Evaluation of the effectiveness of any manufacturing enterprise can be given by the level of cost of all operations carried out in it. And this indicator to a large extent depends on the organization of logistic processes of movement of material flows, which include components and materials, semi-finished products, etc.
More recently, business leaders have focused on the rational use of equipment, machinery and labor. At the same time, much less efforts were made to improve logistics processes to promote material resources. A completely different picture could be observed in highly developed countries. Here, for many years now, all objects of labor have been the focus of attention of managers who monitor the effectiveness of the logistics processes of production. All this allows us to achieve cost minimization and maximize revenue, which is the most important activity of any commercial structure.
The value of the warehouse in the enterprise
If we consider the logistics chain of any commercial structure, it becomes clear that the movement of material flows is impossible without concentration and storage in specially designated areas for this stocks necessary for the production of products. For this, there are appropriate warehouses. They are voluminous premises designed to accommodate wealth.
Any movement through the warehouse is impossible without the cost of materialized and living cargo. And this, in turn, refers to investments that increase the value of goods. That is why issues related to the functioning of warehouses have a significant impact on the overall logistics process of the enterprise. And this can be seen in the promotion of material flows , distribution costs and the use of transport.
At large modern plants, the warehouse is a complex technical structure consisting of numerous interconnected elements. Moreover, it not only has a certain structure, but also performs a number of functions that contribute to the transformation of material flows passing through it. In addition, the stockpiling, processing and distribution of existing goods between consumers takes place at the warehouse. This complex technical construction sometimes has a variety of parameters, space-planning and technical solutions, as well as various equipment designs.
Warehouses are distinguished by a wide variety of nomenclature of incoming and processed goods. But at the same time, this construction is only one of the many elements of the logistic business process, which dictates the necessary conditions for the movement of material flows. That is why the consideration of the warehouse should occur non-isolated from the entire production. After all, this element is an integrated component of the overall supply chain. Only with this approach is it possible to successfully ensure the fulfillment of the basic functions assigned to the warehouse, as well as achieve the required level of profitability.
Rules for creating a warehouse system
It should be borne in mind that at different enterprises the logistic process of movement of material flows can have significant differences. This is due to the difference in the parameters of the storage locations of components and raw materials, as well as all their elements and the structure itself, based on the relationship of these components.
When organizing the logistics process in the warehouse, it is necessary to be guided by the principle of making an individual decision. Only such an approach is able to make the work of this unit as cost-effective as possible. And for this, a preliminary
analysis of the logistics processes in matters of cargo handling not only inside but also outside the warehouse is required. At the same time, it is important to limit the range of opportunities to practically profitable and prudent indicators. That is, the logistics process should provide only economically justified costs in the form of the introduction of any technical and technological solution related to financial investments.
When determining the necessary investment, it is important to proceed from the appropriateness and rationality of the decision made, without regard to fashion trends and the technical capabilities offered on the market. Indeed, the main purpose of the warehouse was and remains the concentration of stocks, their further storage, as well as ensuring a rhythmic and uninterrupted supply to consumers.
Organization of the movement of materials
The logistics process at the warehouse is very complicated. It requires complete coordination of the implementation of the functions of supplying reserves, processing of goods, as well as the distribution of existing values. In fact, the warehouse logistics process is an activity that covers almost all the main areas of the enterprise. This becomes especially clear if we consider this issue at the micro level. That is why the warehouse logistics process is an activity that in its functionality is much wider than the technological process. Moreover, it includes:
- initial supply of necessary stocks;
- exercising control over the supply of goods;
- unloading and further acceptance of stocks;
- internal storage and transshipment of goods;
- necessary storage and further storage of the received stocks;
- commissioning (picking) of orders received from customers, as well as further shipment of goods, their transportation and forwarding;
- collection and delivery of empty containers;
- control over the delivery of orders;
- maintaining a warehouse information service system;
- provision of services in the form of securing customer requests .
Any logistics process, including in the warehouse, should be considered in the interdependence and interconnection of its constituent elements. With this approach, it becomes possible to coordinate the activities of all services. As for the warehouse, here the management of logistics processes should become the basis for planning the movement of goods, as well as exercising control over their movement.
Conventionally, the entire process of creating inventories can be divided into three components:
1. Operations to coordinate the procurement service.
2. The operations necessary for the processing of goods and their documentation.
3. Operations coordinating the sales service.
If we consider the first part of this logistics process, then it takes place in the course of procurement activities. The main ways of its implementation are control over the supply of stocks. The main task of supplying material assets is to provide the warehouse with materials or goods, taking into account the possibilities of their processing in a given period of time and for the complete satisfaction of orders received from consumers. In this regard, when determining the need for procurement volumes, it is necessary to focus on the work of the sales service and the capacity of storage facilities.
Conducting accounting and control over the receipt and sending of orders will allow the most rhythmic processing of cargo flows. In addition, this will ensure maximum use of warehouse capabilities, reduce the shelf life of materials and increase the turnover of goods.
Unloading and subsequent acceptance of goods
Without carrying out these operations, all logistic processes in the enterprise are impossible. When implementing them, one should be guided by those delivery conditions that are available in the concluded contract. Under the vehicle indicated in the document (container, truck or trailer), the corresponding unloading places, as well as all the necessary equipment, are prepared.
