Warehouse Racking

What is warehouse racking? 

Warehouse racking is the system of shelves, configuration, and location of the physical structure required to hold your inventory items. Typically made from plastic, metal, or wood, warehouse racking plays an important part in how easy it is to store and retrieve your inventory items as well as how efficiently your warehouse operates.

Warehouse racking

 

Types of Racking

The most popular kind of warehouse racking is called selective racking. In this system, aisles can be narrow as they only need to provide enough space for one pallet to move through. Employees or robotic picking systems select items from the aisle and they are only one pallet deep.

In warehouses that require dense storage, you may choose a drive-in or drive-through racking system. The system you select depends on your inventory process. If you use a last-in-first-out (LIFO) process for low turnover items, you’ll want a drive-in racking system. If you stock items that have a use-by date and follow a first-in-first-out (FIFO) process, you’ll want a drive-through racking system.

Another racking system for LIFO processes and high-density storage is the push-back rack. These racks are typically as deep as two to five pallets and moves the rows forward or back on rails and carts depending on inventory volume. Similar to push-back racks, gravity racks perform in a vertical plane, receiving new goods at the top and dispensing older goods from the bottom.

Racking as Part of Overall System

Labeling, barcoding, or RFID technology in tandem with centralized CMMS software must work hand-in-hand with a racking system so inventory can be accessed and managed efficiently.

Want to keep reading?

Selecting the Best CMMS

Selecting a CMMS is a big decision for any company, but selecting the right CMMS for you is crucial. Read more about the top CMMS software available today!
View Article

Why Logistics Management Inventory is Useful

Logistics management plays a key role in any company that orders materials or ships products, impacting a company’s bottom line.
View Article

What are the best ways to layout my warehouse?

The best way to organize your warehouse will depend on your business, inventory, growth projectile, time and budget limitations, and many other factors.
View Article

4,000+ COMPANIES RELY ON ASSET OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Leading the Way to a Better Future for Maintenance and Reliability

Your asset and equipment data doesn't belong in a silo. UpKeep makes it simple to see where everything stands, all in one place. That means less guesswork and more time to focus on what matters.

Capterra Shortlist 2021
IDC CMMS Leader 2021
[Review Badge] GetApp CMMS 2022 (Dark)
[Review Badge] Gartner Peer Insights (Dark)
G2 Leader