Transforming Warehouse Identification for a Parts Distribution Center

Project Overview

A major privately held U.S. company, founded in 1968 and specializing in vehicle distribution and processing, opened a new 454,500-square-foot parts distribution center (PDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta.

The new facility created more than 100 jobs and required a comprehensive warehouse identification system to support efficient inventory management, material flow, employee navigation, safety, and operational readiness.

To deliver the project, the company selected ASG Services to provide a complete turnkey warehouse identification and signage solution—from product design and manufacturing through multi-phase installation.

The Challenge

Launching a large-scale parts distribution center requires more than installing racking, shelving, conveyors, sortation equipment, and warehouse technology. Every storage location, aisle, staging area, dock door, and operational zone must be clearly identified and integrated into the facility’s warehouse management processes.

The customer needed a warehouse identification system capable of supporting:

• High-volume rack and shelf identification
• Barcode-based warehouse location tracking
• Floor storage locations
• Aisle and directional navigation
• Staging and sortation areas
• Internal and external dock doors
• Operational zone identification
• Safety visibility at aisle intersections
• Identification around complex conveyor and mezzanine structures

The installation also had to be coordinated with numerous other suppliers and contractors working simultaneously throughout the facility.

Most importantly, the identification system needed to be installed in line with the progress of the racking, shelving, conveyor, sortation, and RF system installations so the customer could meet validation, testing, and target go-live deadlines.

The Solution

The customer partnered with ASG Services, a warehouse identification and marking specialist providing customized warehouse labeling, signage, floor identification, and installation services.

ASG Services used its project management capabilities to coordinate the project across three installation phases. This phased approach allowed installation teams to work around other contractors and suppliers while keeping pace with the evolving warehouse infrastructure.

The turnkey scope included:

• Rack and shelf location labels
• Barcode hanging signs
• Aisle marker signs
• Directional signs
• Floor labels
• Staging lane signs
• Dock door identification
• Zone banners
• Sortation signs
• Safety mirrors
• Custom hanging sign bridging systems
• Complete installation services

The identification system incorporated Data Matrix two-dimensional barcodes, full-color printing, level color coding, and durable materials designed for demanding warehouse environments.

Warehouse Rack and Shelf Identification

A significant portion of the project involved identifying thousands of storage locations across different rack and shelving configurations.

ASG Services supplied:

• 1″ × 3″ dense-pack shelf labels,
• 2” x 6” under-beam rack labels,
• 3” x 6” dense racking labels,
• 3” x 8” selective rack labels,
• 3” x 8” split-beam rack labels,
• 8” x 2.75” plastic rack frame labels,
• 4” x 5” plastic self-adhesive floor labels,
• 8” x 10” large plastic self-adhesive floor labels,
• 5” x 4” vertical store bar labels,

The rack and shelf identification products featured full-color printing, Data Matrix barcodes, protective coatings, and color-by-level coding to improve location recognition and support warehouse scanning processes.

Warehouse Location and Aisle Signage

The project also required extensive signage for floor storage locations, staging areas, aisles, and directional traffic.

ASG Services manufactured and installed:

• 16” x 36” hanging staging lane flat location signs,
• 16” x 36” P&D location signs,
• 12” x 14” aisle marker signs, with 90-degree bends
• 12” x 12” one-way directional flat signs,
• 8” x 8” shelving aisle marker signs,
• 10” x 10” aisle stop signs,

These signs created a consistent visual identification system throughout the distribution center, helping employees quickly identify warehouse areas and navigate operational zones.

Dock Door and Operational Area Identification

Clear dock-door identification was another important component of the warehouse signage system.

The installation included:

• Internal dock door signs
• Dock door barcode labels with Data Matrix codes
• External dock door signs
• Full-color zone banners
• Sortation signs

External dock door signs were manufactured from aluminum composite, while internal signage utilized expanded PVC. Barcode labels were printed on reflective material to provide durable, highly visible identification.

