The layout and organisation of a warehouse is critical to smooth operations. After all, a lack of order can create operational delays which ultimately hurt your bottom line.

So how to go about creating order from chaos? As with many things (we’re kidding, it’s mainly just this thing) shelf and racking labels are king.

Fortunately, warehouse solutions don’t get much easier either. In this guide, we’ll cover the benefits of rack labels and explain how to implement them like a strategic wizard (or beaver, in Chipper’s case).

We also happen to have everything you could ever hope and dream for (in terms of warehouse labels and identification) for you to peruse at your leisure once you’re done reading!

Why Use Rack Labels?

There are three main benefits to racking labels:

• Locating items is quicker and easier. Your workers will thank you for this! With a nifty scan of a barcode, workers can instantly locate the aisle and rack number of products. And, with the time saved from otherwise going on a wild goose chase, they’ll be able to up efficiency and locate and pick more products in a set period. Not only this but pick accuracy will be hugely improved. It’s a win-win all around!
   
• It will make your warehouse work smarter, not harder. We can all agree bottlenecks are an absolute nightmare, leading to operational delays and lost time. Rack labelling improves product flow by eliminating some of these bottlenecks, such as workers losing time trying to find an item.
• They’re a simple, cost-effective solution! Using warehouse rack labels is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to improve the efficiency of your business. They’re not a huge investment and yet bring powerful benefits, as mentioned above.

How to Implement Warehouse Rack Labels

Divide and Conquer

The first step on your journey to effective warehouse labelling is to assess your warehouse floor plan. By doing so, you can see how many divisions, bays, and racks you’re working with. Not only that, but you can see what stock you’ve got and where it should be.

Also bear in mind, if racks are split into smaller sections or bins, you’ll need labelling for each section rather than the whole racking unit.

A simple warehouse inventory hierarchy might look something like this:

• Aisle number
• Vertical section identification
• Level number
• Pallet position

Warehouse Identification and Picking Method

If it isn’t already, you’ll need to organise your stock and equipment into their rightful places as per your warehouse floor plan. Once done, you’re ready to use racking labels to identify items!

There are lots of different ways this can be done. We’re talking warehouse barcoding, colour-coding, simple sequential coding, the list goes on (and we supply them all)! The most important thing is to be consistent and select a warehouse labelling system that works for your business.

The best way to make such a decision is to understand the way items are selected in your warehouse (i.e., the picking technique). The two most popular methods are:

• Standard – products are labelled in a parallel structure, meaning labelling is sequential in each row. Workers go from location to location and may have to double back in order to pick all their inventory.
• Serpentine – new shelves of products pick up closest to where the last shelf left off. This means workers can weave around the closest corner of the next shelf to continue picking, rather than walk an entire shelf length for the next product. This eliminates the issue of double-backing!

Label From the Floor Up

If you have more than one level of racking, you should label from the bottom up and begin by labelling the row nearest the floor something like “01”, the second row “02”, and… you get the idea! Using double digits is also recommended as it futureproofs your rack labelling system in the event you add more rack levels.

P.S. We can’t sing the praises of Multi-Level/Totem Pole rack labels more highly. These display a vertical stack of separate barcodes close to ground level, so workers can locate and scan different levels of shelving without needing to use long-range barcode scanning. If you use colour-coded labels, each barcode can also be matched with a colour bar.

Rack Labelling Materials

• Magnetic Rack Labels – these are perfect for when you need a rack label that can be easily removed and switched to a different location. They’re also great for cold environments as they don’t fall off or become illegible.
  
  
• Self-Adhesive Rack Labels – these can come in a variety of materials, be it polyester or paper or vinyl, and provide a very cost-effective, permanent solution for ambient room temperature warehousing.
  
  
• Block Out Rack Labels – if you already have self-adhesive labels affixed to your racking but need to replace them, we’re sorry to say they can prove very tricky to get off! If you use thin paper to cover over the old label, barcode scanners may pick up the code on the label behind. For this reason, block out rack labels are a wise choice as the material is thicker to ensure the old code can’t be mistakenly scanned. They can be supplied either plain or with the code already printed on.

