Considerations for Selecting A Warehouse Racking System

When designing a pallet rack system, some of the factors you need to understand are: total # of SKUs, total # of pallets, weight of material, inventory retrieval method, turnover time, and whether these will be full or split case picks.

Warehouse pallet racking can vary so much in terms of specifications, applications, and configurations. No two racking systems are exactly alike, and one system that has been designed for a similar building structure, or a similar product type, may not be the best design for your facility.

When considering the best type of warehouse racking system for your business, you should consider the factors below to maximize efficiency, streamline your processes, and get the best bang for your buck:

Number of Palletized SKUs

A stock keeping unit (SKU) is a unique number assigned by a retailer to items in their inventory. To understand the design and layout of a pallet rack storage system, you need to know how many SKUs will be stored in the rack system. For example, you may need to store six different SKUs on pallets, all with their own unique dimensions.

Overall Number of Pallets

The total number of pallets you need to store per rack system.

Dimensions of Pallet

You'll need to know the dimensions of the pallet (width, depth, and height) in order to design the bays and racks to maximize storage space in your racking system.

Weight of Pallet and Material

How much does each pallet weigh? This will determine the capacity of the steel beams, what kind of decking can be used, and if any additional pallet supports are needed to support the materials.

The type of Product

Is it perishable, is it fragile, does it need to be climate controlled?

Order of Inventory Retrieval

First-in First-out (FIFO) or Last-in First-out (LIFO) retrieval?

Turnover Time

How long will the SKUs stay in your facility? Hours/weeks/months?

Full Case or Split Case Picking

The same facility can utilize one method over another or utilize both methods for different products or processes:

• Split case picking –      Individual items are picked from bins or open cartons, typically with lots      of SKUs and low pick volume per SKU. This method is commonly used in      e-commerce or other order fulfillment centers.

• Full case picking – This      method involves the gathering of full cartons or boxes of product for      distribution. This method is commonly used for retail distribution of      goods, truck or train loads of products, supply chain, logistics, etc.

Seismic Activity Where the Rack is Located

Seismic activity can affect the size of footplates, beam sizes, and additional material required for rigidity and support of the system.