How to Consolidate a Spare Parts Warehouse
Consolidating a warehouse is a decision that is made in an effort to reduce unnecessary costs. This is especially helpful if you have an excessive amount of warehouse locations that are within a certain radius of each other. If you choose to consolidate a spare part warehouse, you also increase the quality and amount of work you are able to get done since there are fewer locations to worry about.
- Calculate the amount of warehouse space you actually need. If you are spreading your inventory thin, determine the amount of space that you are actually using and compare it with the amount of space that you actually have. Even though you ideally want to have a little more space than what you need, having too much space is a complete waste of money unless you have plans in the near future to dramatically increase your inventory options.
- Consider the storage options you have available. Before you are able to consider the storage options, first cube the space you have so you are able to tell the types of shelving options you have. Some shelving designs require less space than others, so consider the amount of space you actually have to work with before purchasing the new replacement shelves and racks.
- Calculate the amount of time you need for the consolidation project and plan accordingly. If you do not plan according to the amount of time you need, you could very well end up losing a great deal of the money that you would have otherwise been saving by consolidating the warehouse in the first place. Implement your plan as soon as you have it in order. If you decide to wait, this is also money that is being wasted by keeping the other warehouse locations in business.