Storage system has to accommodate the inflow of inputs of materials and bought out components from outside sources and the in process inventories and the outflow of finished goods to customers.
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The system, efficiency may be compared and assessed in terms of unit cost (per volume or weight) of moving goods through storage sites or storage area over a given period. It usually takes into account the elements of labour, space and equipment needs and costs.
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In stores layout, the governing criteria are easy management of materials, good housekeeping, and sufficient space for men and material handling equipments optimum utilization of storage space, judicious use of storage equipments, such as shelves, racks, pallets and proper preservation from rain, light and other such elements.
These problems are more important in the case of items that have a limited shelf life. Other important factors governing the location are the number of end users and their location, the volume and the variety of goods to be handled, the location of the central receiving section and accessibility to modes of transportation such as rail and road.
Since stores have to be nearest to the user, large organisations usually have stores attached to each consuming department, where as receiving is done centrally. Items of common usage are stocked in the central stores so that inventory is kept at an optimum level. These factors are considered at the planning level of layout.
In the case of warehouses stocking finished goods, factors such as proximity to ports, railways lines, quality of roads, availability of power, etc., become quite important. It is also important that the stores are constructed with a futuristic orientation, so that sufficient flexibility for expansion needs is inbuilt.
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The activities of receiving the goods, stocking in appropriate Ideations, material handling and issues must be done swiftly and economically. The stores, building must have adequate facilities for preservation of stores.
Sometimes facilities, such as cold storage, heating equipments, air-conditioning and similar facilities may be required.
These should be planned in advance. Comfortable working conditions must be provided to the stores, personnel to get maximum efficiency and morale.
Factors Considered Important in the Design of Store Building:
The normal practice is to locate the stores near the user departments, in order to minimise the handling. The materials manager or the stores personnel are rarely consulted in location or layout of stores. The followings are some governing criteria in the location of stores:
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(a) Regulations of factory act and other regulatory measures should be followed by keeping the premises clean by using disinfectants, and by providing adequate drainage facilities with proper ventilation.
(b) The aisle widths have to be designed on the basis of handling equipments, like fork-lifts and clearly marked. Utilization of heights has to be decided on the basis of ease of storage, retrieval, type of package, load characteristics, flooring, roofing, handling, pressures on beams and columns, provision of moving ladders, exhaust arrangements and installation of fire prevention systems.
(c) In block stocking method, the unit loads are stocked one over the other and the stock heights will have to be reduced if random access is needed. This method cannot be applied, if strictly first in first out method has to used for issues.
(d) The available floor space is split as receiving bay, inspection area, bulk storage area, storage space, issue area, scrap yard, etc.
(e) Items handled frequently must be located to minimise the distance travelled.
(f) Clear and adequate lighting should be there to ensure better working environment in stores.
(g) Safe working conditions and better position for firefighting facilities to minimise accidents.
(h) Provisions to be made for toilets, smoking areas, and routine maintenance of stores equipments, safe electrical wirings etc.
(i) Balancing should be done in the cost of investment, cost of supplying inputs, cost of manufacturing, cost of handling and cost of transporting to the consumer in locating the stores.
(j) The stores function should be organised to meet the primary objective of serving the using by easy identification of the material.
(k) The stores should be located nearest to the user with the central store keeping of high value and items common to more than one department.
(l) Within the constraints imposed by the location of physical facilities, the material must be so arranged as to enable their easy storage and retrieval.
(m) Layout should ensure easy movement of materials, good housekeeping, sufficient space for men and material, optimum use of storage space, judicious use of equipments such as shelves, racks, pallets etc.
(n) Location of central receiving section should have easy accessibility to different modes of transport such as rail, road and ports.
(o) Flexibility for expansion with adequate facilities and comfortable working conditions.
(p) Proper preservation to protect from rain, sun, humidity, moisture, insects, white ants and biological, physical and natural deterioration.
(q) Sufficient care should be taken to utilize the stores area, as cubic space and not by calculating square area.