Top 5 Reasons to Include Gravity Flow Racks on Your Shop Floor

Whether you’re executing large-volume work orders or short production runs, effective inventory management can take your lean manufacturing efforts to a new level of success. But in order to reach that success, it’s important to provide your technicians with the right materials and tools to get the job done effectively and efficiently. That’s where industrial flow racks from FlexMation start to make a lot of sense. When used regularly, gravity flow racks give manufacturers the chance to devise new material delivery strategies to boost long-term productivity.

How Do Gravity Flow Racks Work?

As you probably guessed, gravity plays a starring role in how these unique material-handling tools work. A typical working process works like this: Inventory is placed on the loading side of the system. When the frontmost item is picked, the next item moves to the front. Gravity pulls each item in sequential order, making the process efficient and easy to manage.

The Biggest Benefits of Using Gravity Flow Racks for Lean Manufacturing

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably wondering why flow racks are such a popular tool for lean manufacturers. Let’s start with what most would consider the biggest benefit:

1. Lower Cost of Operation

Conventional racks – like pallet shuttles – are usually powered by electricity, which helps move items through the system. As the name suggests, gravity flow racks rely on gravity, which is free of charge. When you minimize or eliminate electricity, managing inventory is cheaper. Electric racks also need ongoing maintenance to ensure they work well, which isn’t the case with gravity flow racks. The use of gravity flow racks results in lower operational costs compared to electric-powered systems due to their low-cost maintenance and unique use of gravity, making them more efficient than selective racks that require forklifts to stock their aisles.

2. Modular Integration Supported

Modular solutions and lean manufacturing go together like peanut butter and jelly. Warehouses and manufacturing facilities that use extensive rack systems typically employ various types of racks to meet specific picking requirements. The modular design of the gravity flow rack accommodates these systems, supporting just-in-time inventory management and reducing congestion on the shop floor. This, in turn, enhances operational efficiency and lowers operational costs.

3. More Space on Your Shopfloor

Maximizing space on the shop floor not only improves safety but also boosts productivity within manufacturing facilities by reducing traffic. Gravity flow racks offer higher density than static material handling systems because they require fewer aisles. They achieve higher density by incorporating as many as 12 pallets across two aisles. In contrast, selective racks and other systems need more aisles to function, thereby taking up more space.

4. Common Sense Configuration and Design Flexibility

Gravity flow racks are designed without complex electronic components and wiring, which can make setup challenging. Their modular design enables manufacturers to easily configure and modify them into various functional systems. This can be done using everyday tools, simplifying the entire process.

5. Refined Inventory Tracking

It’s essential to keep an eye on inventory levels to manage material availability and prevent stock shortages. Gravity flow racks allow lean manufacturers to monitor inventory on the shop floor and restock as needed. That way, a steady flow of resources is always on hand.

Gravity Flow Racks from FlexMation

Also known as FIFO and Supermarket racks, flow racks are indispensable for optimizing material flow on your facility floor. FlexMation’s flow racks can help you store excess products, free up floor space, and improve product accessibility. They can also be tailored to enhance material flow in and around work areas.

Our industrial flow racks include a range of innovative features, including the following:

• Variety of Roller Configurations: Rollers, Skate Wheels, Span-Track, Slide Rails
• Light, Medium, or Heavy-Duty Frames
• Aesthetic Appeal from Anodized Aluminum or Powder-Coated Steel
• Standard or ESD-Safe
• Stand-Alone or Integrated with a Workcell or Workstation  
• Numerous Add-ons

We’ve completed hundreds of rack styles suited to a wide range of commercial industries. So, regardless of your market, you can rely on FlexMation’s custom racks to help you meet your productivity objectives.

When You’ve Got to Enhance Productivity, It’s Time to Call FlexMation

FlexMation is dedicated to being a dependable partner in improving your manufacturing performance. We specialize in creating tailor-made industrial workstations, FIFO racks, carts, and other equipment to boost productivity and safety in industrial, manufacturing, and high-tech settings. Our objective is straightforward: we strive to help you carry out your work more efficiently, safely, quickly, and intelligently. Contact our office today to get started.