Your warehouse is the beating heart of your business, so you’ll want to pay close attention to how things are running. If there are any inefficient machines or old, outdated processes, you could be losing a lot of time and money for your brand in the long run.

But what if you aren’t sure how to build a better warehouse? What if you need a few suggestions for improving things around your assembly lines?

Here are just four tips for upgrading your warehouse. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it should get you thinking about the right things and moving in the right directions. Good luck!

1. Add More Light

A poorly-lit warehouse is just asking for trouble, especially if your employees are dealing with dangerous or delicate equipment. You’ll want them to be able to see everything that they’re doing. This might mean installing something like compact florescent lights (CFLs) instead of traditional halogen bulbs, but you’ll be glad that you did when your employees are able to speed up their work with improved lighting.

2. Upgrade Your Equipment

This is easier said than done, of course, but there are only so many ways that you can polish a rusty machine. If you’re serious about improving the efficacy of your warehouse, you’ll need the right equipment for all of your shipping, packing and manufacturing needs. Start budgeting for better machines. You don’t have to buy them right away. You can save your money until you’re ready.

3. Improve Your Storage

Storage can be a tricky thing in a warehouse, especially if you have a lot of pipes, tubes, beams, rods and other things that don’t neatly tuck away into cabinets. The good news is that brands like Simply Rack can help. They offer cantilever racks that can hold and organize all of your oddly-shaped items, so you’ll never again have to leave them strewn around counters and work stations.

4. Protect Your Floors

This is especially important if your warehouse sees a lot of spills and stains. A protective coating over your floor can protect it from the worst of the mess, and if you buy something with no-slip traction, it can also reduce the likelihood that your employees take a tumble. Look into different methods for covering and coating your floors. It’ll be worth the expense in the end.

These are just a few tips for a new and improved warehouse. At the end of the day, the most important thing is that you are satisfied with the way that things are running, so keep making changes until you’ve figured out what works. No one else can run your business better than you.