--- title: 5 Questions to Ask Before Redesigning Your Parts Room description: Redesign a manufacturing parts room with five practical questions about racking, access, inventory, workflow, and storage flexibility. image: https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hubfs/MB2%205%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room.png --- [BE A PART OF OUR GRAND UNVEILING OF OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART TECH CENTER](https://mcmurraystern.com/techcenter/) [562.623.3000](tel:+496170961709) [![MMS\_Secondary-C-2](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hubfs/DigiTopia_2024/MMS_Secondary-C-2.svg)](https://mcmurraystern.com/) - [HOME](https://mcmurraystern.com/) - ABOUT US - [About us](https://mcmurraystern.com/about-us/) - [Events](https://mcmurraystern.com/events/) - [Purchasing Contracts](https://mcmurraystern.com/purchasing-contracts/) - [Careers](https://mcmurraystern.com/careers/) - [Manufacturers](https://mcmurraystern.com/manufacturers/) - [News](https://mcmurraystern.com/news/) - [MARKETS](https://mcmurraystern.com/industries/) - [SOLUTIONS](https://mcmurraystern.com/solutions/) - [BLOG](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en) - [CONTACT US](https://mcmurraystern.com/contact-us/) [FREE CONSULTATION](https://mcmurraystern.com/free-consultation/) ![Featured Image](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hubfs/MB2%205%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room.png) Table Of Content ### Subscribe to Our Newsletter #### Share This Blog - - - - [mailto:?subject=5%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room&body=5%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room%20https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/5-questions-to-ask-before-redesigning-your-parts-room](mailto:?subject=5%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room&body=5%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room%20https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/5-questions-to-ask-before-redesigning-your-parts-room) [Vertical Storage](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/vertical-storage) [parts storage](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/parts-storage) [modular drawers](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/modular-drawers) [industrial racking](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/industrial-racking) [parts room redesign](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/parts-room-redesign) [industrial shelving](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/industrial-shelving) [bin shelving](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/bin-shelving) # 5 Questions to Ask Before Redesigning Your Parts Room ## **Introduction** A parts room can look organized and still create daily friction. Employees may know that a component is somewhere in the room, yet spend valuable time searching through mixed cartons, crowded shelves, unmarked bins, or racking that was installed without a clear inventory strategy. When the right part is difficult to find, maintenance work can be delayed, production schedules can be interrupted, and emergency purchasing becomes more likely. Redesigning a parts room is therefore more involved than replacing old shelves. The storage system should reflect the size and weight of the inventory, how often parts are retrieved, how replenishment occurs, and how employees move between storage, workstations, and production or maintenance areas. McMurray Stern provides industrial storage solutions that can combine racking, shelving, modular drawers, bins, workstations, and vertical systems. The right mix begins with five practical questions.   ## **1. What Does the Parts Inventory Actually Require?** The first question is about the inventory itself. A parts room may contain small fasteners, electrical components, bearings, motors, tooling, replacement assemblies, lubricants, boxed items, and long or irregular components. These materials should not automatically be stored in the same type of rack or shelf. Create a parts profile that identifies dimensions, weight, packaging, turnover, criticality, quantity on hand, and handling method. Note which items are issued several times per shift and which are held for planned maintenance or emergency response. This information helps determine where open access is important, where compartmentalization is useful, and where higher-capacity racking is necessary. Industrial racking can provide the structural foundation for larger components, cartons, and palletized parts. Upright frames, beams, shelves, and accessories should be selected around the actual load requirements and the equipment used to move inventory. Smaller parts may be better served by industrial shelving, bin shelving, or modular drawers that make individual items easier to identify.   ## **2. Are the Current Racks Supporting Access or Creating Obstacles?