Is your pharmacy facing challenges with organization, storage capacity, and cost management? Traditional shelving systems often fail to efficiently handle medication inventory. Pharmacy FIFO shelving offers an intuitive solution designed to streamline operations, maximize space, and effectively reduce costs.  

In this blog, we’ll dive into FIFO shelving and how it compares to traditional shelving, as well as what it is and how your pharmacy can implement it.  

The Problem with Traditional Pharmacy Shelving 

Traditional pharmacy storage systems lack dividers and efficient organization methods. This results in chaotic shelves where medications are jumbled together, making it challenging to locate specific items quickly and keep expired medication off the shelves.  

As shelves become crowded, issues with rotating stock and identifying expiring medications escalate, leading to potential waste and inefficiency. 

Additionally, traditional shelves waste valuable space and create clutter, which can affect the workflow and appearance of the pharmacy.  

What is Pharmacy FIFO Shelving?

Pharmacy FIFO shelving is a system designed to facilitate the first-in, first-out (FIFO) principle of inventory management. FIFO means that the products that are stored first are retrieved first, ensuring that the oldest products are used before they expire. This is especially important for pharmacies that deal with perishable items such as medications, vaccines, and supplements. 

Pharmacy FIFO shelving consists of cantilever sloped shelves with adjustable dividers and acrylic bin fronts. The shelves are angled to allow the gravity flow of products toward the front of the shelf, where they can be easily accessed by pharmacists and technicians. The shelves also slide out, making it convenient to load new products at the back of the shelf. The dividers create separate slots for different products, which can be customized according to the size and shape of the bottles and boxes. The acrylic bin fronts prevent the products from falling off the shelf while maintaining visibility and accessibility.

Benefits of Pharmacy FIFO Shelving 

Pharmacy FIFO shelving offers several advantages for pharmacies that want to optimize their storage and inventory management. Some of the benefits are: 

Reduce waste and cost

By following the FIFO principle, this shelving helps prevent the expiration and spoilage of products, which can result in significant losses and liabilities for pharmacies. By using the oldest products first, pharmacies can reduce the amount of waste and save money on purchasing and disposing of products. 

Improved quality and safety

By ensuring that the products are used within their shelf life, this shelving helps maintain the quality of medications, which can affect the health and satisfaction of the patients. By avoiding the mixing of old and new products, it reduces the risk of errors and contamination.  

Increased efficiency and productivity

FIFO shelving organizes products in a logical and orderly manner, making it easier and faster for pharmacists and technicians to locate and retrieve the products they need. By eliminating the need to check the expiration dates and rotate the products manually, this solution also saves time and labor, which can be used for other tasks and services.

Enhanced space utilization and aesthetics 

FIFO shelving helps optimize the use of floor and wall space, which can be limited and expensive for pharmacies. By creating a neat and tidy appearance it also improves the aesthetics and professionalism of the pharmacy which can attract customers. 

How to Get Pharmacy FIFO Shelving for Your Pharmacy? 

Pharmacy FIFO shelving addresses the shortcomings of traditional shelving systems with its efficient design and organizational benefits. By implementing FIFO principles effectively, pharmacies can improve workflow, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

If your pharmacy is looking to optimize storage space, improve organization, and streamline operations, Pharmacy FIFO shelving from SSG offers a tailored solution to meet your needs. Explore our range of pharmacy storage solutions today to discover how we can help you achieve efficient and cost-effective medication management. 

For even more information about pharmacy FIFO shelving, check out our main product page. To get started on your journey towards a more organized and efficient pharmacy, call us at 800-803-1083 or fill out our free quote form.