Have you ever been in a situation where you had to search for an item in your cold room for hours without any luck? Or perhaps you kept two products so close together that one contaminated the other? Or maybe you stored two products that required different storage temperatures in the same compartment and one got damaged? Well, if you’ve experienced any of these, then this article is for you.
Keeping your cold storage space organized can be difficult at times. It’s not just a matter of managing the goods; but it’s also about efficiently storing and arranging them. This article will show you the three key steps to maximizing your cold storage space and organizing any inventory you may have on hand.
Why do you need to organize your storage space?
Here are some reasons why you need to keep your storage space organized:
1. Temperature control
Proper organization allows for better temperature control. It ensures that products are stored in the appropriate areas of the cold room at the appropriate temperatures.
2. Efficient use of space
Organizing the space increases the amount of goods that can be stored. It also ensures that products are located and removed with ease.
3. Improved air circulation
Organizing the products in your cold room can also improve air circulation throughout the room, which can help to maintain a consistent temperature.
4. Easier inventory management
Keeping the storage space organized can make it easier to keep track of what products are stored in the cold room, how much of each product is on hand, and when products need to be restocked or used.
5. Easier to find products
Proper organization of the products makes it easier for staff to find and retrieve products, which can help reduce the time it takes to complete tasks and improve productivity.
6. Food safety
Organizing the goods in your storage space can also help prevent cross-contamination and ensure food safety. By storing raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods in separate areas, you can be sure your products are safe.
7. Compliance the food regulations
Organizing the cold room can also help to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and guidelines by ensuring that products are stored at the appropriate temperatures and in the appropriate conditions.
Organizing your products in 3 easy steps
Now that you know the benefits of having your storage space organized, let me take you through how you can achieve this in three easy steps:
Step 1: Sort and categorize
Sort and categorize your inventory by type of product, expiration date, and storage temperature requirements. This will allow you to determine which products should be stored together and at what temperature.
Step 2: Label and store
Label all products with the date they were stored and use the “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) method to rotate your products. This ensures that older products go out/are used before they expire. Store the products in the appropriate area of the cold room at the appropriate temperature.
Step 3: Regularly review and adjust
Regularly review your inventory and make adjustments as needed. This includes monitoring expiration dates, restocking products, and removing expired or spoiled products. You may also keep track of these using software or spreadsheets
Equipment/Tools That Can Help With Cold Storage Organization
The following equipment are useful when it comes to cold room organization:
(i) Racking and shelving systems
These systems can be used to optimize the use of space and improve air circulation within the cold room. They can also be used to create designated areas for different types of products, such as raw meats, cooked meats, fruits, and vegetables. Shelves allow the effective use of every single space in your cold room from breath to length and everything in between.
There are different types of shelves in use these days:
(a) Adjustable shelving: Adjustable shelving allows you to customize the height and spacing of the shelves to fit the specific products you are storing. This can help optimize the use of space and reduce wasted space.
(b) Mobile shelving: Mobile shelving units can be easily moved to optimize space usage, and can be easily accessed from all sides. This can help improve the flow of products in and out of the cold room and improve productivity.
(ii) Inventory management software
This type of software can be used to track inventory levels, expiration dates, and product locations, which can help to ensure that products are rotated correctly and that out-of-date products are removed from the inventory.
(iii) Barcode scanners and label printers
These devices are used to create and print barcode labels for products, which can be scanned and tracked as they are moved in and out of the cold room.
(iv) Pallet jacks and hand trucks
Pallet jacks and hand trucks can be used to move and stack pallets of products in and out of the cold room, making it easier to manage the inventory and maintain proper organization.
(v) Plastic bins and containers
Plastic containers can be used to store small items and help keep the inventory well organized, while also keeping the products fresh and protected.
(vi) Label holders
These are used to tag the shelves, making it easy to identify the products stored on each shelf.
Wrapping up
The key to keeping your products organized and efficient is to make sure things stay visible. By applying the suggestions identified above, you will not only be able to increase your storage space but also organize the inventory. You will also be able to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete order fulfillment and delivery.
If you need a professional HVAC/R company to help you maintain, build, or install a cold storage facility, then you should talk to us at Ofin Global. Contact us via mail at info@ofinglobal.com.ng or WhatsApp chat on +2348063150242.
