warehouse Archives - Supply Chain Game Changer™

What’s the Difference Between a Warehouse and a Distribution Center?

What’s the Difference Between Logistics and Distribution?

I began my career with responsibility for, amongst other things, Warehouse space planning. With almost a dozen local and remote buildings used to store raw materials and finished goods I spent more than my share of time walking through more than one Warehouse, or Distribution Center, and up and down aisles of racking and shelving.

Later on in my career when I entered the Retail and Logistics sectors the facilities used to store and disperse goods were called Distribution Centers. There were the same configurations of racking and shelving as Warehouses and they were both storing goods and dispersing goods.

To the untrained eye the Warehouses and Distribution Centers looked very similar.

But were they really the same or were they actually quite different?

Armco Barriers In The Warehouse!

Worst Forklift Accident Ever and Forklift Safety! (Video)

Warehouses can be a minefield for damage and injury if the proper risk assessments are not carried out and the correct protection is not subsequently put in place to prevent such issues from occurring. This is why you need Armco Barriers.

In an age of increased litigation, budgetary constrictions and affordability costs growing even tighter, it has become more important than ever to ensure the right health and safety measures are evident in any industrial environment, in addition to solid and stable protection of machinery, equipment, stock and the structure of the warehouse itself.

The Truth About Working at a Fulfillment Centre!

Keys to Success in Warehouse Management/Order Fulfillment! (Video)

You may have seen or read coverage depicting a fulfillment centre as a terrible place to work. John Oliver’s most recent Last Week Tonight episode focused on the dangers of fulfillment centre work.

It’s the latest in a string of negative stories that stretches back years. This Mother Jones story about an Amazon fulfillment center workers fainting from heat exhaustion was published in 2011.

As Oliver’s piece pointed out, fulfillment centers often operate on slim margins. That can mean low wages and demanding quotas for warehouse workers, as employers scramble to turn a profit. Amazon has disputed Oliver’s story. The eCommerce giant raised its base hourly rate for fulfillment center employees to $15 per hour in 2018 (though changes in Amazon benefits may negate at least part of that increase).

We can’t dispute the fact that working conditions in some fulfillment centers are less than optimal, to say the least. However, not all fulfillment companies are alike.

Warehouse Efficiency Improvement Tips!

Struggling with Process Ownership? Is it a Failure to Communicate?

Things can always be faster when you work in a warehouse or distribution center. Speed has become the name of the game when it comes to staying competitive in the global supply chain.

Major players like Amazon and Walmart have distribution centers all over the world, pumping out packages at lightning speed.

If you want to keep your customers satisfied, you need to keep things moving in your warehouse or distribution center. Use these tips to keep up the pace and make your facility as efficient as possible.

Self-Storage Has Become Big Business! (Infographic)

Should You Choose Self Storage or a Portable Storage Container?

While immensely popular in the United States, self-storage solutions have remained pretty uncommon throughout Europe… that is, until now.

More and more entrepreneurs are recognising the untapped opportunity presented by the storage industry and as a result we are seeing a major increase in the availability of facilities in Europe.

Lessons from the Edge of the Abyss! Surviving a System Implementation!

10 Supply Chain Investment Challenges – Real and Imagined!

GET EBOOK

The company I had just joined was nearing the finish line on the implementation of a new WMS system. They had been working on the system change for a few years. Now implementation was only a few months away. There were going to be lessons from the edge of this experience.

As the implementation date drew closer one of the key Warehouse management leaders, heading the project from the beginning, left the company. We forged ahead and implemented the system on April 1st. That’s right, April 1st!

And that’s when the “fun” began!

Worst Forklift Accident Ever and Forklift Safety! (Video)

A Comprehensive Warehouse Safety Guide!

The first job I had at the beginning of my career was in the Materials Handling and Engineering department. As a part of my job I was responsible for Forklift and Material Handling equipment planning.

To help me understand this area better I took the Forklift driver training course just like anyone else would have to do. I was able to drive the truck and load and unload pallets from trucks and into and out of warehouse storage locations.

While I wouldn’t trust myself to drive a forklift these many years later I was reminded of the importance of forklift driver training and safety this week when I saw a short video of an absolutely horrendous forklift accident.

Evolution of Warehouse Scanning Technologies in the Digital Era

Disruptive Warehouse Technologies for Any Company!

The Warehouse is a central part of Supply Chain Management in any organization. The majority of companies where physical warehouse operation forms a bigger component of the total labor cost are primarily concerned about achieving the dual goals of warehousing cost optimization and the improvements in labor productivity. Automation, such as scanning technologies, is a boon to achieve these two important goals in any warehouse operations.

Over the years, warehouse automation has seen huge tectonic shifts, especially in the recent era of digital modernization. Scanning various labels on the products and materials during receiving, storing, picking and shipping processes is witnessing a tremendous technological changes over the past decades. Scanning is considered as the most labor intensive operation in the warehouse.

7 Reasons to Consider a Cloud Based WMS (Warehouse Management System)!

Pain Points – An Opportunity to Innovate and Expand!

The decision to invest in a cloud based WMS (warehouse management system) is often the result of sub-par systems in operation within the exclusive supply chain.

Many legacy systems have been in service for up to 20 years or more, reports Roberto Michel of Modern Materials Handling, and supply chains can no longer function on these legacy systems.

This is especially true in the age of e-commerce, so supply chain executives should consider these top seven reasons to implement a cloud-based WMS.