Guide to Warehouse Labelling

Comprehensive Warehouse Labeling Manual

Effective warehouse labelling as an identification system is one of the most important aspects of warehouse management, and with the different types of labels it can be confusing at times.

Luckily, SEC Group is here to help, with this handy easy to read guide on how to choose the right label, and where these labels should be placed in your warehouse.

Different types of warehouse labels

Warehouse identification labels essential for an effective inventory management system, and are generally grouped based on the purpose of identification that they fulfil; for example –

• barcode labels
• painted labels
• retro reflective labels
• RFID tags

Normally, warehouse labelling is divided into categories of:

• Floor labels (or markings), also known as location labels
• Warehouse tote and bin labels
• Warehouse pallet labels
• Warehouse rack labels

LOCATION LABELLING

How do I label a warehouse? Where do I start?

A question we hear often, and one we will try to offer some guidance on.

Systematic approach to identifying the right location for warehouse labels

A correctly labelled warehouse will be a safe and secure environment for employees, which maintaining productivity – an effective warehouse labelling system will make it easier for workers to identify (and therefore pack, remove, replace or organise) stock quickly and accurately.

In order to identify the correct locations for labels systematically, you should consider factors or features such as:

• Design & manufacture of code labels
• Custom printed to your design
• Barcodes
• Colour coding
• Check digits & directional arrows

Management of a modern warehouse needs clear and precise identification that can be quickly and easily understood by all concerned. As specialists in the design and manufacture of code labels, we provide a cost-effective solution to all your labelling needs.

Our project managers will design a labelling solution to meet your particular system requirements.

If you already know your warehouse label requirements, then contact us for a quotation with the following data:

• Quantity of labels/Number of locations
• Typical code
• Colour requirement
• Approximate label size
• Height to top beam
• Or email an excel file of requirement

MATERIALS & COLOUR CODING

A wide variety of base materials are available for the manufacture of hard wearing code labels, including:

• Polyesters
• Coloured Vinyl
• Polypropylene
• Deep Freeze
• Magnetic
• PVC
• Styrene

Colour Coding offers an additional high visibility quick check facility to proper warehouse labelling systems.

DOUBLE LOCATION DESIGN LAYOUTS

For First Beam Levels

• Reduces the quantity of labels required and essentially cost
• Bold text on white or yellow – offers clear identification
• Staggered barcodes reduces mis-scanning issues
• Use directional arrows for total avoidance of doubt

Ideal for locations on the floor and first beam level. The double text at eye level reduces the number of labels required for manufacture and installation.

Labels can incorporate locations, directional arrows, barcodes and check digits.

SINGLE LOCATION DESIGN LAYOUTS

For Upper Beam Levels

• Clear and precise identification for each pallet location
• Include barcode on upper levels to assist with stock checks
• Aisle Position Level
• Use of spaces within human readable text helps the picker Aisle Bay Level Position
• Use of hyphens within the human readable text helps the picker

A location label for each pallet location, can incorporate location code, directional arrow, barcode and check digits (if required). Clear, precise identification for each and every pallet. It is often worth including barcodes on all locations, even if you do not have man up trucks for stock taking purposes.

SUMMARY – LOCATION DESIGN LAYOUTS

For First Beam Levels

• Ideal where man up trucks are not available
• Scan from first beam level
• All levels barcoded on the first beam

Labels positioned on the first beam level detailing the locations and barcodes for all upper levels. Suitable for use where man up trucks are not available, the user can scan the required location from the ground, without the need to leave the truck.

UPRIGHT LOCATION DESIGN LAYOUTS

Where there are no Man Up Trucks

• Rigid PVC plates positioned at eye level
• Ideal for walkways

Manufactured on a rigid plate, the upright markers are ideal for use in walkways, fire exits or tunnel bays. The plates act like the summary labels and offer the user the facility to scan upper level locations from the ground.

USE OF CHECK DIGITS

• Check digits can be used as a double check facility that the correct item has been picked or put away.
• Can be numeric or alphanumeric.
• Manually entered by picker.
• Can also be incorporated into barcodes or as a separate barcode in their own right.
• Generally, “reverse” printed to distinguish from location code.

COLOUR – FOCUSES THE MIND

Information in our daily life is displayed using colour – in transportation alone, roads, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and airports use colour to organise information.

Communicating this information using colour standards keeps us safe, and helps us make decisions quickly and more efficiently, processing things in real time.

Colour has meaning everywhere. It is meant to direct our behaviour and assist in our decision making; without colour, our world becomes transparent and we lose the ability to emphasise importance and communicate effectively.

The purpose of colour coding is to communicate without speaking. Labels that include this type of visual communication helps us convey a message clearly and without misunderstanding.

Full colour summary labels positioned on the first beam level or upright offer an instant cross check facility that the user is picking from the correct level at height.

Aisle Bay Level

ESTABLISH THE REQUIREMENTS

Answer yes or no to each of the following questions in regards to your aisle bay level labelling system:

Labels on each Beam level?

Beam Height / Depth to work out label size:

Colour required?

Does the customer require barcodes?

If yes, does the customer have man up trucks?

If no, does the customer want a summary label on the first beam with barcodes for all upper levels? On the upright as a plate with upper level barcodes?

Are there existing labels on the beams?

If yes, consider block out material or orange vinyl RACKING LAYOUT

Is a drawing available?

If not, please sketch runs if possible

Number of Runs:

Doubles / Back to Back

Singles

Number of Bays per run?

Number of Levels including the floor?

Number of pallet spaces per beam?

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS?

End of Aisle Markers – standard 300 x 400mm for pallet racking If yes, colour and number of digits per sign

Required for just 1 end of the run or double ended? Does the customer require floor marking / safety signs?

SEC Group can help

SEC Group are experts in warehouse safety and labelling systems; contact us today for a cost effective warehouse solution to your labelling needs.