Shelf Space Optimisation

If you search for  Stock Space optimisation or Shelf Space Optimisation on the Internet you will come across a lot of research papers and discussion of the techniques and methods of doing this but not much in terms of practical solutions.  And those that you do find are usually highly expensive systems intended to for retail layouts where the display is more important than the optimum use of space.

THE LOGISTICS BUSINESS have developed a cost-effective PC based software tool for optimising the amount of shelf space that stock items require.  The software has been developed using C++ and has a user friendly graphical front-end.  It can be used as an operational tool to fit each seasons stock into an existing stock-room or as a design tool to calculate the amount and type of shelving that is required to fit a planned quantity of stock.

In its simplest form the output can be in the form of printed stocking diagrams.  Alternatively it can be passed to a Stock room or Warehouse control system in which case picking can be directed directly to the Area, the Bay, the Shelf and position on the bay.  This makes it a practical possibility to have fully random stock location.

The software can take many factors into consideration and has many ways of organising stock.  Below are just some examples.

• Group product by Family
• Sequence product by Product Code
• Sequence Top down or Bottom up on shelves
• Random storage within a Family or, for the best space optimisation, fully random storage

It can utilise

• Maxi or Tote Bins
• Long Item storage
• Shelving of virtually any configuration
• Fixed shelving
• Configurable shelving
• Bulky item storage

Just some of the parameters it considers

• Limiting the height of heavy items
• Allow items to overhang shelves
• ‘Finger space’ around items
• Maximum stack sizes for individual Products.

For further details please contact us on 01527 889060  (Full contact details in page footer)