Warehouse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods.

Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters,
wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large
plain buildings in industrial areas of cities, towns and villages.

They usually have loading docks to load and unload goods from trucks.
Sometimes warehouses are designed for the loading and unloading of
goods directly from railways, airports, or seaports. They often have
cranes and forklifts for moving goods, which are usually placed on ISO
standard pallets loaded into pallet racks. Stored goods can include any
Automatic storage warehouse for small
raw materials, packing materials, spare parts, components, or finished
parts
goods associated with agriculture, manufacturing and production. In
Indian English a warehouse may be referred to as a godown.[1]

Contents
1 History
2 Functions
2.1 Display of goods for sale
2.2 Overseas warehouses
2.3 Packing warehouses
2.4 Railway warehouses
2.5 Canal warehouses
3 Storage and shipping systems
4 Automation and optimization
5 Recent trends
6 Cool warehouses and cold storage
6.1 Cold storage and the law
7 Education
8 See also
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links

History
The origins of the warehouse are difficult to pinpoint. Early civilizations relied on storage pits rather than large
structures to protect seeds and surplus food. Sociologists like Alain Testart have argued that these early storage
techniques were essential to the evolution of societies.[2]

Some of the earliest examples of warehouses that resemble the buildings of today are Roman horrea. These
were rectangular buildings, built of stone, with a raised ground floor and overhanging roof to keep the walls
cool and dry. Roman horrea were typically used to store grain, but other consumables such as olive oil, wine,
clothing and even marble were also stored inside.[3]

Though horrea were built throughout the Roman empire, some of the most studied examples are found in or
around Rome, particularly at Ostia, a harbor city that served ancient Rome. The Horrea Galbae, a warehouse
complex in the southern part of ancient Rome, demonstrates that these buildings could be substantial, even by
modern standards. The horrea complex contained 140 rooms on the ground floor alone, covering an area of
some 225,000 square feet (21,000 m).[4] As a point of reference, less than half of U.S. warehouses today are
larger than 100,000 square feet (9290 m).[5]

As attested by legislation concerning the levy of duties, medieval merchants across Europe commonly kept
goods in household storerooms, often on the ground floor or one or more storeys below the ground.[6][7]
However, dedicated warehouses could be found around ports and other commercial hubs to facilitate overseas
trade. Examples of these buildings include the Venetian fondaci, which combined a palace, warehouse, market
and living quarters for lodging travelers.[8] A number of representative medieval warehouses can also be seen
in King's Lynn, U.K., where a complex of buildings, including dwelling-houses, shops, countinghouses and
warehouses, once served the Hanseatic League.[9]

During the industrial revolution the function of warehouses evolved and became more specialised. Some
warehouses from the period are even considered architecturally significant, such as Manchester's cotton
warehouses. Always a building of function, in the past few decades they have adapted to mechanisation,
technological innovation and changes in supply chain methods.

19th century A Sust, a Middle Ages Historic Atlantic Dock Seventeenth century
warehouses in type of warehouse, in warehouse in Brooklyn warehouses in
Gloucester docks in the Horgen, Switzerland in the 1800s Amsterdam,
United Kingdom, Netherlands
originally used to store
imported corn

Ruined warehouses in Aisle with pallets on

Ostia; an ancient storage racks
Roman city

Functions
Historically, warehouses were a dominant part of the urban landscape from the start of the Industrial Revolution
through the 19th century and into the twentieth century. The buildings remained when their original usage had
changed. There are four identifiable types of warehouses.[10] The cotton industry rose with the development of
the warehouse, and all five types were represented in Manchester in the United Kingdom. Warehouses of that
period in Manchester were often lavishly decorated, but modern warehouses are more functional.[11]
Warehouses allow transport optimization along the supply chain, and
allow companies to work with an optimal inventory (economic order
quantity) regarding service quality. For example, at the terminal point
of a transport system it is necessary to stockpile produce until a full
load can be transported. Warehouses can also be used to store the
unloaded goods from the vessel.

In industries whose goods require a period of maturation between

production and retail, such as viniculture and cheesemaking,
warehouses can be used to store the goods in large quantities.

Display of goods for sale

These displayed goods for the home trade. This would be finished
goods- such as the latest cotton blouses or fashion items. Their street
frontage was impressive, so they took the styles of Italianate Palazzos.
India House, Manchester.
Richard Cobden's construction in Manchester's Mosley Street was the
first palazzo warehouse. There were already seven warehouses on
Portland Street when they commenced building the elaborate Watts Warehouse of 1855,[10][12] but four more
were opened before it was finished. It was this type of warehouse that inspired the Germans in Dsseldorf and
Munich to name their prestigious department stores Warenhuser.

