SupplyChainNetwork.com

Ever walk through a distribution center and look down a line of rack? What do you see? Lots of steel, lots of product on trays or pallets, and lots of…air. We spoke about the disadvantages of shipping air in cube utilization for pallets, so you probably know that storing air isn’t such a great plan [...]

In automated distribution there is always a new product that will revolutionize the industry. But most companies are still using fairly standard and traditional distribution tactics. So what will be the tipping point for whole scale automation and product-to-person distribution? Space? As land becomes more expensive and environmental concerns over development increase, will lack of [...]

Space is a major focus in the supply chain, whether in the distribution center, in transportation, or in the store. But when you consider what takes up space, usually you only think of product. You rarely think of what totes add to shipping and storage demands. So let’s look at the different totes available and [...]

The first question is what is a System Pallet? A system pallet is a cut-to-size pallet that is specifically designed for use in an Automated System. It is better made than a vendor pallet and more durable. Oddly, broken pieces of pallets do not increase the efficiency of an automated material handling system, so here [...]

So, you have decided to pursue automating your distribution center. Whether you work with with a system integrator or a consultant you will need to provide them information so they can design the best automated warehouse for your company. However if you currently have a manual system you may not have an easy way to [...]