Manage rising warehouse costs – make your racking work harder!
Rising warehouse costs can make the warehouse industry look challenging at the moment. The combination of rising energy and fuel costs, shortage of goods, increased production and raw material costs simultaneously with the fallout from Covid has resulted in increased costs. To mitigate some of the impact of inflation it is natural for businesses to make cuts. Where, and how these are made should form part of a measured plan.
Warehouse space is a valuable commodity and optimising your space is essential. Racking can make a big contribution towards improving your profitability. The approach may seem simple, fill your warehouse with as much storage equipment as you need for the amount of stock you have. However, with inflation at its highest point in 40 years, wasting opportunities can become costly.
If you’re implementing new storage equipment or extending an existing arrangement, a system that ticks every box over the lifetime of your racking will ensure your assets are working harder for you.
Invest wisely
To deliver a secure Return on Investment (ROI) on your storage equipment you need a bespoke design that will maximise your available space, increase productivity and improve efficiencies. Industry leading companies like our SEMA Members are proud of their extensive industry knowledge working across a range of sectors.
SEMA manufacturing and distributor companies lead the way in shaping best practice. They understand the complexities of the warehouse and can design a solution that meets your requirements, equally they will ensure you meet your legal and health and safety responsibilities.
You need to invest wisely in your choice of racking, after all it is a precisely engineered product. It’s been designed to meet precise tolerances and support tonnes of goods that sit above the heads of your employees. You need clear reassurances that it will deliver as intended and simultaneously pay dividends for your business.
Ask for proof of your supplier’s credentials. The products of SEMA’s Full and Associate Manufacturing Members are subjected to rigorous independent assessments. This provides clear evidence the equipment meets our standards and delivers on reliability, quality and safety. They are supported by SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members - Advanced who are recognised for their quality supply of storage equipment and safety. They are routinely audited to ensure they meet SEMA’s standards and maintaining the integrity of the storage equipment.
Protecting rising warehouse costs
Dovetailing equipment into your existing system is more cost effective than starting again or the expense of moving.
However, if performed incorrectly it can affect the structural integrity of both the old and the new equipment therefore reducing safety standards and potentially resulting in unnecessary and expensive remedial costs.
This can be avoided by working with SEMA Approved Members and SEMA Approved Members - Advanced who are committed to using SEIRS installers. Our unique initiative trains installers on the safe and correct methods to meet our defined standards and manufacturer specifications.
Remember, the market is uncertain at the moment and rising warehouse costs in material and labour are expected. If you’re thinking of implementing racking next year speak to our suppliers as soon as possible to secure the best prices.
Ongoing costs
Investing over the lifetime of your equipment will impact on the overall cost of your asset. You need to implement a continuous routine of maintenance, in particular implementing regular inspections by employees who have received Rack Safety Awareness training on how to correctly use the equipment. The HSE recommends an annual expert inspection undertaken by a technically competent person who has sufficient training and knowledge.
To support this, we operate our SEMA Approved Rack Inspector initiative. These highly qualified professionals must successfully pass our intensive three-day training course, written examination and practical assessment to achieve their qualification. A report from a SARI provides you with clear guidance on the condition of your equipment. It also uses a traffic light system to indicate actions required and over what timescale.
Finally consider your manufacturer guarantee. Over its lifetime your racking will inevitably require work but using third party materials or unqualified installers could render the warranty null and void. Our SEMA Approved Members or SEMA Approved Members - Advanced work closely with SEMA Approved Manufacturing - Full Members which means they are qualified to conduct racking repairs.
Get in touch with SEMA to manage rising warehouse costs
If you’d like to find out more about working with our members, please contact the SEMA office or find one of our members on our interactive map.
