The forklift has become a vital piece of machinery able to lift and move products and heavy supplies with both speed and efficiency. The way a business uses this machinery could considerably affect its productivity.
Free stacking pallets is the most common storage system. Using this storage system is both easy and economical for your forklift. Free Stacking Pallets involves positioning one pallet on top of another to create a stack of products. This is a stable storage method and is suggested when dealing with many pallets of similar height and dimensions or large amounts of the similar goods. The disadvantage of this method is that it just enables access to the objects put last, so it does not enable a First In First Out system.
Pallet Racking is a method that involves the stable storage of different sized pallets. Any pallet can be accessed at any time, that enables a First In First Out or Last In First Out system. It enables the rack to grow and change shape depending upon every day needs. This specific technique needs aisles which are wide enough to enable a lift truck to freely access the racks and maneuver easily. The disadvantage is that this system means fewer pallets can be handled in the environment. This may not make a difference if there is sufficient space available.
Similar to Pallet Racking, the method referred to as Narrow Aisle Racking enables a Last In First Out or First In First Out technique. It varies in that a special narrow forklift is utilized. This means that smaller areas are required between the aisles of pallets than in the Pallet Racking technique. The benefit is that more goods could be kept in the same area. The disadvantage is that you will have to transition to a new truck if you already own a typical lift truck. The expenditure of acquiring special equipment might be a deterrent to implementing this system of storage.
It is important to use your lift truck to its full potential. It pays to consider your time expenses in retrieval and storage of pallets. Afterward you could determine whether there are more efficient ways to use your lift truck to increase the usable space of your units or to speed up the process. Greater effectiveness equals greater productivity.