Storing different types of products in the same warehouse can be a real challenge, especially if you live in a region that can have heat waves and rain within the same week. After all, if products are to hit shelves in perfect condition and safe for consumption, the characteristics of the warehouse space must be adapted to the unique requirements of each product. Otherwise, the stored products may lose their quality and even become unsafe, which attracts heavy losses and fines.
Businesses that distribute products with different temperature and storage requirements typically have two options:
- Store each group of products in different warehouses, depending on the requirements of each group. This option does indeed guarantee that all requirements will be met, but it has its downsides because you will have to manage the inventory and coordinate transport across multiple locations, which can lead to organizational issues such as delayed shipping or faulty inventory management. At the same time, it might be more expensive.
- Store all the products, regardless of their type, into one central warehouse that is equipped with multi-storage facilities. This way, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of multiple locations, which will streamline the efficiency of your operations. These warehouses respect the storage regulations in place, whilst also following your specific requirements in terms of temperature, humidity, and space.
What qualifies as “sensitive products”?
The easiest products to handle in warehouses are the ones that aren’t fragile and that were manufactured in such a way as to withstand variations in temperature. However, just about every industry has certain sensitive products that need to be handled with care and stored under special conditions. Here are some examples:
- Refrigerated products, where the cold chain must be maintained during storage and transportation, otherwise the expiration date on the package will no longer be valid. More often than not, these products require special storage systems such as industrial refrigerators and freezers.
- Fragile products that need to be handled with care and protected from excessive stress. Usually, these products need to be stored on special ranks with protective padding at the back, to avoid being pushed off. Also, they should be labelled clearly and kept away from areas with slip and fall hazards.
- Goods that are sensitive to light. For example, certain skincare products have been formulated in such a way as to remain stable when exposed to high temperatures, but the formula is damaged if they are stored under direct sunlight. Some manufacturers avoid the problem entirely by putting the product in UV-resistant packaging, but, ideally, products should be kept away from direct sunlight.
- Medicines and other health commodities. The World Health Organization recommends that all pharmaceuticals be kept in cool, dry places with relative humidity. Ideally, they should also be stored off the ground to avoid contamination with cleaning products and other substances. These conditions are essential even if the product’s packaging offers sufficient protection. For example, the experts at Condoms UK recommend that condoms should always be kept away from direct sunlight, and warehouse temperatures should be below 40°C. Also, freezing temperatures should be avoided because extreme temperatures can make the condom material prone to breakage.
- Products at risk of fire or explosion such as pressurized gases and flammable liquids should be kept in a separate space where adequate security measures are taken.
- Electronics need special storage conditions to avoid technical malfunctions. For example, Printed Circuit Board Assemblies should be packed in a bubble film to prevent moisture. Then, they should be placed in dry, ventilated warehouses where the temperature doesn’t exceed 25°C, the humidity is maximum 65%, and indoor air doesn’t have any traces of corrosive gases.
- Perishable goods, which include not only food but also fresh flowers and plants should be kept in warehouses that follow hygienic measures to the letter; otherwise, they can be contaminated and become potential health hazards. At the same time, the storage conditions must follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Tips for ensuring the adequate storage of sensitive products
Even though storing sensitive products can seem challenging at first, by monitoring the temperature in your warehouse constantly and organizing the loads depending on their storage conditions, you no longer have to limit yourself to just a few types of products.
Warehouse mapping and monitoring implies having a clear understanding of your warehouse space. Knowing what the cool and warm areas are will help you choose the right storage spaces for each sensitive product. Also, you should be able to set different temperatures for separate areas of the warehouse and monitor them with special monitoring systems. This way, if the storage conditions change, you can implement fail-safe measures right away and prevent damage.
Use the FIFO inventory management method. Short for First In, First Out, FIFO is an inventory management method that maximises product freshness. According to this method, the first unit to be deposited in the warehouse should also be the first to go. This way, products spend as little time as possible in storage.
Automated warehouses are equipped with advanced, high-tech systems that monitor and adjust storage conditions based on product requirements. What’s more, they can also include special retrieval systems that don’t require human intervention and that reduce loadout time significantly. While automated warehouse systems are becoming more accessible, they’re still a sizable investment, and will need a few more years until they enter the mainstream.
In addition to these storage strategies, warehouse managers should also make sure that sensitive products are only handled by qualified personnel and that warehouse workers are aware of special storage requirements at all times.
After leaving the warehouse
Before they are shipped to stores or the end user’s home, sensitive products must also be loaded into vehicles and transported. Many things can go wrong here, which is why it’s important to have the same attention to detail. To avoid damage and contamination, sensitive products should be loaded/unloaded as quickly as possible, and the optimal storage conditions should be ensured during transportation too.
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