What is the practice of storing items in a way that leads to a loss of storage space called?

The practice of storing items in a way that leads to a loss of storage space is referred to as honeycombing. This term describes the inefficient use of space that occurs when storage locations are not filled to their capacity, often due to the irregular arrangement of goods or a failure to utilize available space effectively. When items are stored in a disorganized manner, gaps can form between them, similar to a honeycomb structure, which creates wasted space within the warehouse. This can lead to inefficiencies in inventory management and increased costs, as more storage area may be required than necessary for the same volume of goods.

In contrast, other options describe different warehouse practices or issues: stacking refers to neatly placing items on top of each other, overflowing indicates an overfilling situation without regard for organization, and congestion relates to overcrowding in aisles or storage areas that hampers movement and access. Each of these practices may present operational challenges, but honeycombing is specifically associated with the loss of usable storage space.