Overseas warehouses

These catered for the overseas trade. They became the meeting places for overseas wholesale buyers where
printed and plain could be discussed and ordered.[10] Trade in cloth in Manchester was conducted by many
nationalities.

Behrens Warehouse is on the corner of Oxford Street and Portland Street. It was built for Louis Behrens & Son
by P Nunn in 1860. It is a four-storey predominantly red brick build with 23 bays along Portland Street and 9
along Oxford Street.[12] The Behrens family were prominent in banking and in the social life of the German
Community in Manchester.[13] [14]

Packing warehouses

The main purpose of packing warehouses was the picking, checking, labelling and packing of goods for
export.[10] The packing warehouses: Asia House, India House and Velvet House along Whitworth Street were
some of the tallest buildings of their time.

Railway warehouses

Warehouses were built close to the major stations in railway hubs. The first railway warehouse to be built was
opposite the passenger platform at the terminus of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. There was an
important group of warehouses around London Road station (now Piccadilly station).In the 1890s the Great
Northern Railway Companys warehouse was completed on Deansgate: this was the last major railway
warehouse to be built.[10]

The London Warehouse Picadilly was one of four warehouses built by the Manchester, Sheffield and
Lincolnshire Railway in about 1865 to service the new London Road Station. It had its own branch to the
Ashton Canal. This warehouse was built of brick with stone detailing. It had cast iron columns with wrought
iron beams.[15]

Canal warehouses
All these warehouse types can trace their origins back to the canal warehouses which were used for trans-
shipment and storage. Castlefield warehouses are of this type- and important as they were built at the terminus
of the Bridgewater Canal in 1761.

Storage and shipping systems

Some of the most common warehouse storage systems are:

Pallet racking including selective, drive-in, drive-thru, double-deep, pushback, and gravity flow
Cantilever racking uses arms, rather than pallets, to store long thin objects like timber.[16]
Mezzanine adds a semi-permanent storey of storage within a warehouse[17]

Vertical Lift Modules are packed systems with vertically arranged trays stored on both sides of the unit.
Horizontal Carousels consist of a frame and a rotating carriage of bins.
Vertical Carousels consisting of a series of carriers mounted on a vertical closed-loop track, inside a
metal enclosure.

A "piece pick" is a type of order selection process where product is picked and handled in individual units and
placed in an outer carton, tote or other container before shipping. Catalog companies and internet retailers are
examples of predominantly piece-pick operations. Their customers rarely order in pallet or case quantities;
instead, they typically order just one or two pieces of one or two items. Several elements make up the piece-
pick system. They include the order, the picker, the pick module, the pick area, handling equipment, the
container, the pick method used and the information technology used.[18] Every movement inside a warehouse
must be accompanied by a work order. Warehouse operation can fail when workers move goods without work
orders, or when a storage position is left unregistered in the system.

Material direction and tracking in a warehouse can be coordinated by a Warehouse Management System
(WMS), a database driven computer program. Logistics personnel use the WMS to improve warehouse
efficiency by directing pathways and to maintain accurate inventory by recording warehouse transactions.

Automation and optimization

Some warehouses are completely automated, and require only operators to work and handle all the task. Pallets
and product move on a system of automated conveyors, cranes and automated storage and retrieval systems
coordinated by programmable logic controllers and computers running logistics automation software. These
systems are often installed in refrigerated warehouses where temperatures are kept very cold to keep product
from spoiling, especially in electronics warehouses that require specific temperatures to avoid damaging parts,
and also where land is expensive, as automated storage systems can use vertical space efficiently. These high-
bay storage areas are often more than 10 meters (33 feet) high, with some over 20 meters (65 feet) high.
Automated storage systems can be built up to 40m high.

For a warehouse to function efficiently, the facility must be properly slotted. Slotting addresses which storage
medium a product is picked from (pallet rack or carton flow), and how they are picked (pick-to-light, pick-to-
voice, or pick-to-paper). With a proper slotting plan, a warehouse can improve its inventory rotation
requirementssuch as first in, first out (FIFO) and last in, first out (LIFO)control labor costs and increase
productivity.[19]

Pallet racks are commonly used to organize a warehouse. It is important to know the dimensions of racking and
the number of bays needed as well as the dimensions of the product to be stored.[20] Clearance should be
accounted for if using a forklift or pallet mover to move inventory.

Recent trends

Modern warehouses commonly use a system of wide aisle pallet racking[21] to store goods which can be loaded
Modern warehouses commonly use a system of wide aisle pallet racking[21] to store goods which can be loaded
and unloaded using forklift trucks.

