Warehousing
Introduction
Warehousing is a process used to identify the way through which traders use commercial buildings to store their goods. Warehouses are the large commercial buildings that are required by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers and customs for permanent or temporary storage of goods depending on who owns the warehouse. Due to the nature of goods that are stored in the warehouses being bulky, specialized cargo handling machines are essential such as cranes or forklifts while strategic logistics have to be put in place to ensure that management in warehousing is carried out efficiently. Over the years, system management in warehousing has undergone rapid modification where information technology has been applied in the various processes in warehouse management to ensure that the logistics are advanced and upheld. This increases efficiency of the stage in the chain of distribution.
Discussion
Storage systems in warehousing
The automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) is a storage system that involves vertical carousels, as well as, horizontal ones where goods are stored and retrieved with much ease. The pallet rack is the other storage system that incorporates selective drive-through and gravity flow such that the heavier cargo are dealt with before the lighter cargo later on due to the selectiveness of goods on the basis of size. Gravity logistics allows the person handling the goods to cater for them in regard to their sizes hence the process is made systematic (Frazelle, 2002).
Consequently, the pallets move cargo inside the warehouse through use of automated conveyors such that less human presence is required. The mezzanine storage system indulges structural, shelf or rack supported storage of cargo as deems fit for the warehouse. Racks and shelves provide systemic way of arranging goods which is useful in determining the ease with which the retrieving of items will be made more efficient (Frazelle, 2002).
Management systems in warehousing
Warehouse management systems are put in place to ensure that the movement of goods and their storage is controlled effectively until the owner collects them from the premises. These systems have warehouse management systems have provided highly computerized techniques which handle receipt and release of cargo from the commercial buildings. These are also enhanced to ensure that the representation of physical storage facilities such as the pallet which are significant in the packing and shipping the products out of the buildings (Stock and Lambert, 2000).
The personnel and facilities that are incorporated in warehouse management systems are aimed at crating a seamless link in the processing and logistics system. This in turn controls the movement and storage of materials within the warehouse as it is the last thing that is carried out on goods prior to being distributed to the designated individuals. Beyond the confines of the warehouse, the system carries out inventory management and planning for the nature of cargo expected in the warehouse. Similarly, warehousing tasks such as container storage, loading and unloading is part of the warehouse management system responsibilities. Therefore, in this perspective, warehousing management does not start from the receipt of goods but rather from the initial stages during which designs for the container which will be holding the cargo will be designed (Rushton, Croucher and Baker, 2006).
Modern trends in the warehousing industry
Modern trends in the warehousing industry have indicated advanced use of information technology concepts and automation systems which involve computerized actions. The traditional housing systems reduced from the 20th century onwards especially with introduction of Just In Time (JIT), techniques which reduces physical activities in the warehouses. Consequently, introduction of offshore outsourcing and offshoring has led to declined use of physical warehouse services (Simon and Shaffer, 2001).
However, the warehouses that are still operational have implemented warehouse management systems which entail use of Auto ID Capture (AIDC) technology which includes utilities such as barcode scanners and radio-frequency identification (RFID). These technological gadgets have increased the ease with which the flow of cargo and products are monitored without having to employ several people to ensure that all processes are running efficiently. The collected data which is mostly batch is synchronized with, various other relevant information regarding the products through use of wireless transmitters into the central database which sorts them out. Warehouse management systems use the data to make strategic decisions, as well as, enabling them to lay the logistics of nature and status of goods in their premises (Berg, 2007).
Conclusion
Warehousing as an industry has undergone through subsequent changes to incorporate several activities and tasks than was present in the traditional warehousing. Consequently, the computerized era has increased efficiency of the industry with strategies being laid out quite efficiently. Similarly, of technology has made the business easier and faster especially for offshore traders.
References
Berg, V.J. (2007), Integral Warehouse Management: The Next Generation in Transparency, Collaboration and Warehouse Management Lulu.com
Frazelle E. (2002), World-class warehousing and material handling McGraw-Hill Professional
Rushton, A., Croucher, P. and Baker, P, (2006), The handbook of logistics and distribution management Kogan Page Publishers
Stock, J. R. and Lambert, D. M.. (2000), Strategic Logistics Management. 4th ed..McGraw-Hill Irwin Pub
Simon, R. L. and Shaffer, S.L. (2001), Data warehousing and business intelligence for e- commerce Morgan Kaufmann.
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