Facility Layout in Warehouse Management

Facilities Layout

The future of warehouse will primarily be based on software, which will choreograph most of the work in tomorrow's warehouse. In essence, the warehouse of the future will not be based on technology but be centered on a combination of technology, machine, and human resource. The use of this blend as the basis for future warehouse is fueled by the different forms of innovation that take place in the realm of technology. Notably, the use of technology to drive work in tomorrow's warehouse is also based on the need to achieve considerable operational metrics that exceed the requirements of customer service while supporting the movement of goods in more profitable means. Therefore, technology will play a crucial role in management of warehouse and distribution center in future. As a result, there is need for organizations to consider how flexibility can be incorporated in warehouse planning and design in a manner that accommodates this change.

The Warehouse of the Future:

The current warehouse includes a skillful combination of highly developed technologies and optimized business procedures while maximizing the interactions between humans in order to offer increased labor that help in enhancing the success of supply chain. As previously mentioned, software will be the primary driver of tomorrow's warehouse work. While the warehouse of the future will not be dependent on technology, it will incorporate a mixture of technology, machine, and manpower (Graham, 2003). The blend will involve the use of supply chain software, which will be the work of the new highly automated warehouse, garnishing fat, dumping waste, and removing redundancy where it is detected. As a result of the use of supply chain software, there will be a reduced number of workers who will be more competent, more motivated, and better trained.

The innovation from evolved technologies will facilitate the development of the supply chain software that will enable future warehouse management technologies to perform functions that seem impossible in the current warehouse infrastructure. Some of these functions that will be possible to perform in future warehouse management include finite scheduling and process sequencing of orders. These functions will enable warehouse management operation to capitalize on maximize on its abilities while managing its weaknesses. Some of the constraints that will be dealt with include yard capacity, labor, order mix and value added processing, and physical space, which are likely to be major factors in future warehousing.

Flexibility in Warehouse Planning and Design:

The changes in warehouse management technologies will contribute to several changes in various elements of warehouses including warehouse planning and design. These changes will be characterized with evolving customer demands that will continually necessitate the need for enhanced distribution center processes and systems ("The Warehouse of the Future," 2014). Notably, the new innovative technologies will provide necessary support for these processes and systems in order to meet these evolving needs and demands of customers. Warehouse planning and design is crucial in the warehouse of the future since they will be subjected to pressures from increase in small orders through an increasing number of sales channels.

One of the most important elements in warehouse planning and design is ensuring flexibility, especially with regards to accommodating future changes. An organization can build flexibility in its warehouse planning and design by ensuring improvements in dock layout and design. The flexibility of docks play a crucial role in promoting flexibility in warehouse management since it facilitates accommodation of increased number and kinds of receipts and shipments. The best measure for promoting flexibility through dock layout and design is through constructing the warehouse with several shipping and receiving docks (Freese, 2000, p.97). This promotes flexibility because the ever-increasing Just-In-Time technologies and closeness to the manufacturing locations contributes to the need for several shipping and receiving docks. However, in the development of these docks, the organization should consider good safety practices, well-thought-out layouts, and staff training.

In order to ensure that dock layout and design is effective and efficient, the organization needs to evaluate its functions based on regulations in Occupational Safety and Health Act and environmental conditions if the warehouse operations require reverse logistics functions. Moreover, the organization should consider enhancement opportunities for new and existing warehouse facilities. These general opportunities to consider in dock layout and design include cube utilization, overflow inventories, promotional materials, used equipment, storage areas, scheduling, and sufficient lighting for ensuring accuracy and enhanced productivity.

In relation to the allocation of resources up-front or in the future, the trade-offs for the organization includes changing the location of docks. The location of docks must be done in consideration of just-in-time inventories and proximity to manufacturing location. Secondly, organizations must adopt measures that promote seamless integration of supply chain software from highly developed technologies and optimized business procedures. Finally, the organization should develop new warehouse and distribution center management.