Traditional warehousing has declined since the last decades of the 20th century, with the gradual introduction of
Just In Time techniques. The JIT system promotes product delivery directly from suppliers to consumer without
the use of warehouses. However, with the gradual implementation of offshore outsourcing and offshoring in
about the same time period, the distance between the manufacturer and the retailer (or the parts manufacturer
and the industrial plant) grew considerably in many domains, necessitating at least one warehouse per country
or per region in any typical supply chain for a given range of products.

Recent retailing trends have led to the development of warehouse-style retail stores. These high-ceiling
buildings display retail goods on tall, heavy duty industrial racks rather than conventional retail shelving.
Typically, items ready for sale are on the bottom of the racks, and crated or palatalized inventory is in the upper
rack. Essentially, the same building serves as both warehouse and retail store.

Another trend relates to vendor-managed inventory (VMI). This gives the vendor the control to maintain the
level of stock in the store. This method has its own issue that the vendor gains access to the warehouse.

Large exporters and manufacturers use warehouses as distribution points for developing retail outlets in a
particular region or country. This concept reduces end cost to the consumer and enhances the production sale
ratio.

Cross docking is a specialised type of distribution center (DC) in that little or no inventory is stored and product
is received, processed (if needed) and shipped within a short timeframe. As in warehousing, there are different
types of cross docks.

Reverse logistics is another type of warehousing that has become popular for environmental reasons. The term
refers to items that are going from the end user back to the distributor or manufacturer.

Cool warehouses and cold storage

Cold storage preserves agricultural products. Refrigerated storage helps in eliminating sprouting, rotting and
insect damage. Edible products are generally not stored for more than one year. Several perishable products
require a storage temperature as low as 25 C.

Cold storage helps stabilize market prices and evenly distribute goods both on demand basis and time basis.
The farmers get the opportunity of producing cash crops to get remunerative prices. The consumers get the
supply of perishable commodities with lower fluctuation of prices.

Ammonia and Freon compressors are commonly used in cold storage warehouses to maintain the temperature.
Ammonia refrigerant is cheaper, easily available and has a high latent heat of evaporation but it is also highly
toxic and can form an explosive mixture when mixed with oil containing high percentage of carbon. Insulation
is also important, to reduce loss of cold and to keep different sections of the warehouse at different
temperatures.[22]

There are two main types of refrigeration system used in cold storage warehouses, a Vapour absorption system
(VAS) and Vapour compression system (VCS). VAS, although comparatively costlier, is quite economical in
operation and adequately compensates the higher initial investment.

The temperature necessary for preservation depends on the storage time required and the type of product. In
general, there are three groups of products, foods that are alive (e.g. fruits and vegetables), foods that are no
longer alive and have been processed in some form (e.g. meat and fish products), and commodities that benefit
from storage at controlled temperature (e.g. beer, tobacco).

Location is a very critical aspect for the success of cold storage. It should be in close proximity of a growing
area as well as a market, be easily accessible for heavy vehicles, and have uninterrupted power supply.
Cold storage and the law

There are state and local laws that regulate the cold storage industry, requiring safe working conditions for
employees, and operational procedures must be in accordance with these laws. Companies that are aware of
and comply with applicable regulations are more likely to pass inspection, avoid notices of violation, and will
be able to continue operating at full capacity, ensuring greater customer service and uninterrupted product flow.

Education
There are few non-profit organizations which are focused on imparting knowledge, education and research in
the field of warehouse management and its role in the supply chain industry. The Warehousing Education and
Research Council (WERC)[23] and International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA)[24] in Illinois,
United States. They provide professional certification and continuing education programs for the industry in the
country. The Australian College of Training have government funded programs to provide personal
development and continuation training in warehousing certs II V (Diploma), they operate in Western
Australia online and face to face, or Australia wide for online only courses.

See also
Automated storage and retrieval system
Document automation
Data warehouse
Inventory
Inventory management software
Pick and pack
RFID
Shipping list
Voice Directed Warehousing
Warehouse management system