Always speak to the rack label manufacturer to discuss labelling options that are best suited to your needs (psst… we’re always happy to take a call on 0118 979 6096 or answer an email!)

It’s also worth noting that for rack label products used in harsh, industrial environments where they may be subjected to scratches (from forklifts, for example) there are ticket and label holders which can be used to protect the barcode label and extend its lifespan.

Only the Best Rack Labels for Your Warehouse!

If you’re investing in a rack labelling solution to make your warehouse run like clockwork, it makes sense to use high-quality labels that will stand the test of time.

You should choose a rack label manufacturer or supplier who has experience with warehouse identification solutions. This is especially true with warehouse barcoding, as you need to ensure the quality of the label is high enough that the barcode can be scanned successfully and easily.

Although we’re a bit biased, we think Beaverswood is one of your best bets for reliable warehouse identification advice and quality rack labels to kit out your warehouse. We have over 35 years of experience in this category, backed up by the highest levels of customer service and after-sales support.

Check out our warehouse labels or get in touch:

T: 0118 979 6096

E: sales@beaverswood.co.uk

Improved productivity and capacity in the warehouse are key targets for any business. Major investment isn’t always needed when you know how to speed up warehouse picking with cost-effective solutions. So, we’re going to talk about how to speed up warehouse picking

A diverse range of companies now relies on swiftly processing the inventory arriving at their premises, and then being agile in sending finished goods out of their warehouse.

Technology has provided exciting automation options for warehouses, but this requires considerable investment. Fortunately, there are long-standing, proven efficiency aids that are cheap, and easy to use. Ones that can improve productivity and capacity in warehouses when used effectively.

In this article, we look closely at how to speed up warehouse picking, possibly the most prolific activity involved. What traditional warehouse products and systems can you rely on more?

Streamlining warehouse picking

If you look at the activities involved in locating and selecting items from warehouse racking it is easy to see why it’s often the most labour-intensive aspect of a warehouse environment. Especially in large scale or complex fulfilment environments, where time can be wasted if operatives struggle to locate items quickly enough, or correctly.

This is why so many companies have embraced automation in warehouse picking, to speed up this essential task and reduce errors. This can also make it possible to introduce more multi-layered and double-sided racking too.

However, even using the latest technology, errors can still occur and there can be an unwelcome ripple effect if incorrect items go all the way to the customer! It could even be argued that the quicker you pick with autonomous equipment, the more likely mistakes become.

What you need – as the saying goes – is “more speed, less haste”.

Easy fixes for warehouse picking challenges

Many of the issues busy warehouses face come down to the systems they use to store and then locate items. It can be as basic as using a clear, strategic inventory database, integrated with consistent warehouse labelling and signage.

If you have a legacy system or a warehouse that has evolved, changed or become busier, you may need to review the entire layout.

Or, you may be able to solve a lot of problems by introducing and new and improved labelling system for aisles, racks, shelves and pallets. There are now inexpensive warehouse labelling products that can suit both human and autonomous picking activities. More on this later.

More ways to speed up warehouse picking

Other efficiency improvements for warehousing include:

– Constantly refreshed training and communication, to help employees locate items more smoothly.

– Time and motion studies to check whether pedestrians, off-road vehicles and warehouse machinery are all flowing around the site efficiently. Would new directional signage help facilitate this?

– Stocking up on more auxiliary products that support warehouse picking such as bins, totes, and ingenious rack sacks that boost efficiency.

– Spot checks to see if picking strategies are appropriate, and being used effectively by everyone in the team.

How to speed up warehouse picking with labels and signs

This is undoubtedly the simplest and most low-cost way to improve warehouse efficiency and capacity. It is vital to regularly reassess – and update – warehouse labels and signs, and ensure the system used matches your software listings flawlessly.

