Opsandfulfillment_warehouse-20-03-2013

This is the second in a two-part series. This week, we’ll address fire protection issues.

As your operation grows, the type of order selection vehicles that will work best for you may change. Growth often means increasing numbers of SKUs, and larger on-hand quantities. It is not uncommon for shelving storage requirements to grow to cases on pallet rack shelving, and then to full pallet loads of a single SKU. In a business where items are constantly added and changing, you may find that SKUs will proliferate. All of these factors can combine to create extra travel that can place a growing burden on your order picking staff. Fortunately, there are some powered vehicle options that can help.

Receiving is the Rodney Dangerfield of operations, says consultant Wayne Teres: Few companies give it any respect.

But it is the most complicated function in the warehouse. One error can have a ripple effect.

This is the first in a two-part series on fire safety. This week we’ll discuss what potentially causes a fire in the DC. Next week, we

“Data analysis” is a name given to the process of evaluating and interpreting historical electronic data. In distribution environments, we most commonly look at historical product and order data, to look for patterns and opportunities that are not apparent from observation alone. This month I look at a specific type of analysis which can be done for operations that have a small number of SKUs common to many orders.

Rich Skinner is the warehouse manager for Nasco’s distribution center in Fort Atkinson, WI. Skinner works daily on seeing that Nasco’s supervisors and

Don’t know your racking from your shelving? Here’s a primer:

There’s a new twist out there on the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). Mini-AGV (automatic guided vehicle) systems are an alternative to mini-load AS/RS

Incentive programs have been a blessing for home decor and gifts merchant Home Interiors. Thanks to performance bonuses tied to improving inventory accuracy, the Carrollton, TX-based company was able to eliminate taking physical inventory each year.

Are you thinking about adding to your existing pallet storage? If you have large numbers of pallets for a single SKU, there are a number of alternatives to traditional selective pallet rack that you may want to consider