As new warehouse space becomes more expensive, you may find yourself looking for ways to maximize your current storage space. You might be thinking the only way to alleviate this problem is to build out, but instead, build up and utilize your vertical space! A vertical lift module (VLM) is a great solution for utilizing your warehouse’s vertical space and is also excellent way to improve your warehouse operations.

What is a Vertical Lift Module (VLM) and How Does it Work? 

Vertical Lift Modules (VLMs) are, in basic terms, a vertical warehouse. These are highly automated picking and storage devices that maximize unused vertical height in new or existing facilities. The implementation of a VLM results in recovered floor space, improved ergonomics, productivity gains, and increased accuracy.

Improving Your Warehouse Ops with a VLM

Take a look around your warehouse. As our partners at Modula put it, your operation could benefit from the use of a VLM if…

You’re considering moving or building a new warehouse.

A warehouse move is costly and time consuming. Often, we can eliminate the need for a move by using vertical lifts that occupy previously unused storage space. Remember; don’t build out, build up!

You utilize a lot of drawer cabinets or shelving.

While static cabinets and shelving can be useful, they don’t allow for the most efficient use of space. With a vertical warehouse, the footprint of cabinets or shelving units can be condensed and is much more efficient for your workers, since the inventory is delivered to them in the automated VLM trays.

You have a large gap between the top of your storage shelving and ceilings.

If you have a 30 foot building but your shelving is only 6 feet tall, you’re not utilizing your vertical space as efficiently as you could!

You are picking small parts.

If your inventory consists of mostly smaller parts, utilizing a VLM can boost your productivity since parts are presented to the user in a VLM tray to pick from rather than scrounging through shelves and drawers. We also offer VLM tray partitions to even better manage small parts and their SKUs.

You are experiencing a lot of mispicks/errors in picking.

With traditional warehouse storage, human errors are unavoidable. With laser pointers, alphanumeric LED bars, put-to-light systems, and similar aids guiding operators to units and quantities to retrieve, automated storage and retrieval systems like these completely mitigate mispicks.

Your inventory needs to be secured.

A vertical warehouse system provides a safe storage space for high value inventory and parts. Your SKUs can easily be kept track of using the VLM inventory management software, and the VLM can limit access to authorized users only.

You’re walking a long distance to pick orders.

Walking to each pick location is time consuming and draining for your staff. Presenting parts to the user in one consolidated pick window leads to a faster, less fatiguing picking process.

Learn how we can improve your warehouse space & gain a better ROI. Contact us online today or call us at 1-800-696-3453.