Even when you buy good quality safety and directional signs and markers, they will need to be regularly assessed. This would evaluate if floor markings are degrading, for example, but also if other wall and floor signs have been blocked, or impacted by a change in layout.

Holding a good stock of safety and directional signs, directional signs, stickers and tapes will ensure you can quickly replace signalling that supports the flow of your warehouse.

It also makes sense to hold stocks of magnetic labels and shelf holders. These are tried and trusted warehouse labelling products. They also offer you an ideal way to be both versatile and thorough in how you support warehouse picking.

Help on products to improve warehouse efficiency

With ever-increasing pressure to meet time targets and avoid errors, it can be easy to overlook the basics of how to speed up warehouse picking. Efficiencies can be found by simply taking time out to ‘walk the walk’ and check your signs – from aisles to shelves – are clear and consistent.

Give us a call for help in compiling a complete list of cheap but essential warehouse efficiency aids.

Whilst to many what labels to choose seems like a minor part of your business, using clearly visible and informative labelling is an important part of day-to-day efficiency and productivity. To save you time in buying the right labels, here is a quick guide to help you decide whether magnetic letters or self-adhesive letters are the best match for you and your workplace.

Why Do I Need Labels at All?

Clear label and numbering systems are an essential part of workplace running. Labels can be some of the most efficient ways to communicate with your employees in a large workplace, and serve as great reminders for people. Labels can also affect the health and safety of your employees. Here are some more ways that magnetic letters and self-adhesive letters can help you to improve your workplace environment.

Warehouses

Warehouses, for example, need to clearly identify the products they are storing, plus mark out any storage areas. Unclear labelling systems can lead to anything from a client receiving the wrong order, to a contamination of hazardous chemicals. 

Not to mention, easily visible labels can help to improve the speed and efficiency of workers, and prevent them from straining their eyesight on a daily basis. 

Labels are also often used to warn people of dangerous hazards in their workplace, or to remind people of safety procedures and rules. Using ineffective labelling can mean that you are putting your workers health and safety at risk. 

Waste Disposal

Clearly labelled bins make a large statistical difference to whether or not people recycle. If people don’t know how to organise their waste, the majority of waste will end up in landfill. This not only affects your eco footprint, but could also affect your bottom line, due to the cost efficiency of recycling produce. 

Offices

A well organised office can increase productivity, and decrease the levels of stress, creating a more positive work environment. Not to mention that searching for those long lost files eats away at your time, and can make your workplace seem inefficient and unprofessional to clients. 

Clearly labelled offices mean that your employees can spend more time working, and less time filing and organising. 

Magnetic Letters Vs Self-adhesive Letters

So what type of letter and number labels should you use? Here are the benefits to both magnetic letters and self-adhesive letters to help you decide which is best for you.

Benefits of Magnetic Letters

Magnetic numbers and letters are an efficient way of labelling your workplace, especially if you have a lot of moving parts in your business. Magnetic letters are labels that attach to any steel surface, making them perfect for warehouse environments with lots of steel racking and shelving. This makes implementing any labelling system fast and easy, minimising the amount of time it takes to organise shelving. 

Magnetic letters are reusable, which makes them perfect for warehouses that have a lot of changes in stock.  The ability to  easily reorganise or move magnetic letters means they are great for labelling temporary storage. 

If you’re unsure of where your labels would be most effective, the  ability to easily move or change magnetic labels allows you to test out different labelling systems easily. This is especially useful if you are implementing something new, such as new sorting bins for recycling.

Benefits of Self-adhesive Letters

Don’t have any steel surfaces in your workplace? No problem. Self adhesive numbers and letters can be applied to any surface. This makes them much more suitable for office use, or warehouses that have wooden shelving. It also means that you can place any safety procedures or hazards warnings in the most visible spot, no matter what the surface you want to label is made out of. 

Although the self adhesive letters are not reusable, they can be easily removed. The self-adhesive letters have a clean peel which leaves no residue, ensuring that you can remove old labels and replace them with new ones without any fuss. 

