What is Warehouse Zone? Types And Benefits

Different warehouse zones may be utilized for different reasons. If you own a big warehouse, employing zones in the warehouse allows you to differentiate between the place you want to pick your products or keep your pick, bulk, frozen, and so on. Therefore, employing zones makes it easy to get one product placed in several bins and to have default locations for picking, putting away, and refilling pick bins. 

Today’s article will introduce to you the warehouse zone and types of warehouse zones that you can consult to apply to your warehouse.

What Does A Warehouse Zone Mean?

A warehouse zone is a physically or intellectually separated region inside a warehouse determined by the kind of item stored or the divisions of staff and equipment employed to store, transport, and pick. This warehouse system helps to place products in precise areas so that warehouse staff knows where the products are stored. We must designate the zone in the warehouse based on the kind of product since certain items must be kept in the freezer, while others may be placed on racks or bins. 

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Zone Classification In A Storage Area Of A Warehouse

Zone storage entails placing productions in a certain zone of a warehouse depending on the item’s attributes. There is a total of 7 types of warehouse zones, which you can see in the below part.

Dry zone

Products that must maintain away from water and moisture are placed in this dry zone. These locations are often kept at temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 Fahrenheit, with little to no humidity. Heating and cooling devices assist in managing the humidity levels and temperatures, preventing moisture buildup. 

Refrigerated zone

Products that must be kept extremely cold are placed in this zone. Foods and chemicals are examples of items. The zone typically maintains things between 38 and 50 Fahrenheit. However, some items must be kept at 0 degrees. Refrigerated zones exclusively store things that must be maintained at specific low temperatures.

Flammable zone

Some manufacturers require chemicals as part of their production process. These chemicals should be kept in an authorized storage container.

Corrosive materials

Acids can be stored in this zone. It should be positioned separately, where corrosive things such as acids will not come into touch with other goods.

Gas cylinder storage

In the warehouse, gas cylinders must always be kept away. As a result, while carrying gas cylinders in the warehouse, it is required to apply safety precautions such as security chains and carts.

Oversize storage

This zone is beneficial for certain items like goods that require more space since they will not suit standard shelves.

Security cage

You can keep precious products like brand-name medications in this zone. 

Some Advice That You May Need for Improving Every Warehouse Zone

Below are a few tips that you can use in your warehouse as well as in developing warehouse zones.

Storage Area

• Make sure that the item storage space has no dust on the surfaces.
• Maintain high-quality, rust-free shelves to prevent rust from affecting stored items.
• Enlarge your storage space when it is totally occupied by adding storing costs.
• Utilize compact storing and movable storage racks to improve your warehouse capacity.
• Utilize racks and shelves that are appropriate for the size of your merchandise.

Pick And Fix Zone

• Create a clear area for the selecting zone. Take into account size and product turnover while designing the picking zone.
• Enhance the link between zones by implementing an automation process such as box conveyors.
• Implementing robotic picking devices.

Product Receive And Dispatch Zone

• Maintain a solid warehouse management system to regulate the congestion in the commodities receiving and dispatching areas.
• Assign a correct location to the vehicles while loading and unloading the products. It facilitates the movement of items within the warehouse.

Technical Zone To Manage Equipment

• A technical zone will help to maintain types of equipment, such as charging device batteries.
• Ascertain that the zone is in good environmental condition. That indicates some equipment needs power.

Warehouse Management Zone

• Create an administrative zone in the warehouse so that the warehouse manager and supervisors are always updated on the warehouse’s daily activities.
• Maintain a strong computer connected to your company’s servers.

Critical Aspects Of Zoning The Warehouse To Think About

Warehouse commodities zoning must aim to complete optimization of warehouse management. Here are major aspects to consider in its design:

• Making the most of the given storage capacity.
• Quick and simple access to the saved items.
• Good product visibility and placement.
• Costs associated with storage are reduced.
• Reduced distances traveled by handling types of equipment.
• Keep safety and proper transportation inside the warehouse.
• Each designated region is clearly delineated and marked.
• The ability to connect the loading and unloading facilities to the remainder of the warehouse.
• Possibility of managing trouble-free inventory and commodities.

Features Of The Goods Under Consideration

The quality of each commodity will be one of the most essential factors in zoning and storing in the warehouse area. Check out the following characteristics of goods: 

• Goods size: Categorizing things based on their dimensions will assist in saving on handling expenses. For instance, keeping large things in regions with simple loading and unloading.
• Inventory turnover: One of the essential zoning features is that must place high turnover items near the outflow and shipping of products to decrease delays and distances traversed. Low turnover items can be set aside for storage in more distant and difficult-to-access locations.
• Order preparation: If the items will be handled in an order preparing area, they can be classified and placed nearer to the zone to eliminate needless distances.
• Complementary items: If many items are often included with the same orders and deliveries, zoning them in the same location, might help optimize warehousing activities.
• Incompatibility: Some items cannot be stored together owing to differences in dimension, weight, composition, environmental requirements, or volume. Chemicals and perishable items like foods are perfect examples.

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Conclusion

Warehouse zones aid in the organization of workflow and the assignment of relevant duties to particular locations, increasing the speed and effectiveness of operations. A warehouse’s process layout should be thoroughly examined. There are several alternatives available, but it is critical that they are appropriate for the situation.