Proper Layout Planning for better Warehouse Inventory Control

A proper layout planning in the warehouse is crucial towards better inventory control and management. Here is a classic example:

Original Layout of the Warehouse:

Here are the summaries:

1. Storage capacity: about 1,540 pallets
2. Different color zone represent storage of different products (in terms of properties, packaging etc)
3. Major problems due to poor layout:

• Very messy and goods are being stored anywhere with space available.
  
• Similar product being stored at different zones due to unbalance of storage space being allocated. Operator has to search multiple areas in order to get the right item.
  
• No access at the end of each storage row (Dead-end) -- it only allows ONE-way access. Forklift driver unable to cross to next row easily if he couldn't find the right product within the same row.
  
• Picking productivity is poor.
  
• Operator always pick the goods near to the office (shorter distance and more turning space)
• Poor First In First Out (FIFO) practice -- causing high over shelf-life problem.
• No specific area for goods receiving and delivery respectively which resulted in high delivery mistake and poor inventory accuracy etc.
  

Revised Layout of the Warehouse:

Here are the summaries:

1. Storage capacity: about 1,500 pallets.
2. To clearly segregate the storage zones based on nature of packing/property/size/weight.
3. Provide access from both sides of the storage racking row.
4. Forklift driver can drive freely along the racking row to pick the right item.
5. Higher picking productivity.
6. Specific area for Receiving and Delivery respectively. No mixed up.
7. Inventory accuracy improved tremendously etc.


Conclusions:

Obviously, a proper planned layout for warehouse is crucial towards better inventory control and management. It improves productivity, accuracy, and more important is, operators work easier.

Please refer to the Case Studies at estockcard.com for more examples.

Product Inventory Control with eStockCard Business

eStockCard can be very useful and powerful product identification tool and helps firm to shorten its receiving inspection process. The following video demonstrates how a firm can benefit from eStockCard to improve their operational efficiencies during product receiving and inspection.

Inventory Shelf Life Control

Shelf life is the length of time that food, drink, drug, chemical, pharmaceuticals or medicine are given before they are considered unsuitable for sale or consumption. It is the recommendation of time that products can be stored, during which the defined quality of a specified proportion of the goods remains acceptable under expected (or specified) conditions of distribution, storage and display.

Stringent shelf life control is significant importance and crucial in many industries such as pharmaceutical, food, drink, chemical and meat distribution to ensure their products are keeping at best freshness and without degrading to unacceptable levels.

A viable shelf life control system within the organization must be able to accomplish the following scopes:-

1. Identifying and maintaining a database of all items that have “Shelf-Life Limitation”

2. Able to capture all appropriate information, such as lot no, batch no, receiving information, expiration date, manufacturing data and many specific information

3. What products in your inventory have a limited shelf life, quantities on hands

4. Monitor those products with a scheduled frequency that will ensure that no product will remain in stock or be issued beyond its shelf life

eStockCard has been designed and empowered with superior shelf life control capability that helps firms to achieve their goal. More info, please visit the following video how a pharmaceutical company can reap the benefits of deploying eStockCard to achieve better control in their distribution of products.

Inventory Data Inconsistency

Sales Executive : Why didn't product ABC ship to customer XYZ yesterday?

Warehouse : Our stock records couldn't find it.

Sales Executive : My accounting records show that we have 500 units on hand.

Warehouse : Oops .....


Sound familiar to you?

Is your INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM adequate?

Regardless of the size of organization, adequate inventory CONTROL system can increase the competitiveness and ultimately increase their profit and customer satisfaction.

Different systems ranging from simple to sophisticate are to be implemented in the workplaces mainly depends on the scale and size of the organizations.

For small or mid-sized business entities, most common adopted systems are

1. Paper, Paper and more Paper
2. Excel Spreadsheets
3. Home grown software
4. Accounting software

For medium to large-scaled business entities, very expensive and sophisticated
systems such as

1. Automatic Locator System
2. Warehouse Management System
3. Warehouse Control System
4. ERP System

Regardless of the degree of complexities of the systems, can this system meet your
expectation and achieved the desired goals?

Several aspects must be evaluated after the system is implemented :-

1. Easy to use for everyone and all levels? Not only for top floor but also for shop floor.

2. Time and resource to implement the system. Powerful but complex system will require more
resource such as time and staff.

3. Practical and usefulness. For instances, can you obtain real-time inventory data? Can you
obtain good multi-dimensional analysis? Can you obtain data for crucial business decision if
you are not in the office?

4. Can you achieve your ultimate goals - CONTROL? For instances, FIFO control, Shelf life
control, product serialization control.

5. Overall cost.


Chronos eStockCard is designed to meet all these expectations - Easy, Practical, Powerful and Economical.