Safety Mirrors for Warehouse Visibility

With extensive racking and multiple aisle intersections, maintaining visibility throughout the facility was an important safety consideration.

ASG Services supplied and installed:

• 26-inch full-dome safety mirrors
• 32-inch full-dome safety mirrors

The mirrors were suspended above aisle intersections to improve visibility around racking and help warehouse personnel see approaching traffic and activity in areas with restricted sightlines.

Custom Hanging Signage Systems

The facility’s ceiling and infrastructure presented additional installation challenges.

Ceiling fans, conveyors, mezzanine structures, and other equipment created obstructions that required customized mounting solutions. ASG Services designed and installed hanging sign bridging systems that allowed warehouse identification signs to remain visible while clearing ceiling fans and conveyor structures.

This ensured that critical signage could be positioned at the appropriate height without interfering with other facility infrastructure.

Three-Phase Installation

The installation was completed over approximately two months, with variable-size installation teams working throughout the facility across three phases.

This approach allowed ASG Services to adapt to the customer’s construction and equipment installation schedule while minimizing disruption and maintaining project momentum.

Installation teams used scissor lifts and other access equipment to safely reach high-level racking beams, ceiling-mounted fixing points, and areas within mezzanine structures. The phased installation strategy also enabled ASG Services to coordinate around the work of multiple contractors and suppliers.

The Results

The completed project delivered a comprehensive warehouse identification system across the 454,500-square-foot parts distribution center.

The solution provided the customer with:

• Thousands of clearly identified warehouse storage locations
• Data Matrix barcode identification throughout the facility
• Consistent rack, shelf, aisle, floor, and zone identification
• Clear internal and external dock door signage
• Improved directional navigation
• Dedicated staging and sortation identification
• Enhanced visibility at warehouse aisle intersections
• Custom signage solutions around conveyors and other infrastructure
• A coordinated installation completed across three phases
• Support for validation, testing, and the facility’s target go-live schedule

By combining customized warehouse identification products with project management and installation expertise, ASG Services helped the customer establish a structured, scalable, and highly visible identification system for its new distribution operation.

Project at a Glance

Project Element	Details
Facility	Parts Distribution Center
Location	Norcross, Georgia, Northeast Atlanta.
Facility Size	454,500 sq. ft.
Jobs Created	100+
Installation Duration	Approximately 2 months
Installation Phases	3
Primary Scope	Warehouse identification, signage, safety mirrors & installation
Barcode Technology	Data Matrix 2D barcodes
Access Equipment	Scissor lifts and other access equipment

Why Warehouse Identification Matters

An effective warehouse identification system is an important part of distribution center operations. When storage locations, aisles, staging areas, dock doors, and operational zones are clearly identified, employees can navigate the facility more efficiently and locate inventory and operational areas with greater consistency.

For large distribution centers, warehouse labeling also needs to account for durability, barcode readability, visibility, installation height, changing warehouse configurations, and integration with other facility systems.

This project demonstrates how a coordinated warehouse signage and labeling program can be designed around the unique requirements of a large-scale distribution facility.

Conclusion

The successful launch of a 454,500-square-foot parts distribution center in Norcross, GA northeast of Atlanta, required close coordination between the customer, ASG Services, and numerous contractors and equipment suppliers.

ASG Services delivered a complete warehouse identification solution covering rack labels, shelf labels, floor identification, aisle signage, dock doors, staging areas, sortation zones, safety mirrors, and custom hanging signage systems.

Through a three-phase installation strategy and dedicated project management, ASG Services was able to work alongside the facility’s ongoing construction and equipment installation activities while helping the customer progress toward its validation, testing, and go-live objectives.

With expertise spanning warehouse labeling, signage, floor identification, safety products, custom manufacturing, project management, and installation, ASG Services provides end-to-end solutions designed around the operational needs of modern distribution centers.Looking to improve warehouse identification, labeling, or signage at your facility? ASG Services can help develop a customized solution from initial planning through installation.

Feel free to contact us with your questions and ideas.  We're more than happy to speak with you, before being a part of the solutions.