Warehouse Management Quick

Reference guide
What is a warehouse?
a warehouse should be viewed as a
temporary place to store inventory
and as a buffer in supply chains.
a simple definition of a warehouse
is: A warehouse is a planned space
for the storage and handling of
goods and material.

Role of a warehouse
serves as a static unit in the main
matching product availability to
consumer demand and as such has
a primary aim which is to facilitate
the movement of goods from
suppliers to customers, meeting
demand in a timely and costeffective manner.

Warehouse Selection factors

Type of warehouses
private warehouses
public warehouses
government warehouses
bonded warehouses
co-operative warehouses

Warehouse activities

receiving inbound
dispatch - outbound
quality control
picking and packing
storage of goods;
detect & deal with stock
losses;
manage rejected materials
deal
with
unwanted
material
scrap,
and
disposal.
Value-Adding Services

control the movement and storage

of materials within a warehouse
control processes associated
transactions, including shipping,
receiving, put-away and picking.
controls the receipt, storage and
movement
of
goods,
to
intermediate storage locations or
to a final customer.
Warehouse equipment

pallet

pulling jack

Powered pallet truck

Forklifts

Warehouse Layout

nature and characteristics

of goods to be stored;
nature
of
handling
equipment available;
costs
proximity to customers
duration
of
storage
needed i.e. short term or
long term;
the need for other
activities, e.g. repackaging,
labelling, kitting, etc;
access and parking for
vehicles;
number of loading docks
required; and
secure compound.
environment

Warehouse Management system

(WMS)

receiving bay
quarantine and inspection
area
value-adding services area
cold rooms and freezer
rooms
storage and picking area
packing area
dispatch bay
warehouse offices
restrooms

Outsourcing warehouse activities

focus
on
core
competencies
operations cost reduction
access to greater expertise
less capital expenditures
risk reduction