Warehouse Improvements For Reopening Of Businesses

Following weeks of minimal business activities due to the circuit breaker measure, the Singapore government has introduced the Safe Re-opening phase starting from 2 June onwards to gradually re-open some activities. Certain businesses and manufacturing facilities are gearing up to get back into action.

Supply chains have experienced significant disruptions and many are focused on mitigating the economic effects of the virus. At the same time, companies are scrambling to keep up with demand surges for essential products as well as pent-up demands for semi-essential and regular consumption goods. Given the current volatile situation, it is vital to make some warehouse improvements to secure a fast and reliable supply to consumer needs.

Work with your teams to establish projections of how you need to stock up as the country moves to the 3 different re-opening phases. How much extra inventory do you need to handle the additional demand? This will enable you to figure out on the current layout of your warehouse as well to improve organisation, product workflow, space utilisation, and physical distancing for pickers and packers.

If you need the extra space to store more goods, our property at 18 New Industrial Road offers warehouses for rent in the East district of Singapore. Its location is accessible via the KPE highway and a short walking distance to Tai Seng and Bartley MRT stations. This 6-storey B1 industrial building features a professional corporate façade and a revamped layout. The size of the units ranges from 592 to 2,626 sqft, with a ceiling height of 3.8m and floor loading capacity of 15kN/m2. Furnishings include lights, aircon, waterpoint and windows for selected units. For businesses seeking a small office for lease, our subsidiary Work+Store is available in the premises to offer small-sized work and storage unit options with a conducive working environment. There are other features included in the property such as 2 loading bays, 20-footer access, 24-hour CCTV & access, F&B options nearby, and complimentary parking for the 1st lot.

With the concept of remote working quickly taking root in most businesses, you should take steps to ramp up your information systems capacity. Invest in cloud infrastructure, networking and train employees on how to handle the demands and flow of remote working. It can help to improve your warehouse performance for better resource utilisation and a boost in efficiency. 

Automation can also aid in reducing human interaction – even though it is a long-term plan, you may wish to start designing systems that control the space of people and limit exposure. For instance, change your conveyor line structure to spread people out. This provides extra distance to minimise contact from each other.

Just as you plan for additional inventory and warehouse space to handle the demand, ensure that your staffs are up to the task. Consider new constraints and challenges such as staggered shifts and service delivery goals. Incentivize seasonal workers and retrain them on ways to work more efficiently and safely. This is a good time to also reiterate on employee wellness by staying on top of their hygiene levels and taking care of their health, a priority especially during Covid-19 times. Put practical safeguards in place such as restricting access to the facility for other non-essential visitors, and increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection. 

The post-circuit breaker period will see an increase in space requirement by more than 50%. This will be primarily due to the new social distancing rules and to accommodate the additional inventory due to increased demand. Consider going for an additional warehouse space for rent to meet your supply needs. Our property at Depot Lane offers warehouses and industrial spaces for rent with easy loading setup right outside the unit. Located in the Bukit Merah district, it offers a centralised location as well as a unique feature right in the city – ground floor warehouse. There is a wide array of amenities nearby such as bus services at Depot Road, access to nearest train stations at Redhill MRT and Telok Belangah MRT, and a reasonable distance to Depot Heights Shopping Centre to meet daily needs. Unit sizes range from 1,873 to 4,391 sqft with 4.5m ceiling height and 15kN/m2 floor loading capacity. There are also open space units – from 400 to 2,000 sqft – with cement flooring/hardcore ground to support your operations. Other facilities include 40-footer access, column-free layout, and season parking for cars and heavy vehicles.

Keen to secure a cheap workshop rental in Singapore? We have an ongoing promotion where you can enjoy 50% off monthly lease in selected commercial and warehouse properties, till end of June 2020. Terms & conditions apply.

If you wish to find out more about LHN properties info, feel free to contact us at +65 6578 9966 or WhatsApp us at (65) 8345 9966. Alternatively, you can email us at space.enquiry@lhngroup.com.sg.