Document 4
Document 4
(Assignment 1.)
DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Many people confuse a warehouse with a distribution center and use the terms
interchangeably. Whereas a warehouse might hold items for a long period of time, a
distribution center holds products for a short period of time and sees a much higher velocity of
products coming in and going out.
Distribution centers are very customer-centric and are typically located close to where the end
user is, so they receive products quickly and in good shape. A distribution center may also offer
value added services, such as cross docking, pick and pack services, or simple product mixing or
packaging. Because a distribution center offers more services than a warehouse, they are also
equipped with much more advanced technology to facilitate the processes happening within.
In a warehouse, pick, pack, and ship is the process that happens after an order is received,
either from an online store or a brick and mortar store. The warehouse receives a pick list of
products, and people or automated systems find the products within the warehouse. Then,
they are packed for shipping, labeled, and shipped to the customer.
SMART WAREHOUSE
COLD STORAGE
Cold storage does exactly what its name implies: it stores temperature sensitive items at low
temperatures. Cold storage warehouses allow medicine, perishable foods, plants, cosmetics,
artwork, and candles to have longer lives. Cold storage warehouses also use refrigerated
shipping for inbound and outbound shipping.
ON-DEMAND STORAGE
BONDED WAREHOUSE
Also called “customs” warehouses, a bonded warehouse is a building in which imported goods
may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty
for five years from date of acceptance. The duty on imported goods can be very high so the
bonded warehouse allows the products to be sold first, and then duty is paid from the proceeds
of the sale.
There are many different types of warehouses, performing many services and functions. If you
need warehousing services, Jarrett can help. Contact us to learn more about our warehouses in
Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania that offer full-service warehouse management, inventory and
order fulfillment services, that help your business run leaner and more effectively
A Definition of Warehouse Operations
Rick Stinchcomb of the University of Oklahoma Press defines warehouse operations as such:
“The goal of warehouse operations is to satisfy customers’ needs and requirements while
utilizing space, equipment, and labor effectively. The goods must be accessible and protected.
Meeting this goal requires constant planning and ongoing change.”
Breaking it down, warehouse operations covers a number of important areas, from the
receiving, organization, fulfillment, and distribution processes. These areas include:
Receiving of goods
Cross-docking of goods
Organizing and storing inventory
Attaching asset tracking solutions (like barcodes) to assets and inventory
Integrating and maintaining a tracking software, like a warehouse management system
Overseeing the integration of new technology
Selecting picking routes
Establishing sorting and packing practices
Maintaining the warehouse facility
Developing racking designs and warehouse infrastructure