ELEMENTS OF WAREHOUSE LAYOUT

Abstract

SUMMARY The work summarised in this paper has been directed to examine the basic requirements of warehouse layouts. Two simple types of layout have been examined and equations derived for the dimensioning of these, given such information as total volume of stock and number of stock lines. A sketch of the layouts is given. Ten factors have been considered in arriving at the theoretical layouts and it is shown that different types of layout are affected by different factors, some layouts being independent of factors to which others are sensitive. Dimensions of a layout can be calculated to minimise handling distance, handling time or space utilisation. Where cost functions are available for these parameters, total cost can also be minimised. The formulae lend themselves readily to computer manipulation, enabling an optimum layout to be determined given only the number of stock lines and volumes stored.