** Racking is valuable only when employees can use it efficiently. A parts room may have adequate capacity but still perform poorly if the rack layout creates narrow paths, blocked locations, excessive reaching, or difficult access to frequently issued items. Review aisle widths, shelf heights, picking positions, cart movement, lighting, labeling, and the relationship between storage and the issue counter. Heavy or awkward components should not be placed where employees must lift them from unsafe positions. Frequently accessed items should be positioned within practical reach, while reserve stock can be placed in less active locations. - Are the most frequently issued parts located closest to the point of use? - Can employees move carts or handling equipment without crossing active work areas? - Are heavy components stored at heights that support safe handling? - Do rack bays and shelf levels match the dimensions of the inventory? - Can employees identify the correct location without opening multiple containers? McMurray Stern’s industrial shelving and racking solutions can be planned around access frequency, load requirements, and the available room layout. The objective is not simply to fit more equipment into the room, but to make the storage system easier to use.   ## **3. Where Should Racking End and Shelving, Bins, or Drawers Begin?** A parts room redesign should define the role of each storage type. Larger and heavier components may require industrial racking, while cartons and medium-sized items may fit efficiently on adjustable shelving. Small parts often benefit from bins or modular drawers that create individual, visible locations. Modular drawers are particularly useful when the room contains many similar components that need clear separation and quick identification. Bin shelving can support fasteners, fittings, seals, electrical parts, and other small inventory. Workbenches and parts counters can connect storage with inspection, kitting, repair, or issue activities. The goal is to avoid using pallet-style racking for every item simply because it is familiar. A mixed system can make better use of the room by assigning each inventory category to equipment that matches its size, weight, frequency of use, and handling method. ### **Consider Safety and Ergonomics in the Storage Design** A parts room should make materials easier to retrieve without creating unnecessary physical strain for employees. Storage equipment, shelf heights, drawer positions, aisle space, and work surfaces should be considered from an ergonomic perspective, particularly when employees access parts repeatedly throughout the day. A well-organized room can still create problems if frequently used components are stored too high, too low, or in locations that require awkward reaching and lifting. Heavy components deserve particular attention. Their storage position should support appropriate handling and reduce the need for employees to lift or maneuver difficult loads from unsuitable heights. Smaller components can often be positioned in bins or modular drawers where employees can identify and retrieve individual parts without moving larger containers. The relationship between storage and workstations is also important. If employees regularly inspect, prepare, label, kit, or issue parts, the work surface should be positioned logically relative to the storage locations. This can reduce unnecessary movement between shelves and work areas while keeping the process organized. Clear aisles and unobstructed access should remain part of the redesign as well. Carts, maintenance equipment, employees, and inventory all need room to move through the parts room without creating conflicts. Storage should provide capacity without consuming the space required for safe movement. Ergonomics should therefore be considered alongside capacity and organization rather than treated as a separate issue. The objective is to create a parts room where employees can locate, retrieve, transport, and prepare components using practical movements throughout the day.   ## **4. How Will the Redesign Support Inventory Accuracy?** A new layout will not solve inventory problems if locations remain unclear. Every part should have a defined home, and that location should be easy to recognize. Consistent labels, bin numbers, shelf identifiers, barcode practices, and naming conventions can support more reliable counts and reduce misplacement. The redesign should also account for receiving, returns, substitutions, damaged parts, obsolete inventory, and emergency withdrawals. If incoming materials are placed wherever space is available, the room can become disorganized again even after new racking is installed. Consider separating active stock, reserve stock, quarantine items, repairable components, and obsolete materials. Clear zones can help employees understand what is available for issue and what requires review. The physical storage system should reinforce these procedures through visible locations and logical organization. ### **Create Dedicated Areas for Receiving, Returns, and Parts Processing** Parts-room organization does not begin when an item reaches its permanent storage location. Materials often pass through several stages before they become available for use, including receiving, inspection, identification, put-away, issue, return, repair, or disposal. If these activities occur in the same space without clearly defined areas, inventory can quickly become mixed with materials that are already available for use. A dedicated receiving area can provide a temporary location for newly delivered parts while quantities, specifications, packaging, and documentation are reviewed. Once the material has been verified, it can move to its assigned storage location rather than being placed wherever open space happens to be available. Returns require similar consideration. A