Why Spare Parts Drawers Provide Better Parts Visibility Than Boxes on Shelves

1 December 2025 BAC Systems Share this:

A common belief in spare parts warehousing is that boxes on shelves provide better visibility of parts than high-density drawer storage with partitions.
In practice, this is a myth—one that continues largely due to habit rather than measurable performance.
This article explains why partitioned drawers offer superior parts visibility, faster picking, and dramatically better space utilisation.

The Visibility Myth: Why Boxes on Shelves Don’t Really Help

At first glance, boxes on open shelving appear to offer visibility. You can see that a box contains parts—but you can rarely see which parts or in what quantity without physically stopping and looking inside.

To gain true visual access to the contents of a box, you typically need at least 250 mm of clearance above the box. Without this wasted vertical space, you cannot view the contents while walking past. Over a full racking system, this “visibility clearance space” results in substantial lost storage capacity.

Even when the box is visible:

You still must pull it off the shelf to identify individual items.
Multiple parts stored in one box require front labelling and handling.
Dust, UV, and contamination remain constant problems.

Spare Parts on full display in a BAC Systems Drawer with Partitions

Why Drawers Provide Superior Parts Vision

High-density drawers with adjustable internal partitions solve all visibility constraints while using far less space.

1. Clear, Structured Labelling

Each drawer includes:

A front label strip identifying the category or class of parts.
Individual partition labels mounted on a 45-degree flange for perfect readability.

This gives you more information at a glance than any box on a shelf.

2. Full Visibility of Every Item When the Drawer Opens

Opening one drawer reveals 100% of the organised contents—clean, separated, and immediately identifiable.
There is no clearance space wasted, and no need to lift or remove containers.

3. Massive Space Efficiency

Because partitions allow high-density organisation, a single drawer can often store the contents of 2–6 standard shelves depending on parts size. In many installations, BAC Partitioned Drawers require only one-third of the footprint used by equivalent shelving and bins.

4. Cleaner, Safer, More Reliable Storage

Drawers:

Protect parts from dust and UV.
Prevent spills—drawers cannot be dropped, but boxes can.
Keep inventory orderly, consistent, and easier to count.

BAC Drawers are efficient for storing bagged parts as well

Better Picking Speed—With or Without a Computer System

Whether parts are located manually or via a digital inventory system, drawers provide faster picking:

If working manually:

Drawer labels guide the operator immediately to the right drawer.
Opening the drawer shows the entire set of parts instantly.
No walking long distances across spread-out shelving.
No lifting, removing, or replacing boxes.

Once operators learn routine locations:

Vision is no longer the limiting factor—efficiency becomes the priority.
Compressing commonly used items into drawers near the warehouse entry reduces walking time and improves workflow significantly.

Not Just for Small Items: Drawers Handle Bulk Quantities Too

There is a misconception that drawers are only for tiny parts.
BAC drawers can be shallow or deep, and adjustable partitions create large or small locations as needed.
Whether you store 300 bolts, 500 plugs, or 1,000 fuses, a drawer can easily accommodate them in a clean, organised layout.

BAC Drawers give instant vision of their contents

For Operators Who “Like to See Their Parts”

Some store personnel prefer the idea of visibly open boxes.
But true visibility doesn’t come from glancing at a box—it comes from:

Clear labelling
Complete exposure of contents when needed
Organisation that eliminates searching

Drawer systems deliver all of this without sacrificing space or efficiency.

The Bottom Line: Drawers Deliver Better Vision and Better Warehousing

For modern spare parts stores, BAC Industrial Drawers with adjustable partitions provide:

Better visibility
Faster picking
Reduced footprint
Lower costs
Fewer errors and spills
Cleaner, better-protected inventory
A more efficient working environment

Shelving will always have its place, but for high-density small-parts storage, drawers are the clear winner.

Improve Your Spare Parts Store

To optimise your warehouse with BAC Partitioned Drawer Storage Modules,
contact the BAC Technical Sales Team.