Space, space, space. We need space. If only we had more space… Every warehouse manager has heard this at one time or another. It can be pretty frustrating to have too much product and nowhere to put it! So if it’s so important, why do facilities run out of it? A lot of times this issue is driven by … Read more
Just as a software program requires a design spec or user stories, and a building needs design drawings, a warehouse distribution or fulfillment operation needs a specification. It is documentation of the entire operation. Experience shows that it is critical to project success and operational continuity. We think of it as a combination of the … Read more
There’s a connection between company culture and its engineering output. That connection can be summed up in one word: design. The most obvious example of this may be Apple. Apple produces beautifully engineered products because of its design-centric culture, famously influenced by Steve Jobs’s calligraphic experiences and by Jony Ive’s genius with product. In this … Read more
Congratulations! You’ve looked at the numbers and company strategy and the payback is there. You’ve decided that you need a new warehouse, distribution center, or fulfillment center. You’re planning on using a consultant, design firm, integrator, 3PL, or other partner to implement your vision. But there are many challenges and risks in designing a new … Read more
Warehouse design for outbound flow and dock doors is meant for peak warehouse efficiency. But when you’re operating, things can be different. You’ve checked the picking rates. You’ve calculated staging areas and staffing. Yet when you’re running operations, disaster strikes! You can’t get enough loads into trailers and are constantly building inventory in your shipping … Read more
Warehouse design is critical to running efficient operations. But warehouse design is a complex problem with many inputs and just as many, if not more, possible solutions. And it has to be done for every warehouse startup. It’s important to have a philosophically and analytically sound approach to developing the solution, because you’ll spend huge … Read more
If you’re doing a Warehouse Startup, you need to get through design. But how? Some of the dependencies are obvious but some are not. In this post we’ll discuss the key design process and dependencies that you need to keep an eye on. Design Design for a warehouse startup goes like this: One function’s design … Read more