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 Steel shelving systems are essential to the efficient manipulation of stock and materials. Without them, clutter, confusion, and safety hazards inevitably result. Materials are much easier to track and reorder when they can be consolidated into storage areas. Product retrieval is even more efficient when shelves allow workers 4-way access to materials without any obstructing components. Improved process flow, both on the receiving and on the shipping side, invariably improves the bottom line by minimizing injuries, product loss, and downtime.
Inventory control is vital to a number of business elements. Procurement depends on an accurate assessment of current stock before more materials are purchased. In a disorganized facility, accurate counts are difficult to arrive at, and purchasing mistakes inevitably result. Consolidating materials into designated spaces where they can be itemized and documented is the only way to ensure precise numbers. Steel shelving systems allow organizations to organize materials efficiently and to access them quickly. Access from both sides and from both ends allows workers to manipulate stock from any position.
Installing shelves will also help reduce safety hazards. Most injuries in and around storage areas result from either poorly designed shelving areas or no shelf areas at all. Poorly designed shelves are not always easy to spot online. Many facility managers assume that if the weight capacity of the shelf is sufficient to hold the materials stored, and if the construction of the shelf is based on sound methods and materials, then the shelf should do its job without any problems.
Actually, things are a bit more complicated than this. In addition to having to support the weight of the items they store, steel shelving systems must also remain stable when they are accessed. Inferior units usually bought with the intention of saving money tend to tip over when people begin pulling heavy items from the shelves. Even if the worker avoids getting hit by the materials as they fall to the floor, typically the spillage or breakage that results costs the company unexpected revenues in the form of replacement costs. Injuries, however, are more common than not, and even more serious than replacement costs because they create liability for the organization.
The stability and balance of a shelf unit is every bit as important as its weight capacity. Easy Rack shelf units feature 2 rivet beam construction on the top and bottom, front and back, of each unit. This stabilizes the system without the need for the obstruction of an X-brace that other systems rely upon for support. Not only do these steel shelving systems offer more stability, but the lack of obstruction makes it easier for workers to manipulate stock without having to risk losing their balance or cut their arms reaching around braces.
These improvements in safety and access have a direct, positive impact on process flow. With better inventory control through superior storage, organizations know exactly how many materials they have, and when it will be time to order more. Safer environments and speedier stock access reduce time to market and contribute to increased profit margins.
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