, loss of goods, damaged goods, and additional maintenance costs that occur due to inadequate storage solutions. As such, your warehouse has to adopt the use of well fabricated storage bins that match your storage requirements.
To help you better understand the choice of storage bins that best suit your warehouse, we have detailed factors and flow patterns to keep your eyes on.
What Factors Influence the Choice of Storage Bins?
Storage bins offer storage solutions on a miniature level, whereby you store small-sized items like nails. It is recommended that you work with expert shelving and racking designers who will help you come up with the most suitable storage bin configuration for your warehouse (even for the most unusual bins).
In general, your storage bin fabricator will consider the factors discussed below when designing and fabricating custom storage bins for your warehouse.
- Storage Capacity
The size, shape, and height of your storage largely determine the storage capacity of your warehouse.
You want to easily improve the discharge rate of goods in your warehouse without inconveniencing yourself with the need for sorting out. As such, smaller, color-coded bins in one shelf are more convenient that one large bin container. The colors on the bins help you sort out goods easily.
- Discharge Frequency
There are particular goods that move faster than others. The need to often move these goods means that your bins will be moved around frequently.
Consequently, your warehouse requires retractable bins that are easy to operate.
- Discharge Rate
It would help to establish a standard rate of operational flow in your warehouse. Discharge rate helps you determine the efficiency of your warehouse. Nevertheless, calculating the discharge rate of goods in a warehouse is challenging, especially if your warehouse lacks standardized storage solutions.
Storage bins enable you to calculate the amount of goods your warehouse is handling within a specified period.
- Thermal Regulation
You must store foodstuffs and perishable goods like fruits in storage bins that facilitate for easier thermal regulation. Hence, ensure that you install storage bins that allow easier temperature control in different locations to reduce the cost of damaged goods.
- Loading Capacity
Your storage bins will be constantly subjected to various loads such as dead loads from the weight of the bins, imposed loads from the goods, and pressure from temperature changes.
You need storage bins that can maintain structural integrity when you load them with goods, or there are frequent thermal fluctuations.
Which Flow Patterns Influence the Choice of Storage Bins?
Apart from storage requirements, you also need to consider how your goods will be moving in and out of your warehouse, as well their flow pattern. As such, you need to evaluate the most suitable flow pattern (among the three we will explain below) before selecting the storage bin design.
- Funnel Flow
A funnel flow pattern is ideal for cost reduction, seeing that it requires less bin fabrication. On the other hand, the funnel flow of goods gives rise to sorting problems. Basically, funnel flow is suitable for a warehouse that works with a first-in, last-out flow of goods.
- Mass Flow
A mass flow pattern facilitates a simultaneous flow of goods in all the storage bins. Additionally, mass flow bins facilitate a smoother and traceable flow of goods because the first goods in the storage bins are also the first out.
Hence, it would help if you consider other storage bin requirements before settling for a particular design.
- Expanded Flow
Expanded flow is a blend of the two flows; mass and funnel flow. The expanded flow calls for less floor space and costs for the bins than in a mass flow. Additionally, less fabrication is required, as is the case with funnel flow bins.
Conclusion
Understanding your storage needs, flow requirements, and other factors before starting the fabrication process is the best way to ensure that you obtain the best storage bin solution for your warehouse. Ensure you get a verified vendor for your storage bins installation.
