1. SEPARATE THE RECEIVING AREA FOR SPACE TO ORGANIZE NEW PRODUCTS
A separate receiving area allows for space away from the unloading dock to sort goods and prepare them for storage. With a separate space for sorting from the dock, workers can unload more goods. With faster unloading and loading, the docked vehicles can spend less time at the docking area, allowing for more trucks to enter.
2. ALLOW ROOM AROUND THE DOCK FOR PRODUCTS
The dock needs to have adequate space for unloaded products waiting to go to receiving and outgoing goods awaiting loading onto trucks. The dock space should also have protection from the elements to help prevent damage to any goods kept on it.
3. CONSIDER A U-SHAPE DESIGN FOR GENERAL PURPOSE WAREHOUSES
One of the most common warehouse designs has the incoming and outgoing docks side-by-side with the interior workflow moving in a U-shape. This design allows for sharing of the personnel loading and unloading trucks in order to reduce labor needs in this area. It also accommodates cross-docking needs during high-demand times when goods don’t reach the storage area and pass directly from the incoming dock to the outgoing one.
4. USE AN I-CONFIGURATION FOR HIGH-VOLUME FACILITIES
High-volume facilities benefit most with docks at either end of a straight line in an I-shape configuration. These types of facilities allow for better security with separate incoming and outgoing docking areas. They also allow for more storage space between the receiving and shipping areas at either end compared to U-shaped warehouses.
5. OPT FOR AN L-SHAPED WAREHOUSE TO MAXIMIZE STORAGE AND SORTING
An L-shaped warehouse has the incoming and outgoing docks at right angles to each other. Like an I-shaped warehouse, the L-shape allows for greater security and more control over inventory. With receiving and shipping in different areas of the warehouse, workers can use their available space to organize products and keep track of them.
Loading docks may not be part of the warehouse layout design, but their protection needs consideration. Loading dock canopies and shades can improve operations in similar ways that changing the warehouse layout can. These covers may reduce worker fatigue from heat and sun exposure, reduce product damage, show an investment in long-term sustainability, and reduce energy costs for the building.
IMPROVE WORKER COMFORT AND PREVENT OVERHEATING
Workers can easily overheat from working under the sun, especially during the heat of summer. Those unloading trailers parked under the direct sun may experience temperatures up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Covering parked trailers reduces their exposure to the sun, which may help to keep the interior of the trailers cooler during loading and unloading.
Shading the loading dock with a canopy protects the workers from hot temperatures. When protected from direct heat and the sun, workers in the docking area may experience less fatigue and fewer incidences of heat stress.
PROTECT PRODUCTS FROM HAIL AND SUN DAMAGE
In addition to workers being exposed to the heat, products on the dock or in the trailer can experience heat damage. Full sunlight can raise the temperatures on an uncovered dock quickly. In inclement weather, unprotected goods on loading docks could suffer rain or hail damage.
Covering the dock with canopies or shades can reduce the chances of hail or heat causing irreparable damage. Some types of covers will also protect against rain damage to goods on the loading dock. Keeping goods protected from weather damage may reduce losses and protect profits and customer satisfaction.
BOOST LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG SCORE
Long-term sustainability is essential to modern businesses, including distribution centers. The ESG score reflects how much a business invests in the future concerns of the environment, society, and government (ESG). Protecting goods from damage and keeping workers healthier shows an investment in preventing the risk of losses. By reducing risk, an ESG score can increase.
