Dec 19, 2023 admin There are no comments

Storage is one of the most important elements related to maintaining supply chains. Proper management of a logistics warehouse is the key to success in terms of warehouse processes and logistics. 

What is storage?

Storage process involves receiving and collecting goods and storing them in appropriate conditions. Warehouse processes also include information flow, resource processing (including maintenance and picking) and the transfer of these goods to recipients. 

An important issue in every warehouse is its equipment related to the storage of goods - including shelves, cabinets and racks. It is important to equip the facility with trolleys, including forklifts. The key role is to create the right ones zones in the warehouse taking into account various temperature conditions (including cold rooms) and humidity. It is important to determine whether the facility will be a high-bay warehouse or not low-bay warehouse. 

What are the warehouse functions logistics?

A logistics warehouse should perform many functions. The main ones include receiving, storing, picking and issuing. These phases of the goods storage process ensure the continuity and effectiveness of warehouse processes.

The first of warehouse functions is the receipt of goods, which should take place in a separate zone, after which the warehouse takes over responsibility for the transferred goods. As part of the receipt of goods into the warehouse, documents are verified, goods are unloaded, received, segregated, and stored in a designated place in the warehouse. Storage involves placing the transferred loads in an orderly manner in a designated zone and place. It is worth emphasizing that warehouses can offer short-term storage and storage long term. Picking involves taking part of the goods in order to deliver the quantity of goods specified by the customer in the assortment specification. The last of the basic tasks of a logistics warehouse is issuing goods. This process involves preparation of goods, verification of the released goods, their marking and loading of the released goods onto the appropriate means of transport. 

What are the types of warehouses? 

Warehouses can be divided according to several criteria. The first is the design of the warehouse. Within this criterion, we can distinguish open, semi-open and closed warehouses, as well as above-ground and underground warehouses. 

Another criterion is division of warehouses in connection with the functions performed. Here it is worth mentioning container, customs, consignment, delivery, production, distribution and reloading warehouses. 

There are also 3 warehouses types of warehouses divided according to the way the goods are stored. Here you should indicate high-bay, medium-bay and warehouses low-bay warehouses. 

Types of warehouses can also be indicated based on the method of loading. Loading operations can be carried out at two types of loading docks: ramp docks and zero docks. 

What is cross-docking?

An increasingly popular warehousing service is cross-docking, which is a modern form of warehousing services. Its feature is the omission of the entire stage of storing goods storage process. The cargo is delivered to the warehouse, received and immediately reloaded to be handed over to the recipient. This kind storage of goods allows you to significantly reduce the costs associated with abandoning the storage of goods and at the same time save time by shortening the supply chain. 

Cross-docking works perfectly when loads arrive at the warehouse from many sources and then are transferred to one recipient. Cross-docking is also used when goods are transferred by one sender and distributed to several recipients. 

The cross-docking service works well for any transport. It can be used both in groupage transport, pallet and container transport, and in the transport of standardized shipments. 

Storage cross-docking is not implemented by every warehouse. This service requires the use of appropriate software that will ensure full integration of deliveries and synchronization of reloading and shipping.