component brought back from a maintenance job may be unused, partially used, damaged, or in need of inspection. Keeping returned materials separate until their status is confirmed can help prevent them from being incorrectly added back into available inventory. Repairable and questionable components may also require their own defined area. This gives employees a visible distinction between parts that are ready for issue and materials that require evaluation or additional processing. The same principle can apply to obsolete or excess inventory. Instead of allowing these materials to remain mixed with active stock, a designated area can make them easier to identify and review. These zones do not necessarily require large amounts of additional space. The important consideration is that each stage of the parts-handling process has a clear physical location and purpose. When receiving, returns, inspection, repair, and active inventory are separated logically, the storage system can better support the procedures that keep the room organized. ## **5. Can the Parts Room Adapt as the Operation Changes?** Manufacturing and maintenance inventories change continually. New equipment is introduced, product lines evolve, suppliers change packaging, and maintenance requirements shift. A parts room designed only around today’s inventory may become inefficient when the mix changes. Choose storage that can be adjusted without a complete replacement. Adjustable shelving, configurable bins, modular drawers, expandable racking, and vertical storage can help the room respond to new dimensions and quantities. Flexible systems also support phased improvements, allowing the organization to address the most urgent issues first. Vertical storage may be useful when the room has more ceiling height than floor space. Tall shelving, high-density systems, and vertical lift modules can use overhead volume while keeping access requirements in view. The right choice depends on the size and weight of the parts, retrieval frequency, ceiling height, and the movement of employees and carts. ### **Design the Layout Around the Work** The parts room should be connected to the workflow it supports. A maintenance room may need a direct relationship with tool cribs, service bays, equipment staging, or maintenance offices. A production parts room may need efficient access to kitting stations, assembly lines, replenishment routes, or quality inspection areas. Map the movement of parts from receiving to put-away, storage, picking, issue, return, and replenishment. Then place racking, shelving, drawers, and work surfaces to reduce unnecessary travel and avoid congestion. The most efficient layout is the one that supports the full process, not just the storage portion. ### **Connect the Parts Room to Maintenance and Production Priorities** A parts room exists to support the operation around it, so its design should reflect which maintenance and production activities depend on the inventory. Not every component has the same operational importance. Some parts may support routine maintenance, while others may be required for critical equipment where an unexpected shortage can create a significant interruption. Identifying these priorities can influence how parts are positioned within the room. Frequently required or operationally critical components may need especially clear identification and convenient access. Less frequently used materials can occupy locations that are farther from the primary issue area or require less immediate access. Maintenance schedules can also provide useful information. Planned maintenance creates predictable demand for certain components, while emergency maintenance may require rapid access to specific replacement parts. Understanding these patterns can help the facility organize storage around actual maintenance requirements rather than simply arranging inventory by product category. Production environments may have additional priorities. Components associated with active production lines, changeovers, tooling requirements, or recurring replenishment may benefit from storage locations that support predictable movement between the parts room and the production area. This connection can also help determine which parts should remain in the parts room and which may be better positioned closer to their point of use. The objective is not to move everything closer to production or maintenance, but to evaluate where inventory creates the most operational value. By connecting storage decisions to maintenance and production priorities, a parts-room redesign becomes more than an organizational project. It becomes a way to support the activities that depend on reliable access to components. The resulting layout can reflect not only what the facility stores, but also why those materials matter to the operation. ### **A Practical Product Mix for Parts Storage** A well-planned parts room may use several McMurray Stern solution categories together. Heavy-duty industrial racking can organize larger components and boxed assemblies. Adjustable industrial shelving can support cartons and mixed-size inventory. Modular drawers and bin shelving can create defined locations for small parts. Workbenches and parts counters can provide organized surfaces for inspection, kitting, or issue. Vertical storage can reclaim overhead space when the room’s footprint is limited. This combination gives the facility more control over where materials belong and how employees retrieve them. It also makes future changes easier because the room is not dependent on one storage format for every inventory type. ### **Measure Whether the Redesign Is Working** After installation, evaluate the redesign through operational measures rather than appearance alone. Useful indicators include search time, stockout frequency, inventory accuracy, replenishment time, emergency purchase activity, unused storage space, and the number of duplicate or obsolete items. If the room looks cleaner but employees still cannot find parts quickly, the redesign has not addressed the full problem. Review the data, observe the workflow, and adjust locations or equipment as needed. A parts room should remain a working system that evolves with the facility.   ## **How McMurray Stern Supports Parts Room Projects** McMurray Stern helps manufacturing and industrial organizations develop storage environments around their materials, facility constraints, workflow, and operational goals. Its portfolio includes industrial racking, heavy-duty shelving, modular drawers, bin storage, workstations, vertical storage, high-density systems, and customized solutions. The company’s design-build approach can connect storage equipment with layout planning, access, capacity, inventory visibility, and future requirements. This helps organizations evaluate the parts room as part of the larger maintenance or production operation rather than as a collection of disconnected shelves and cabinets.   ## **Conclusion** A successful parts-room redesign begins with better questions. Understanding the inventory, reviewing access, assigning the right role to racking and shelving, strengthening location control, and planning for change can create a storage environment that supports daily work. The right system is not simply the one that holds the most parts. It is the one that helps employees locate components quickly, handle materials appropriately, maintain accurate records, and keep maintenance and production moving. **Ready to rethink your parts room?**[Manufacturing & Distribution Solutions](https://mcmurraystern.com/manufacturing-and-distribution-solutions/) ![Rudresh Jhaveri](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rudresh%20Jhaveri.png?width=160&name=Rudresh%20Jhaveri.png) [![linkedin logo](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LinkedIn_logo.svg.png?width=90&name=LinkedIn_logo.svg.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudresh-jhaveri/) ##### About Rudresh Jhaveri Rudresh Jhaveri is an Automation Engineer and Design Consultant at McMurray Stern, where he focuses on developing and implementing automated storage and industrial solutions. Based in Santa Fe Springs, California, he contributes to projects involving warehouse automation, robotics, and high-density storage systems that improve operational efficiency. He began his academic journey at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, building a foundation in engineering and technical problem-solving. With a background that blends engineering principles and real-world design consulting, Rudresh supports clients in optimizing workflows and modernizing facilities. Known for his analytical mindset and hands-on approach, he plays a key role in translating complex operational needs into practical, scalable automation solutions within the material handling and storage industry. ## Recent blogs Explore Our Top Articles And The Latest Storage Trends, Where Industry Expertise Meets Innovation. [![Featured Image](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/hubfs/MB2%205%20Questions%20to%20Ask%20Before%20Redesigning%20Your%20Parts%20Room.png)](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/5-questions-to-ask-before-redesigning-your-parts-room) [Vertical Storage](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/vertical-storage) [parts storage](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/parts-storage) [modular drawers](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/modular-drawers) [industrial racking](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/industrial-racking) [parts room redesign](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/parts-room-redesign) [industrial shelving](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/industrial-shelving) [bin shelving](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/tag/bin-shelving) #### [5 Questions to Ask Before Redesigning Your Parts Room](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/5-questions-to-ask-before-redesigning-your-parts-room) Introduction A parts room can look organized and still create daily friction. Employees may know that a component is somewhere in the... [Read More](https://blog.mcmurraystern.com/en/5-questions-to-ask-before-redesigning-your-parts-room) ## TALK WITH OUR EXPERTS Whatever your market, we will work directly with you to provide market solutions that help you be more efficient. LET'S TALK #### Heading 1 with a request body that specifies how to map the columns of your import file to the associated CRM properties in HubSpot.... In the request JSON, define the import file details, including mapping the spreadsheet's columns to HubSpot data. Your request JSON should include the following fields:... entry for each column. 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