Criteria for Planning the Layout

Key Factors

Consider the following factors when planning stockroom layout:

• Commodity factors – the characteristics of the items in storage.
• Capacity factors – the characteristics of the available storage area.
• Activity factors – the activities that must be accommodated.

Storage Plans

Consider the following essential factors when planning storage areas:

The main aisle for the controlled flow of material through the stockroom.

Enough cross aisles for access to bins and shelf stock.

Logical material flow usually moves from the receiving area to the distribution point.

Provision for all types of required storage media (i.e., bins, pallets, shelving, etc.).

Wide enough aisles to accommodate material-handling equipment.

Secure and safe specialized storage areas, such as chemical storage areas.

A receiving area that is separate from the storage areas.

Develop a floor plan for the available space. All plans must consider layout, flow, and accessibility for customers. Scale templates of the space and the type of storage aids to be used (e.g., shelving, bins, drawers, open counter, racks, etc.) can be made so that various arrangements can be simulated until the one that most closely satisfies the basic objectives are found. For each designated type of space, the square footage will be determined and recorded.

Stockroom personnel will maintain master storage plans for all their facilities, showing the storage allocation and the type of material stored in the various areas. Plans will be updated whenever storage facilities are modified, or when the material is relocated.