Page 235 - DMGT551_RETAIL_BUSINESS_ENVIRONMENT

Retail Business Environment

Notes Figure 12.4: Typical Product Flow

Warehouse design should also allow for straight product flow through the facility whether
items are stored or not. In general, this means that product should be received at one end of the
building, stored in the middle, and then shipped from the other end. Straight-line product flow
minimizes congestion and confusion.

Handling Technology

The second principle focuses on the effectiveness and efficiency of material-handling technology.
The elements of this principle concern movement continuity and movement scale economies.
Movement continuity means that it is better for a material handler or piece of handling equipment
to make a longer move than to have a number of handlers make numerous, individual, short
segments of the same move. Exchanging the product between handlers or moving it from one
piece of equipment to another wastes time and increases the potential for damage. Thus, as a
general rule, fewer longer movements in the warehouse are preferred.

Storage Plan

According to the third principle, a warehouse design should consider The integrated storage
plan must consider and address the specific characteristics of each product characteristics,
particularly those pertaining to volume, weight and storage.
Stores is a very broad word that indicates a wide variety of materials stored such as chemical,
metals, liquids, gases, spare parts, equipment, or finished goods, ranging from engineering
components to drugs and pharmaceuticals. Each of these items will require a specific type of
storage and their handling and preservation methods will vary accordingly. There is a high
degree of specialization required to store and handle these products and in many cases special
storage licenses need to be obtained from the government, e.g., the storage of petroleum products
or explosive products. It is hence mandatory for stores personnel to understand thoroughly all
of these requirements and implications.
Product volume is the major concern when defining a warehouse storage plan. High-volume
throughput should be stored in a location that minimizes the distance it is moved, such as near
primary aisles and in low storage racks. Such a location minimizes travel distance and the need
for extended lifting.

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