The landscape for the warehousing and logistics industry can look challenging at the moment. The combination of rising energy and fuel costs, shortage of goods, increased production and raw material costs and the fallout from Covid has resulted in rapidly rising costs. To mitigate some of the impact of inflation it is natural for businesses to make cuts but where and how these are made should form part of a measured plan. Warehouse space is a valuable commodity and optimising this space is essential. Racking makes a big contribution towards improving profitability. The approach may seem simple, fill your warehouse with as much storage equipment as you need for the amount of stock you have. However, with inflation at its highest point in 40 years, wasting opportunities can become a costly exercise.
If you’re implementing new storage equipment or extending an existing arrangement, a system that ticks every box over the lifetime of your racking will ensure your assets are working harder for you.
Invest wisely
To deliver a secure Return on Investment (ROI) on your storage equipment you need a bespoke design that will maximise your available space, increase productivity and improve efficiencies. Industry leading companies such as our SEMA Members pride themselves on their extensive industry knowledge working across a range of sectors.
SEMA’s manufacturing and distributor companies lead the way in shaping best practice. They understand the complexities of the warehouse and can design a solution that meets your requirements while at the same time ensuring you meet your legal and health and safety responsibilities.
You need to invest wisely in your choice of racking. After all, your racking is a precisely engineered product that has been designed to precise tolerances to support tonnes of goods that sit above the unprotected heads of your employees. You need clear reassurances that it will deliver as intended and pay dividends for your business.
Ask for proof of your supplier’s credentials. The products of SEMA’s Full and Associate Manufacturing Members are subjected to rigorous independent assessments that provide clear evidence the equipment meets our standards and will deliver on reliability, quality and safety. They are supported by our SEMA Distributor Companies (SDC) who are recognised for their quality supply of storage equipment and rack safety. They are routinely audited to ensure they are meeting SEMA’s standards and maintaining the integrity of the storage equipment.
Protecting costs
Dovetailing equipment into your existing system is far more cost effective than starting from scratch or the costly expense of moving to a larger warehouse. However, if performed incorrectly, it can affect the structural integrity of both the old and the new equipment, reducing safety standards and potentially resulting in unnecessary and expensive remedial costs.
This can be avoided by working with companies such as SDCs and SEMA Approved Installation Companies who are committed to using SEIRS installers. The unique initiative from SEMA trains installers on the safe and correct methods of installation to meet SEMA defined standards and manufacturer specifications.
One last thing to remember is that the market is uncertain at the moment and material and labour costs are expected to rise. If you’re thinking of implementing some racking in the next year, our suppliers recommend speaking to them as early as possible to secure the best prices.
Ongoing Costs
Investing over the lifetime of your equipment will impact on the overall cost of your asset. You need to implement a continuous routine of maintenance. This means regular inspections by employees who have received Rack Safety Awareness training on how to correctly use the equipment. The HSE also recommends an annual expert inspection undertaken by a technically competent person who has sufficient training and knowledge.
To support this, we operate our SEMA Approved Rack Inspector initiative. These highly qualified professionals must successfully pass our intensive three-day training course, written examination and practical assessment to achieve their qualification. A report from a SARI provides you with clear guidance on the condition of your equipment and uses a traffic light system to indicate actions required and over what timescale. Finally consider your manufacturer guarantee. Over its lifetime your racking will inevitably require work and using third party materials or unqualified installers could render the warranty null and void. Our SDCs and SAICs work closely with SEMA Manufacturing Members which means they are qualified to conduct racking repairs.
About SEMA
SEMA, or the Storage Equipment Manufacturers Association, is a leading voice within the industry that works tirelessly to promote safety over the lifetime of your storage system. Our work covers safety and technical standards for all types of equipment to the collective expertise of our members who are committed to proving that their products and services are some of the very best on the market. All of this is supported by our training, installation and inspection initiatives.
SEMA
t: 01543 278489
Comments are closed.