Spare parts storage: conditions and procedure

Storing spare parts is a real art. Each type of part requires specific conditions. And to find the right item quickly, you need to stack them in the right order and make them easily accessible to staff.

Spare parts and storage conditions

Spare parts are items with very different characteristics. It is common to divide them into several main groups:

– small items (metalware, light bulbs, plugs, etc.)
– medium-sized parts in packs;
– large spare parts (glass, silencers, wheels, etc.)

Small parts are stored in sturdy plastic or cardboard boxes. Medium-sized spare parts, which are usually already individually packaged, are placed on shelves with dividers. Special conditions are required for larger items:

– the glass placed on a long rail on deep (about 2 m) racks, vertically, with dividers;
– The silencers are suspended on hooks or arranged so that the pipes with resonators are positioned vertically on girder racks fitted with cantilever spacers;
– tyres and rims are stored vertically on narrow (up to 500 mm) girder racks;
– for horizontal discs storage in boxes, a storage system up to 1 m deep will be required;
– carpets need deep shelves of up to 1 m, 4-5 per shelf;
– body parts are stacked on shelves 1.2-2.0 m deep with dividers, no more than 3-4 articles in each compartment.

When you plan the storage system, the weight of the parts must be taken into account and related to the load capacity of the structure. Batteries should be placed on a horizontal surface in a single row, with the terminals facing upwards. They are protected from overheating (at least one metre away from heat sources) and cold (above zero temperature).

When you need a separate warehouse for spare parts

The average motorist can get by with a shelving unit along the garage wall. But those who supply cars and parts to them professionally will need convenient warehouse space. Large consignment of original parts are ordered abroad, e.g. from the USA. These are valuable resources that need to be stored properly and protected from damage.

In such cases, you can’t do without a good warehouse. Building your own space is a long and costly affair. It is easier to rent suitable space. For example, the TetrisBOX company offers warehouse space in Kiev and Lviv. This is a comfortable location, there is security, 24-hour access, heating, etc.

How to organise storage

To create the right conditions is half the battle. Parts need to be arranged in such a way that they can be quickly found and handed over to the customer. Passages are made between individual racks:

– between the wall and the material – 600-700 mm;
– in front of the door – 1500 – 2000 mm;
– inside the warehouse – 1250 – 1500 mm;
– inside the warehouse – 1250 – 1500 mm;
– between racks – 800 – 1000 mm.

They need not only for convenience, but also for fire safety. Standard spare parts racks are usually 600X600X450m in size. They can withstand a load of up to 800 kg per square metre. To arrange the arrangement of parts, e.g. sequentially by article number, according to the manufacturer’s catalogue, to keep them organised. The racks are labelled with the item number, name, quantity, etc.

Volkswagen uses an interesting targeting system. The spare parts stock is distributed in storage compartments. The size of such a compartment is a multiple of the size of the standard package intended for the item.

If the package dimensions change, the cell dimensions are adjusted to the new needs by moving the dividers. The top shelf above each section is allocated for storing stocks of different spare parts. If a part is picked up, the free space can be filled immediately. A cell is assigned a specific address with the floor, row and location of a specific part. The address is stored in the stock program.