Improving productivity through efficient space utilisation – a case study with Jane Wallace-Jones
Jane Wallace-Jones
Jane Wallace-Jones from Something Different Wholesale, a company that designs and imports gifts products for trade customers, shares her plans to improve productivity through changes in warehouse configuration. This is a case study for the Wales Productivity Forum.
To manage extended lead times, Something Different Wholesale needs to hold approximately six months’ worth of stock within its warehouse. Jane and her team identified three key strategies to improve productivity through the more effective use of warehouse space:
- Utilise vertical space with new racking: Additional racking would allow them to increase efficiency by leveraging unused vertical capacity without expanding the footprint.
- Narrower aisles and specialised equipment: Narrower aisles, along with specialised forklifts, will facilitate and increase storage density, leading to more efficient use of space.
- Optimize picking zone placement: A smaller, better positioned picking zone closer to the bulk storage has the potential to cut travel time and accelerate restocking cycles.
By rethinking how the unused warehouse space could be managed, Something Different Wholesale anticipate additional profit. By leasing out redundant warehouse zones to a third party, the business will generate rental income while simultaneously offsetting overheads such as rates, utilities and service charges. This will also give them the opportunity to sell the generated power from rooftop solar panels directly to the new tenant, reducing grid demand and improving energy efficiency.
Key Takeaway
Significant productivity gains can come from rethinking space utilisation. With smarter layouts, reduced movement, and additional revenue from unused space, Something Different Wholesale aim to enhance the utilisation of their existing buildings and unlock new levels of efficiency and value.
