Gloval Shipping Warehouse Integration Case Study

Gloval Shipping is an International Freight Forwarding company with more than 20 years of experience moving freight between the US and Latin America. With offices in Miami, Guayaquil, Lima and Panama City, they are committed to offer effective logistics services to customers within these locations.

Since Miami is the world’s largest gateway to Latin America, it serves as the headquarters for Gloval Shipping. This warehouse leverages the most massive number of freight forwarding services of the company. Miami offers a strategic location that allows Gloval to offer their services effectively to their Latin American customers.

Present globalization demands have been pushing freight forwarding companies to their limits, and Gloval Shipping is not exempted from this event. The company has been achieving a constant growth rate over the last years and in order to maintain it’s excellence standards in a highly competitive market, they needed to keep up with the high volume demands from their customers without compromising delivery times.

For this reason, Gloval Shipping decided to acquire a new warehouse in Miami, in order to continue growing their operations and being able to support the constant growth demand. But buying a new warehouse itself only allowed them to have more storage space; this space needed to be used properly and efficiently in order to accomplish the goals of continue growing, keeping up with customer demands and delivery times.

The company decided they needed to optimize their warehouse and make it more efficient, so they came to Atlantic Rack looking for a warehouse integrator that could help guide them on how to get the most out of their new warehouse.

After visiting their new facility, the costumer presented the following list of identified problems that needed to be fixed.

• Inefficient space distribution.
• Slow picking and shipping processes.
• Misuse of the loading dock bays.
• Security breaches through the docks.
• Extreme heat contributing to low productivity levels on staff.

The first action Atlantic Rack took to improve Gloval Shipping’s new warehouse was create a completely new floorplan blueprint of how the warehouse layout should look like in order to make their operations more efficient an generate a more fluent work operation.

24FT HIGH SELECTIVE RACKS FOR STORAGE

We proposed using 3/5 of the warehouse space dedicated to only storage, for this we used traditional Selective Pallet Racking systems and used 24′ foot high uprights. We didn’t go all the way up to the roof because of the extreme heat conditions of the warehouse, allowing some space for extra ventilation purposes. The other 2/5 space of the warehouse was left for receiving and shipping areas, in order for the staff to have a more comfortable space to receive and dispatch the huge amount of loads they move daily.

Pallet racks play a crucial role in optimizing warehouse space and increasing efficiency. They allow for the organized storage of goods, maximizing storage capacity and making it easier to locate and retrieve items when needed. By using pallet racks, warehouse managers can effectively utilize vertical space, which is especially valuable in large and busy warehouses where floor space is limited. This not only saves costs but also improves inventory management, as it enables easy tracking of stock levels and simplifies the process of restocking and inventory control. Furthermore, pallet racks contribute to worker safety by providing a stable and secure storage solution, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries caused by cluttered or unsafe storage methods. Overall, the importance of pallet racks cannot be overstated in modern warehousing operations.

HVLS FANS TO KEEP IT COOL!

Since the extreme heat was such a problem for Gloval shipping’s new warehouse and the loading dock gates were kept open permanently, no air conditioning units could be installed in this location. We suggested the customer to install 3 medium-large sized HVLS Fans that would help maintain air circulation flowing always.

HVLS fans, or High Volume Low Speed fans, are large ceiling fans typically used in commercial and industrial spaces. They offer several benefits, including significant energy savings. HVLS fans are designed to move large volumes of air at low speeds, creating a gentle breeze that cools people and reduces the need for air conditioning. This can result in reduced energy consumption and lower utility costs. Additionally, HVLS fans help improve comfort by evenly distributing air throughout the space, reducing hot and cold spots. They can also help improve air quality by effectively circulating and ventilating the air, reducing the build-up of dust, pollutants, and odors. HVLS fans are quiet, low-maintenance, and highly durable, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly cooling solution for various commercial and industrial settings.

MECHANICAL DOCK LEVELERS FOR FAST LOADING/UNLOADING PROCESS!

We encouraged Gloval Shipping to install 4 dock levelers in their a warehouse, since they had plenty of dock doors. This would help them to save time while loading and unloading trucks because this product allows forklifts to access any truck and makes the process way more efficient for forklift operators. Firstly, it enables seamless loading and unloading of goods between different truck heights and the warehouse floor, eliminating the need for manual handling which reduces the risk of injuries. It also ensures a smooth transition from the truck to the dock, preventing accidents caused by uneven surfaces. A dock leveler increases productivity by reducing wait times for trucks, as they can be loaded or unloaded quickly and efficiently. Additionally, it helps maintain the integrity of goods by minimizing damage during the loading and unloading process. Overall, a dock leveler is a valuable investment for any warehouse, streamlining operations and promoting a safer work environment.

SECURITY FOLDING GATES FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY WITHOUT COMPROMISING VISIBILITY

Due to the constant amount of trucks loading and unloading at this facility, docks were always kept open. This caused a lot of security breaches. Since the warehouse is very big and the staff is usually busy working, it was hard to control when an intruder accessed the warehouse without permission. Also for ventilation purposes the gates had to remain open. We offered the customer to equip their docks with folding gates.

Folding gates offer Increased Security by providing an extra layer of security to warehouses by acting as a physical barrier. They can be locked securely, preventing unauthorized access and potential theft. You can also benefit from Folding Gates because the Improved Safety they offer; Warehouses can be hazardous environments, and folding gates help in creating designated safe spaces. They can be used to cordon off dangerous or restricted areas, preventing accidents and injuries.

Folding gates are highly versatile and can be folded away when not in use. This flexibility allows for easy access to different areas of the warehouse, as gates can be easily moved or opened as needed. Unlike traditional fixed gates, folding gates take up minimal space. They can be neatly folded away when not in use, maximizing the available space in the warehouse.

Finally, folding gates act as a visual deterrent to potential intruders or unauthorized personnel. This way the docks could continue to be kept open without sacrificing visibility or ventilation.