Warehouse Security: how to lay out your facility for maximum effectiveness
Supply Operations can be laid out to increase security
In any operation, access is the first line of defense for security. When people don't have access to something, they cannot steal it.
Especially with pharmaceuticals, security is a prime issue. When looking at the way supply warehouses and rooms are designed, the flow of people must be regulated.
Some common flaws:
Trash dumpsters & trash pickup
It's a poor idea to place a dumpster or other bins, large containers, scrap vessels, or or cans near an accessible door. They can become ideal places for thieves to stow stolen inventory for later pickup. Consider rolling trash receptacles as well. They are a great way for a thief to hide stolen items. Don't allow them to be used in a secure area with valuable inventory open on shelves. Deliver the trash to the front, or arrange it so that trash pickup is segmented away from the storage areas.
Total number of Doors
More doors is more access. If you don't need a door open, lock it. In a supply room setting, this is easily done. In a warehouse, you can regulate the number of open doors and assign watchers to them. You must consider safety as well, and maintain the number of doors needed for safe entry and exit. Fire bars that trigger an alarm when a door is opened are a good solution to limiting casual access and simultaneously preserving safety.
Shipping and Receiving Doors
In a warehouse, don't allow shipping and receiving doors to be too close to each other. This makes it easy for an item to be taken off one truck and placed on another. In a supply room, the same principle can apply, although the shipping door typically isn't a dock door.
Parking Lot Location
If an exterior door is very close to the parking lot, it's very easy for a thief to take items to his car.
It's best to have parking separated by a comfortable distance from the warehouse doors, making it more difficult to transport pilfered items. Best case scenario is to have a fence separating the warehouse from the parking lot, as well.
Lounges, Restrooms, Visitor Accessible Areas
Design the flow of foot traffic through your supply area so that visitors have no reason to enter your inventory areas. If delivery drivers have to walk by your storage to reach the restroom or a lounge, you are creating needless opportunities for theft. Even authorized employees should only enter shelving or storage rack rows when there is a reason. Provide strict instructions for visitors and employees on when and where they should be within the facility. Consider implementing a visitor control program.