The self adhesive backing means the letters are easy to use, you don’t need any letter pockets, or sellotape, which makes for easy application.

Overall, taking the time to consider which labels you need in your workplace could benefit your business by increasing people’s productivity and ensuring a safe, clean and positive working environment.

Most warehouses now depend on machine-readable labels, as well as inventory signage that’s easy for humans to use. Here’s a guide to barcode warehouse labels to streamline your operations.

Labels that can be read by handheld or robotic scanning equipment are now commonplace in warehouses and stockrooms.

The whole concept of barcodes has revolutionised product identification and storage since its invention in 1951. (Did you know the first version was based on Morse Code?) The concept of barcodes was not commercially widespread until the 1970s though, when supermarkets grabbed the opportunity to speed up payment processes and stock control.

Since then, innovation and speedy label printing services have created wider possibilities for barcodes. Including 2D barcode systems based on dots, rectangles, hexagons and other geometric patterns (sometimes referred to as matrix codes).

Whatever type of machine-readable code you use for your racking, pallets, boxes and individual products, it still relies on one fundamental principle. Barcode labels must be easy to place and scan, to optimise productivity. As well as to avoid mistakes, confusion and wasted time in warehouses and stock rooms.

This can be especially important at peak times when reliably readable labels enable you to keep pace with demand.

What do you need to know, to specify high-performance barcode warehouse labels for efficiency during busy periods?

The best warehouse label

One of the most important things to keep in mind when sourcing barcode labels for warehouses, is that they don’t have to conform to a commonly adopted system. You can revise or update your inventory storage and location processes, at any time you want, using identification codes bespoke to your business.

All you need is a supplier of made-to-order machine-readable labels for warehouses, like Beaverswood.

Also, it’s important to source warehouse barcode labels that are clear and instantly scannable. This is the only way to keep your team fully operational and working efficiently at peak times when mistakes or delays cost money.

Lastly, the best barcode labels for warehouses must be high performance in terms of their durability.

Once you have established your inventory coding system and marked your shelves, pallets and other storage surfaces, you may want an adaptable labelling system you can change quickly. However, you also want labelling products that stand up to wear and tear, so you don’t have to replace them frequently.

Advantages of well-orchestrated barcoding

Being ‘picky’ about the performance of your warehouse labels can bring important benefits. Including that all-important clarity for picking and packing at optimal speeds.

Guaranteeing a fast recognition system in your warehouse manages your staff resources better, and boosts your profitability.

Also, don’t forget that barcodes are not simply a way of locating items quickly and faultlessly in warehouses. They can be adapted to help you with stock dating and rotation for example, or labour-tracking and stock replenishment. It’s incredible how much you can pack into a coding system for warehouses!

Reviewing your warehouse labelling

Could this be the perfect time to create a new inventory labelling and identification system for your warehouse operations?

Care needs to go into planning a warehouse coding update, to make sure the switch over is seamless and complete.

Any machine-readable code you use for warehouse identification must be easy to integrate with the stock control software you use, of course. Also, if you’re applying barcodes to individual products, you need to be aware of any standardised industry formats that are applicable.

Beyond that, the recommended way to approach this is to create shortcodes that are bespoke to the size and complexity of your business, but which can be expanded and updated easily. Depending on your scanning technology, decide whether to use 1D or 2D barcode labels.

Then, map out the type and sizes of barcode labels you will need.

Your location specific labels from Beaverswood could be paper, vinyl, adhesive, magnetic or for clear pockets for example. There is also an option of buying multi-colour labels for fast visual referencing. Do you need barcode labels for uprights, split beams or to summarise your aisle contents?

There are also multiple options for barcoding shelving and racking, using a variety of materials and sizes.

The cost of stocking up on barcode labels may prove less than you imagine. This is a relatively inexpensive item, despite its high value in keeping your warehouse organised well under pressure.

You simply need to contact Beaverswood, to commission barcode warehouse labels that work brilliantly, in keeping your organisation on track.