When executing a warehouse process, you have to deal with some basic principles: capacity utilization, stock level, throughput, cleanliness, safety, security, and cost control. However, the complexity and dynamics of the supply chain make it difficult to put the principles into practice. How can the choice of transport connect best to your warehouse processes? Let’s find out about the processes within the warehouse that could influence your transport flows.
In a business-to-business FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods), the Warehouse Manager is the person responsible for all ongoing processes. Moreover, they are the main point of contact. He or she analyses and manages the warehouse processes and productivities per process.
A Warehouse Manager has several challenges:
- Inbound
When the goods arrive, they need to get unloaded from the trailer, labels are scanned, and products are controlled on matching the consignment note. However, imagine if a carrier is not on time and in full (OTIF). This can delay all the following steps. - Racking
After receiving the goods at the inbound, internal transport takes over taking the products to the chosen stock location. This location depends on the conditions of the product, throughput, and the order pattern of the customer. - Storage
Efficiently storing goods means using efficiently the warehouse cubic meters. The storage in a warehouse is for example equipped on volume, weight, and throughput. Mostly, stock levels are tracked by a WMS (Warehouse Management System). Moreover, periodic manual or automatic (for example, by drones) stock checks are carried out. - Handling, co-packing, and picking
The most common method for handling the pallets in a warehouse are:- Full in and full out.
Pallets come fully packed into the warehouse and the same full pallets go out. - Full in and shipped after co-packing.
During co-packaging, goods get repackaged in packaging that is tailored to different distribution channels and customers. After the co-packaging process, newly created pallets can go from the made to stock or made to order and directly leave the warehouse. - Full in, pick orders, and a mixed pallet out.
Pallets arrive fully at the warehouse; within the warehouse, the orders are picked and new mixed pallets with several products are created. These new pallets leave the warehouse.
- Full in and full out.
- Shipping
Shipping goods from the warehouse to the customer is the final process of the warehouse. It is a process where we find the best route for the products based on costs, service, and sustainability. Therefore, shipping freight can only be successful when:
– Orders are prepared correctly;
– Moved via the best possible transport method;
– And delivered on time-in-full to the right customer.
How can you optimize your supply chain and improve your performance?
For the inbound and outbound process of your warehouse, it is of importance to find a carrier that fits all the demands. As Emons Cargo 2WIN we can support your inbound process by:
- On-time-in-full delivery
We deliver 99% on-time-in-full. - Unloading the trailer
An advantage of our service is that our driver does the unloading of the freight. In this way, your employee can spend time on other tasks. - More volume, less administrative actions
Two of our trailers can replace three standard trailers. This means that we deliver more volume at once and therefore there are less administration - needed.
On the shipping process, we support your performance by:
- A reliable international FTL transport solution
We deliver goods on time-in-full, with a representative truck, trailer, and driver. You can trust our service. - (Un)loading the trailers
Besides the unloading, we also execute the loading of our trailers. Again, your employees can spend their time on other tasks. - More volume per trip
If your pallets have a height between 130 – 180 cm, our trailers can load up to 64% more volume per trip than a standard trailer. So, this not only provides you a better cube fill but also a huge step into improving your carbon footprint. - Less administrative actions and costs
Because we load more volume, two double-deck trailers replace three standard trailers. In practice, this leads to less administrative tasks and in the case of Brexit less custom-related costs.
When facing different pallet configurations, loose loading, special freight conditions, or other non-matching 2WIN arguments, it still could be interesting to make use of our network optimization service. Apparently, it’s just not immediately visible. We can help you analyze your supply chain in order to deliver surprising insights. Contact us!
