MATERIAL, GOODS OR CARGO FLOW - WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS HANDLING

EQUIPMENTS

Dedicated warehouse –

– caters to a single client also referred as a contract warehouse or contract warehousing

– offers service of managing a warehouse facility occupied by a single tenant.
– In this case, you may own or rent the location and will shoulder all either way such as;
- all labor
- operations
- warehouse technology implementations
- capital equipment, and
- value-added services are dedicated to a single tenant

Shared storage –

– is a multi-client or public warehouse

– is a campus-like environment where companies utilize the same distribution facility
and share resources.
– tenants share labor, capital equipment expenditures, material handling equipment,
and IT infrastructure costs.

Dedicate versus shared warehouse:

A dedicated Warehouse Set-up (Single Tenant)

– a dedicated warehouse bears all the fixed expenses of the facility,

– It requires a long term-commitment, ranging from three (3) to seven (7) years,
– the shipper and third-party logistics (3PL) company enters into a contract, a
warehouse service agreement such as labor structure, capital equipment
expenditures, and implementation of a warehouse management system, along with
the operational processes
– the cost is fixed with month-on-month payable regardless of the volume of orders or
the product flow through the facility.
– This means that the single tenant is responsible for 100% cost such as rental, labor,
and capital equipment costs within the distribution center.

A Shared Warehouse:

– Provide a more flexible solution with shorter contract terms (1 to 3 years)

– The costs are spread more equally or proportionately across the companies using
the facility.
 – Multiple clients share the space as well as capital equipment and labor expenses.
more importantly majority of the costs become variable and move with the volume and
activity levels of business at a given time.

QUEUING system improves and optimizes processes in the warehouse operations.

The following are its benefits to business

– It smoothens out the systems for moving packages from a warehouse to customers
– An operations management technique, commonly used to determine and streamline
staffing needs, scheduling, and inventory to improve overall customer service.
– It balanced the systems of serving customers quickly and efficiently, it does not cost
too much for business to be sustainable.
– Helps in the business decisions in building efficient and cost-effective workflow
systems.
– As we apply queuing in a business, it can develop more efficient systems, processes,
pricing mechanisms, staffing solutions, and arrival management strategies thus
reducing customer wait times with increased the number of customers served.

A basic warehouse operations flow of materials and goods can be divided into key stages:

1. Receiving:

When the merchandise arrives, they're reviewed and logged into the system framework.
It includes actual physical appearance and quantity checks.

Counter-checking of the physical goods versus the documents presented which are: PO.
Invoice, Waybill, Delivery Receipts, Forwarders Cargo Receipt and the like.

2. Storage:

Is a system or process of organizing goods, cargo or materials according to its

characteristics and uses to guarantee maximum utilization of space.

Strategies like FIFO (First In-First Out) or LIFO (Last In First-Out) offer assistance
streamline recovery.

3. Picking:

Orders are fulfilled by picking things from capacity. Depending on the volume, this
may be done physically or with computerized frameworks for effectiveness.
4. Packing:

After the picking process, goods are carefully arranged, packed for shipment utilizing
suitable materials such as crating, palletizing, plastic wrapping, bubble wrapping and
other materials for easy identification and to avoid breakage during transportation
either by land sea or air,

5. Shipping:

Properly packed goods (sea freight - containerized cargoes, air-freight - air cargo
container or ULD, Unit Load Device) and cargoes are stacked for conveyance, with
tracking systems in put to screen the method and oversee coordination.

• Sea freight containers

20-footer, 40-footer, Open Top, Flat Racks. Flat containers

• Airfreight containers
Igloos are an essential component of logistics in air transportation. These
specialized pallets and containers are specifically designed to fit the internal wall
contours of narrow-body airplanes

An aircraft ULD is a device for grouping and restraining cargo, mail and baggage
for air transport. It is either an aircraft container or a combination of an aircraft
pallet and an aircraft pallet net.

6. Inventory Management:

Is system that provides track and control stock before it is sold. Whether
automated or manual, inventory systems seek to bring inventory carrying costs down
while ensuring sufficient stock is available to meet customer demand.

7. Returns Handling:

This process – system guarantee returns are dealt with easily, re-integrating things
into stock or overseeing their transfer successfully.

8. Information Analysis:

Are a standard examination of stream productivity, evaluates labor efficiency, and

stock turnover makes a difference pinpoint regions for advancement.
 This show prioritizes productivity and versatility, allowing to reply workably to changing
requests.

WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS

Handling, how differs in the supply chain, warehousing operations and logistics
operations?

Materials handling – refers to the movement, storage, and management of goods in a supply
chain.

In supply chain management, materials handling involves coordinating the flow of materials
and information from suppliers to consumers, focusing on minimizing lead times and reducing
costs. In warehousing, materials handling focuses on receiving, storing, picking, packing, and
shipping items, with an emphasis on space utilization and inventory accuracy. In logistics,
materials handling focuses on loading, unloading, and shipping goods, prioritizing delivery
efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Supply Chain Management strategies direct the day-to-day logistics operations that take
place at factories, warehouses, local transportation centers, and other facilities.

Logistics is the aspect of the supply chain that stores or delivers finished products or
services to customers, whether manufacturers, distributors, or consumers. The goal of
logistics is to get goods and services to customers on time and at a competitive price.

The receiving process, its importance in the warehousing, logistics and supply chain
operations. –

The receiving process in warehousing, logistics, and supply chain is the set of steps taken
when goods arrive at a warehouse, it makes sure that products are checked, recorded,
and stored correctly for future use or shipment.

