From the course: Supply Chain and Operations Management Tips

Unlock this course with a free trial

Join today to access over 22,600 courses taught by industry experts.

Connect distribution center processes

Connect distribution center processes

- From the time a product is manufactured until it's delivered to a customer or a store, there's a good chance it will be routed through several distribution centers, so for operations managers it's important to understand how distribution centers work and the roll they play in your supply chain. Let's walk through the five major processes found in every distribution center and see how to link them together to keep products moving smoothly. First, the shipment is delivered to one of the inbound dock doors and unloaded into the receiving and inspection area. During this step an associate will log the shipment into a special software called a warehouse management system, and they'll inspect the product for damage. Once the shipment is received, it needs to be stored or put away. The warehouse management system uses a process called slotting to determine the best storage location for each product based upon its size and weight. When the put away instructions are issued, a warehouse…

Contents