References
1. Godown (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/godown), Oxford Dictionaries
2. Alain Testart. (October 1982). "The Significance of Food Storage among Hunter-Gatherers: Residence
Patterns, Population Densities, and Social Inequalities" (http://www.alaintestart.com/UK/documents/stora
ge.pdf), Current Anthropology. 23 (5): 523537. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
3. Lawrence Richardson, A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, p. 193. JHU Press, 1992.
ISBN 0-8018-4300-6
4. David Stone Potter, D. J. Mattingly, Life, Death, and Entertainment in the Roman Empire, p. 180.
University of Michigan Press, 1999. ISBN 0-472-08568-9
5. "A History of the Warehouse" (http://www.action-storage.co.uk/blog/general/history-of-the-warehouse),
Action Storage. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
6. The New Palaces of Medieval Venice (https://books.google.com/books?id=dUxL9AuZY30C&pg=PA26).
Penn State Press. p. 26. ISBN 0-271-04836-0.
7. E.M Carus-Wilson (5 November 2013). Medieval Merchant Venturers: Collected Studies (https://books.g
oogle.com/books?id=FQf8AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA76). Routledge. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-136-58279-0.
8. John Block Friedman; Kristen Mossler Figg (4 July 2013). Trade, Travel, and Exploration in the Middle
Ages: An Encyclopedia (https://books.google.com/books?id=-OmCfNI_SxAC&pg=PA196). Routledge.
p. 196. ISBN 978-1-135-59094-9.
9. Pantin, W.A. (1962). "The Merchants' Houses and Warehouses of King's Lynn" (http://archaeologydatase
rvice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-769-1/dissemination/pdf/vol06-07/6_173_181.pdf)
(PDF). Medieval Archaeology. 6 (1): 173181. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
10. Wyke, Terry. "Manchester warehouses" (http://www.revealinghistories.org.uk/why-was-cotton-so-import
ant-in-north-west-england/places/manchester-warehouses.html). Revealing Histories: Remembering
Slavery. Manchester City Galleries. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
 11. Kidd, Alan (2006). Manchester: A History. Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing. ISBN 1-85936-128-5.
Frangopulo, Nicholas (1977). Tradition in Action. The historical evolution of the Greater Manchester
County. Wakefield: EP Publishing. ISBN 0-7158-1203-3.
"Manchester the first industrial city" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120309184810/http://www.scien
cemuseum.org.uk/on-line/energyhall/page84.asp). Entry on Sciencemuseum website. Archived from the
original (http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/energyhall/page84.asp) on 9 March 2012. Retrieved
17 March 2012.
12. Parkinson-Bailey 2000, p. 81
13. Parkinson-Bailey 2000, p. 84
14. Coates, Su (199192). "German Gentlemen: Immigrant Institutions in a Provincial City 18401920" (htt
p://www.mcrh.mmu.ac.uk/pubs/pdf/mrhr_05ii_coates.pdf) (PDF). Manchester Region History Review. 5
(2).
15. Moss, John (2011-11-15). "Victorian Manchester: Textile Industries & Warehouses" (https://web.archive.
org/web/20120127194533/http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/history/victorian/Victorian3.html).
Manchester 2000 Vitual Encyclopedia. Manchester: Papillon Graphics. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.manchester2002-uk.com/history/victorian/Victorian3.html) on 27 January 2012. Retrieved
26 January 2012.
16. "Cantilever Racking or Pallet Racking: What's Best for My Business?" (https://seerackinginspections.co.
uk/cantilever-racking-or-pallet-racking-whats-best-for-my-business/). SEE Racking Inspections. 2015-
10-26. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
17. "Pallet Racking Systems Ltd" (http://www.palletrackingsystemsltd.co.uk/glossary/mezzanine-flooring/).
Retrieved 26 February 2016.
18. OPSdesign Consulting (September 1, 2009). "PICK THIS! A Compendium of Piece-Picking Process
Alternatives". Warehousing Education & Research Council (WERC). ISBN 9781892663467.
19. Effectively Slotting a Warehouse or Distribution Center (http://www.sdcexec.com/news/10327109/effecti
vely-slotting-a-warehouse-or-distribution-center) by Paul Hansen and Kelvin Gibson. Cygnus Supply and
Demand Chain Executive. Accessed 2010-08-06.
20. "Installation Guide for Warehouse Rack Systems" (http://www.rackexpress.com/blog/pallet-rack/installat
ion-guide-warehouse-storage-rack-systems/)
21. "Pallet Racking Systems Ltd" (http://www.palletrackingsystemsltd.co.uk/glossary/wide-aisle-pallet-racki
ng/). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
22. "LED Warehouse Lighting" (http://www.modern.place/led-warehouse-lighting/). Kitchen, LED, Office,
Pendant Lights. Retrieved 2017-06-01.
23. WERC Illinois (http://www.edumaritime.com/illinois/warehouse-education-research-council)
24. IWLA Illinois (http://www.edumaritime.com/illinois/warehouse-logistics-association-iwla)

Further reading
Kumar (2014). warehouse Layout Planning and Part Feeding Methods (http://www.yesdee.com/ysdbo
ok.php?ysde=409&ys=0-64-56). Yes Dee Publishing Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789380381381.
The Story of the Bale. Manchester: Lloyd's Packing Warehouses Ltd, Princess Street, 1926

External links
"Warehouse Analytics for Astute Logisticians" (http://logisticsbureau.com/warehouse-analystics-for-astut
e-logisticians/) Smart Conference 2011

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