Not all products move at the same speed. While managing a warehouse or distribution center in New Zealand, you may notice that some items fly off the shelves every week or even every day, while others remain in storage for months before being picked.
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Knowing these differences gives you the opportunity to adjust your storage layout so that each type of inventory is placed where it makes the most sense. Keeping both fast and slow moving inventory in mind while designing your storage layout allows you to make better use of your space and make your facility run more efficiently while saving costs. In addition, with appropriate and effective Pallet racks With the system in place, you’ll have an easier time organizing your storage space in a way that accommodates products that move in different steps. This sets the stage for a warehouse setup that supports both day-to-day efficiency and long-term flexibility. In this article, we will share some tips that you can take into consideration.
Prioritize access and speed for fast-moving inventory
Fast-moving inventory refers to high-demand items that must be picked, packed, and shipped quickly. Accommodating the turnover of these goods means adopting a warehouse layout that reduces the time it takes to retrieve these items while also allowing space for regular replenishment.
When storing fast-moving goods, the main consideration is accessibility. Ordered products should be near dispatch areas and select stations to reduce transportation time. This is especially important in busy centers such as Auckland or Christchurch, where expectations of same-day or next-day delivery are high. Safety also comes into play, as areas where products are stored are subject to heavy traffic from employees and equipment, such as forklifts and trucks. Clear paths and well-designed layouts implemented by Racking NZ providers can also help improve workflow efficiency without sacrificing safety.
Here is a list of best practices when designing warehouse layout for flash inventory:
- Use golden areas: Place high-demand products between waist and shoulder height so workers can pick them up without bending or reaching. This reduces stress from repetitive movements, plus it speeds up the process.
- Store near Ersal: Place the express mover near packing areas or loading docks to reduce the distance traveled during picking.
- Adopt flow racks or direct carton storage: These dynamic racking systems allow for quick stock rotation and easy replenishment by loading new stock in the back and placing items to be picked up in the front.
- Keep aisles wide and tidy: Fast-moving goods attract frequent traffic, so wide aisles help employees move safely without congestion.
Designing your layout with these points in mind allows you to ensure that your fast-moving products are processed with speed, safety and efficiency.
Focus on optimizing space for slow-moving inventory
Compared to fast-moving goods, slow-moving inventory does not need the same level of accessibility. These items are picked up frequently, so your goal is to store them in a way that conserves space while keeping them organized and trackable. Slow products can be stored away from dispatch areas or in higher locations within pallet racks. However, precision is essential, as a slow engine loss can become a costly or time-consuming ordeal when it is finally needed.
Consider best practices when allocating space for slow-moving inventory in your warehouse:
- Use vertical space: Store slow engines in higher rack levels to free up key positions at floor level for fast engines. This helps increase your storage footprint.
- Parking away from main lanes: Keep slow items in accessible areas because they don’t need constant handling. This reduces congestion in crowded areas.
- Label and track carefully: These items are picked up often, so they are easy to lose. Powerful labeling and precise warehouse management systems ensure that you can locate slow goods quickly when needed.
- Improved pallet racking design: Use selective pallet racks or racks in slow-moving stock, which can densely store items without requiring constant access.
This way, you can use the available space more efficiently while still ensuring that slow drives are easy to find when it comes time to charge them.
Combine fast and slow motor in one design
Most New Zealand warehouses handle a mix of fast and slow stock. The challenge is to create a design that balances efficiency with space optimization. You don’t want slow movers to get valuable initial positions, but you also don’t want to bury them so deep that they become difficult to access.
A common approach is your warehouse area. Fast motors can be placed in accessible pallet racks, close to dispatch areas, while slow motors are stored in racks one or more higher up. The ABC analysis application can also help:
- A-Intems (Fast Movers) approach transmission points.
- B-Intems (Gold Movers) occupy middle ground positions.
- C items (slow drives) are stored in less accessible areas, often above or at the back of the facility.
Regularly updating your inventory classifications allows you to adjust your layout as demand shifts and ensures you always take advantage of space and accessibility. Many NZ companies also benefit from advanced warehouse management systems that integrate with local shipping schedules. These solutions help them plan stock placement based on seasonal demand or regional distribution.
Why get things right
When you design your storage layout with both fast and slow inventory in mind, you can create a warehouse that works smarter, not harder. Fast movers remain accessible, reducing time and effort, while slow movers store efficiently without taking up a lot of space. By using smart planning strategies, coupled with solutions from the right pallet racking provider, New Zealand companies can empower their teams to pick faster and keep their storage areas organised, all while making safety a priority. For your business, this means smoother operations, lower costs, and a warehouse setup that can grow with your needs.