Modern warehouses, as a rule, have automobile or railway ramps, as well as container platforms. It is on them that unloading operations are carried out. For maximum efficiency of this process, it is important to properly equip such places, as well as the correct selection of appropriate equipment. This will allow unloading in the shortest possible time and with the lowest possible losses. It will also reduce vehicle downtime and therefore lower handling costs.
The operations carried out at this stage of the logistics process include:
- unloading materials from vehicles;
- monitoring compliance of the physical volume of the order with its documentary description;
- registration of the received cargo through the information system available at the enterprise;
- definition of a cargo warehouse unit.
Internal displacement
The planning of logistics processes should provide for the distribution of the received inventory items in different areas of the warehouse. For example, cargo can be delivered from the unloading ramp to the place of its acceptance. Then it is moved to where it will remain in storage or will be subject to picking. After that, the material or goods can be re-fed to the loading ramp. Similar operations are performed using hoisting gears or machines.
Intra-warehouse movement of goods takes place with a minimum length in time and space. In this case, through “direct-flow” routes are used. Such a logistics scheme will eliminate the repeated return of cargo to any of the warehouse areas, as well as increase the efficiency of all operations. When planning such transportation, it is worth considering that the number of transshipments from one type of mechanism to another should be as small as possible.
Warehousing
This process should also be considered when planning the logistics process. Warehousing is the laying and placement of the received goods with a view to its further storage. Moreover, such actions should be as rational as possible. For this, it is important to use the entire volume of the storage area most efficiently. And this is possible with the optimal choice of storage equipment, which should take into account the specifics of the cargo and fill the area and height of the room as much as possible. At the same time, one should not forget about the working passages that must be arranged for the normal movement of hoisting-and-transport mechanisms and machines.
Storage
In order to arrange the cargo at the warehouse, the system of its address placement is applied. Moreover, it can be fixed or free. In the first case, the goods are placed in strictly designated places. In the second - in any zones available for this.
After laying the cargo for storage, it is necessary to ensure appropriate conditions for this, as well as constantly monitor the availability of stocks using the information system available at the enterprise.
Order picking and shipment
The processes of the supply chain lead the warehouse to the preparation of the goods available on it in accordance with the applications of consumers and its further shipment. All of these actions include:
- receipt of the selection sheet (sales order);
- viewing and selection of goods in accordance with the application received;
- order picking;
- packing the goods in containers;
- paperwork to accompany the prepared order;
- control of the design and configuration of the application;
- preparation of a batch of orders with registration of consignment notes;
- placing goods in a vehicle.
The commissioning of all orders is made at the warehouse in the picking area. In this case, the preparation and subsequent execution of the necessary documentation is carried out using the information system. What in this case helps to simplify the process of picking an order? Used address storage system. When it is used, the selection sheet immediately indicates the place where the stored goods are located, which reduces the time it takes to form an order and allows you to track its release from the warehouse.
If the picking is carried out using the information system, this greatly facilitates the process of combining all goods into the most economical lot, which allows you to effectively use your existing vehicle. It is important for the delivery of orders to develop the optimal logistics route.
Transportation and forwarding
Such actions can be carried out both by the warehouse and directly by the customer. The use of the latter option will be able to justify itself only if the purchased lot is equal in its capacity to the vehicle. However, the most common delivery option is when it is carried out centrally by the warehouse. In this case, supply chains are developed taking into account optimal routes and unitization of goods. This allows you to minimize transportation costs and deliver the goods in smaller and more frequent parties.
Collection and delivery of containers
Such operations play a large role in expense items. Containers or carriers in the form of containers, pallets, etc., as a rule, are multi-turn.
That is why they need to be returned to the sender. This process can be maximally effective only if the optimum quantity of containers is reliably known and the transportation schedule between the warehouse and consumers is fulfilled.
Information service
The connecting core of the work of all services involved in the warehouse sector is the management of information flows. Moreover, this system can be independent or composite. The first option takes place in mechanized warehouses. In automated services, the information system is part of the overall program existing at the enterprise. The second option allows you to most effectively manage all material flows.
The information service system includes:
- processing of all incoming documentation;
- issuance of proposals for orders to suppliers;
- management of the processes of receiving and sending cargo;
- control over the availability of stocks in stock;
- receiving orders from consumers;
- documentation of the dispatch;
- dispatch assistance, which includes the optimal selection of shipment lots, as well as delivery routes;
- processing of customer accounts;
- exchange of information received with the management of the enterprise, as well as with operational personnel;
- receipt and registration of statistical information.
Conclusion
A rationally conducted logistic warehouse process is the key to the profitability of this service. That is why when organizing such a promotion of stocks, as a rule, they achieve:
- rational allocation of working areas for an efficient process of cargo handling;
- increase the capacity of the warehouse through the rational use of space;
- reduction of the fleet of used hoisting-and-transport mechanisms by purchasing universal equipment;
- reduce operating costs while minimizing intra-warehouse routes;
- reduction of transport costs through centralized deliveries;
- maximum use of all the capabilities available in the information system.