Page 52 - DMGT553_RETAIL_STORE_MANAGEMENT

Unit 3: Pre-Store Opening

Packing and production: In many distribution centres it is not feasible to store stock in Notes
many different packaging styles or quantities, and while it may cost a customer more to
do so, many customers, such as supermarkets, prefer their own packaging on stock. Because
of this, packing benches are used to take raw items, such as a box of balloons, and pack
them at a specific unit quantity, which are then packed into cartons and labelled accordingly
for a customer. In many circumstances this may be more inexpensively done at a
distribution centre than by a customer or client.
Transportation: Arranges and coordinates shipments in and out of the distribution centre.
Dedicated product departments: Divisions may be based on handling characteristics or
storage characteristics, for example, refrigerated and non-refrigerated [meat and produce,
frozen, dairy/deli, dry]. Each of these three areas has both shipping and receiving
departments as well.
Distribution centres also have a variety of supporting departments, including human resources,
maintenance/facilities operations, production control, and accounting.

3.4.1 Other Miscellaneous Activities

A Distribution centre typically has a general manager who manages the facility and typically
has a number of department managers who report directly to him/her. Most distribution centres
divide staff into two categories, direct labour and indirect labour. Direct labour staff executes
the distribution processes, while indirect labour staff support the direct labour staff. Each
department is in turn composed of supervisors and warehouse workers.

Lab Exercise Go to website http://www.njtpa.org/plan/Element/SmartGr/Brownfields/
documents/Final_Report_with_photos.pdf

And, gather more information on Assessment Methodology in distribution centres.
The direct labour jobs of a warehouse can include:
Unloader: unloads trucks and breaks down pallets as needed, using various pieces of
power equipment
Receiver: inventories and tags unloaded pallets using a mobile cart computer unit and
printer

Hauler: transports received pallets with equipment from the receiving dock to the storage
racks
Put away driver: puts product into racks with forklift

Lumper: helps unload shipments
Replenishment driver: pulls product from the racks and places it into the “pick slot” with
forklift

Order filler: picks product from the “pick slot” by hand and moves with power equipment
Loader: wraps the order-filled pallets and loads trucks, using equipment
Indirect labour departments and jobs within a warehouse can include:
Supervision: floor (process) supervision, indirect labour supervision
Human resources: employment office and employee benefits

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