1. Define your objectives before beginning the planning process.

 “When deciding on the layout for a warehouse, the

objectives should clearly be defined. The objectives should be aligned with the overall warehousing strategy of the company.
Objectives can be defined at a high level such as to reduce warehousing costs or to provide maximum customer service.
“Equally, the objectives can be more specific, such as maximizing warehousing space, providing maximum flexibility in the
warehouse, or increasing warehousing efficiency without increasing resources.” – Martin Murray, Planning And
Optimizing Your Warehouse Layout – Supply Chain Impact, The Balance Small Business; Twitter: @thebalance
2. Know
plans. Or use a blank canvas and design your warehouse layout from scratch.

The layout of your warehouse is the foundation of the efficiency (or lack thereof) in your operations.

From inventory management to order fulfillment, your warehouse layout design will either streamline your business processes or
slow them down.

If you need help planning your warehouse layout design, we’ll show you 3 principles of an efficient warehouse layout and 4 tips
for getting it done right.

By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of what you’ll need to do to design a functional and effective warehouse.

Principles of an Efficient Warehouse Layout

Before you start designing your warehouse, you should understand what you’re trying to achieve with your warehouse layout
design.

Here are 3 major principles to keep in mind when planning your warehouse:

Flow
Warehouse flow can be summarized as the uninterrupted movement of materials, people, and traffic within your building.

Your first goal should be to cut down on any areas of high traffic or potential for cross-flow crashes.

So, each activity that an employee performs must be located as close as possible to the activity that precedes it and proceeds from it.
objectives before beginning the planning process. “When deciding on the layout for a warehouse, the objectives should
clearly be defined. The objectives should be aligned with the overall warehousing strategy of the company. Objectives can be
defined at a high level such as to reduce warehousing costs or to provide maximum customer service.
“Equally, the objectives can be more specific, such as maximizing warehousing space, providing maximum flexibility in the
warehouse, or increasing warehousing efficiency without increasing resources.” – Martin Murray, Planning And
Optimizing Your Warehouse Layout – Supply Chain Impact, The Balance Small Business; Twitter: @thebalance
2. Know
plans. Or use a blank canvas and design your warehouse layout from scratch.

That also means materials used to perform those activities should be situated as close as possible to each workstation.

Your second goal should be to eliminate as much movement and disruption as possible.

Accessibility
Every product and all products on pallets should be accessible by everyone, usually without the need to move one product to
get to another.

That means structuring your pallet racks in rows that are wide enough to accommodate pallet jacks and trucks, and stacking
and stocking items strategically for minimal interference with one another.

Space
Consider how to maximize the space you can afford, taking into consideration storage, stock, offices, working areas, empty
pallet storage, battery charging, etc.

With a wide variety of vertical racks and freestanding equipment, you should be able to design your warehouse in the way you
need it initially, while being flexible enough to change it in the future if desired.

Tips on How to Plan a Warehouse Layout Design

Now that you know the basics of what your warehouse needs to achieve, here are a few tips on how to achieve it.

Define Your Objec objectives before beginning the planning process. “When deciding on the layout for a
warehouse, the objectives should clearly be defined. The objectives should be aligned with the overall warehousing strategy
of the company. Objectives can be defined at a high level such as to reduce warehousing costs or to provide maximum
customer service.
“Equally, the objectives can be more specific, such as maximizing warehousing space, providing maximum flexibility in the
warehouse, or increasing warehousing efficiency without increasing resources.” – Martin Murray, Planning And
Optimizing Your Warehouse Layout – Supply Chain Impact, The Balance Small Business; Twitter: @thebalance
2. Know
plans. Or use a blank canvas and design your warehouse layout from scratch.

tives
Defining your objectives begins with the principles we outlined above and is carried forward by the specific goals your particular
business needs to achieve within your specific industry.

Each business will have different objectives for their warehouse.

Some businesses want to optimize their inventory receiving, while others need more efficient pick and pack processes, and others
will design their warehouses for crossdocking.
Regardless of your objectives, make sure that your warehouse design helps you achieve them.