This process is key to running an efficient and accurate warehouse as it ensures the
inventory is well-organized and ready for timely distribution. The goal of the receiving
process is to ensure that all incoming stock is counted properly, stored in the right
place, and ready for the next steps, like picking, packing, and shipping.

STORAGE DISPATCHING -

Storage dispatching is the process of controlling how and when goods is released from
storage systems,

The dispatch process involves sales order processing, stock allocation, picking, sorting,
packing, loading, invoicing, and dispatching, ensuring that products are delivered accurately
and on time.

Dispatching also involves making decisions based on current factors such as prices, demand
levels, and the availability of sources.

Essentially, it's about figuring out the best times to store or release goods, helping to keep
supply efficiently balanced while aiming for the best financial outcomes.

First in First Out (FIFO) in Inventory management

First In, First Out (FIFO) is a method that works on the principle of - the first items purchased
are the first ones sold.

This means that older products are shipped out before newer ones, it ensures that the value
of each item in inventory is as accurate as possible.

FIFO is especially useful for perishable goods because it reduces waste by making sure
older items are used before newer stock.

This method helps businesses keep their inventory moving efficiently and lowers the chances
of items becoming outdated.

ETD and ETA

ETD (Estimated Time of Departure): - refers to the anticipated date and time when a
shipment or vehicle (e.g., a cargo ship, plane, or truck) is expected to depart from its origin
point.

It is commonly used in logistics and transportation to communicate the expected departure

time of goods.

ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) - refers to the anticipated date and time when a shipment
or vehicle is expected to arrive at its destination.
It is crucial for coordinating deliveries, managing inventory, and planning supply chain
activities.
JIT or Just in Time method of handling in the supply chain -

Just-In-Time (JIT) is an inventory management and supply chain strategy aimed to reduce
waste and improve efficiency by receiving goods only as they are needed in the production
process or to meet customer demand.

The core principles of JIT include:

- minimized Inventory. aims to keep inventory levels low,

- reduced storage costs
- minimizing the risk of overproduction or obsolete stock.
- Demand-Driven Production:
- Goods and materials ordering based on real-time demand, allowing companies to
produce just what is needed at the right time.
- It improves efficiency: by reducing the need for large inventory storage, businesses
can operate with leaner production processes and respond more quickly to
changes in market demand.
- Reduced Waste (It minimizes waste from excess stock, reducing both material
costs and the need for space.)
- This method is widely used in manufacturing industries, especially in the
automotive sector. (Toyota have pioneered the use of JIT to streamline operations
and enhance efficiency)

STORAGE HANDLING EQUIPMENT

The handling equipment include bulk handling material equipment, manual and battery-
powered pallet trolleys, forklifts, bulk containers, conveyors, side loader forklifts, hand trucks,
walkie stackers, and order picker forklifts.
 PALLET JACK

Pallet or the palletizing system – contributes to the efficient warehouse storage operations
 Pallets and palletizing
systems improve warehouse
efficiency by

– streamlining storage and

handling.
– maximize vertical space,
– enable faster loading and
unloading,
– reduced labor, and
enhance organization.
– Automated systems
minimize errors, increase
PALLETS
throughput, and optimize
space utilization.

"Racking System" it’s efficient

help in the warehouse operations

– It Help store cargoes in

accessible locations.to save
floor space
– A rack is a structure
designed to hold and
organize objects and
materials, typically in a
vertical position.
– Unlike shelves, which are
usually flat surfaces, racks
usually have multiple levels
or horizontal bars, making
them ideal for storing heavy
items that need to be easily
accessed.

RACKS

A pallet rack system is designed for efficient and organized storage of cartons, boxes, and
other similar items.
These racks feature a series of inclined shelving levels that allow items to “flow” towards the
front of the rack, making it easier to access and retrieve items. The shelves are mounted on
rollers or wheels, which allow the items to move smoothly from one level to the next.

Carton Flow Racks are commonly used in distribution centers, warehouses, and other high-
volume storage facilities where speed and efficiency are essential.

"Bin Shelving”

Warehouse Bins are a perfect solution to solve limited shelf space and help organize at a
low cost. It can combine the light weight and ship flat features of corrugated plastic with a
durable, long lasting and economical construction to meet your storage needs. Warehouse
bins are great for retail, medical, produce, and manufacturing for small to medium products
A Conveyor system, the mechanical but efficient handling of goods or cargoes.
A Conveyor System -

It is a mechanism designed for transporting packages, products, supplies, parts, and

equipment for various purposes such as production, shipping, or relocation. The different
types of conveyor systems include pneumatic, screw, belt, and roller. The design of each
system depends on the characteristics of the materials being moved, such as their weight,
dimensions, and transportability.
Conveyor systems is an essential for material handling and production, it is used in various
production applications such as sintering, part and assembly finishing, and part washing. In
most cases, the system is automated, but non-automated designs using chutes and rollers
is also common in retail, material handling, and shipping applications.

Load Capacity

After the system layout and pattern have been established, the next step is to determine its
material carrying capacity. Overloading the system can lead to damage or operational
interruptions. Factors influencing load capacity include the system's overall length, bed width,
and drive system.

Sortation System – a sorting process in the warehouse operations

A sortation system is a material handling process that identifies items and routes them to
destinations in warehousing and storage facilities.

The processes are automatic and controlled by task-specific algorithms and codes.
Sortation systems are usually integrated with other software such as warehouse
management systems and may incorporate use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
Sortation systems reduce the warehousing need for manual labor to make sure products are
palletized, picked, packed, and shipped.