Training is important if you want to have consistent results. For training to be effective you most have a training manual with full descriptions for each task. This is what the teacher should use for each instruction session. The common practice of having a new hire work with a more seasoned staff member does not [...]
Jack Kuchta was recently quoted in: Maida Napolitano, “Locating Your Distribution Center, Part I, Re-engineering the Distribution Center Network”, Logistics Management, February 1, 2008 Corinne Kator, “Which Picking Method s Work”, Modern Materials Handling, February 28, 2007 James A. Cooke, “Who’s in charge here?”, DC Velocity, November 2006 Maria Napolitano, “The Cross Dock Evolution”, Logistics [...]
Whenever you make changes that increase the spacing between beams in pallet rack, go back to your rack supplier and make sure that the changes will not reduce the weight capacity of the rack system. This is particlarly important if the bottom level is enlarged.
Today, August 11, the Census Bureau released the July Wholesales Trade Report for June. It shows that for the first time since June 2008, sales have increased over the prior month. While not up to the levels of 2008, it is a positive sign. At the same time, inventories have continued to decline at an [...]
All warehouses have partial pallets occupying full pallet positions. This may be no more than a statistical element in calculating warehouse utilization if the facility is operating comfortably below it’s maximum effective working capacity. When the warehouse is nearly full, partial pallets can have an impact. It may be useful to compare the cost of [...]
While no one knows what, if any, health care reform will come out of congress, it is certain that it will have an impact on the supply chain. From the employee cost side, there will be a change in health care cost that the system will have to absorb. If the government will be providing [...]
One assumption often made in supply chain network models is that the sources are fixed. That may not be the right assumption in all cases. Many products, whether commodities or manufactured products can have alternative sources with differing acquisition costs, minimum purchase quantities, lead times and delivery costs that will change the left total cost [...]
