Logistic management case study

Chapter 10 – Warehousing & Materials Handling

In-class exercises and discussion points

Compare and contrast different types of warehouse layout. For what and when might each be used?

Referring to figure 10.4 (page 193), students should research contemporary warehouse designs (plenty are viewable via, for example, YouTube) and compare those with the three offered in figure 10.4. They should conclude with clear distinctions between each. Students might also choose to refer to the AG Barr case (pages 194-195) regarding ‘fit for purpose’.

Compare and contrast different storage and picking solutions. Referring to Figure 10.6, research and identify types of products that fit into each quadrant of the matrix.

Students should review pages 198 - 201. Familiar with different types of storage and picking solutions, they should research and identify which products fit into each quadrant of figure 10.6. In so doing they should appreciate differences between warehouse solutions/designs and be better informed about warehouse design.

Answers to end of Chapter Questions

· In the context of postponement, how might downstream distribution centres be viewed as value-adding?

Refer to page 191. Combining goods is an important generic way of adding value to postponement. Postponing final assembly, for example, until late in the order fulfilment process will reduce e.g. costs and risks.

· List the various information sources from across the supply chain that will improve order delivery and discuss how not having each would impact delivery.

Accurate, precise and timely information is necessary to ensure freight is stored in the correct place, in the correct quantity and is picked for dispatch when required. Incorrect, untimely or missing information will inhibit these. Students should identify various information sources and discuss their influences on operational performance.

· With the evolution of mobile communications (e.g. smartphones and tablet computers) and warehouse automation and MHE, consider what warehouse job roles and tasks will exist in the future. How will they differ from today?

This question is very much open to interpretation, but we recommend students use STS theory and figure 10.7 to frame their answers. Ideating the warehouse of the future should be a fun and informative exercise for them.

More questions

· What is cross-docking and when should it be used?

· When might pallets not be used in storage systems?

· What is wave picking and why is it used?

· What is the difference between picker-to-goods and goods-to-picker methods?

Good websites and video clips

Robots in the warehouse!

· https://www.wired.com/video/2013/07/the-window-high-speed-robots-part-1-meet-bettybot-in-human-exclusion-zone-warehouses/

· https://www.wired.com/video/2013/07/the-window-high-speed-robots-part-2-kiva-robots-in-the-workplace-in-our-e-commerce-economy/

· How Amazon receives inventory - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAXdeqcHBp4