What is the Starting to End process for Warehouses in Logistics?

From starting to the end, there are a total of 6 processes in the warehouse in Logistics. The First Warehouse process is the Receiving process, second is Put-Away process, third is Storage process, fourth is Picking Process, fifth process is Packing and the End process is Shipping Process.

This below given flowchart will help you understand the flow of all the warehouse processes, before you can get into the in-depth detail.

Now, let's understand each of the six warehouse processes from starting to the end in detail.

1. Receiving Process
2. Put-Away Process
3. Storage Process
4. Picking Process
5. Packing Process
6. Shipping Process

Step 1 - Receiving Process

Receiving process means to receive the Right Product, in the Right Quantity, in the Right Condition and at the Right Time. This is the starting process for Warehousing in Logistics and the most important process.

You cannot go wrong here. In this process, the title of ownership of the items gets transferred to the warehouse. So, it is the responsibility of the warehouse to keep the items in the right condition, before they are delivered to your end customer or to whoever is next in line in your supply chain.

Proper receiving of the items will help you to escape the responsibility of the faulty items and thus avoiding the liability. Start by checking that proper documentation is there along with the items you are receiving. Accuracy in this first step will have a direct impact on the accounting and payout of your goods.

If you fail to identify the faulty items in this first step of Receiving, then your business will end up paying for the faulty items not the manufacturer of the items.

Many Warehouses have equipped themselves with equipment like Package Dimensioner. It helps you to capture the dimensions of the entire package and the weight of the package as well.

Step 2 - Put-Away Process

In this warehouse process, you put away the items which are successfully received at the receiving dock, to the most optimal warehouse storage location.

So you are just moving the goods from the dock to the storage location in this process. But, choosing a poor storage location can hamper the productivity of your warehouse operations entirely.

There are benefits of choosing the most optimal storage location to put away.

• Your cargo gets stored faster and efficiently
• Your travel gets reduced
• You can easily find, track and retrieve for the picking the item
• Safety of all the employees is ensured if done correctly
• Warehouse space utilisation is ensured

Technological Applications like Space Management System, and Put-away mobile applications, finds the most optimal space for the cargo that will help you to build streamlined operations and will ensure maximum space utilisation.

Step 3 - Storage Process

In this warehouse process, as the name suggests, items or goods or cargo is stored in their most appropriate storage space.

Proper storage space utilisation can easily increase your labour efficiency. Right warehouse storage system will help you to utilise the horizontal and vertical spaces in the warehouse.

An efficient storage process is necessary to ensure that you are making full use of all the available space in your warehouse.

You can take the following steps while optimising the storage process in the warehouse.

• Reduce the unnecessary Aisle space
• Invest in the Right Warehouse Storage System
• Pick the right storage method for your Warehouse facility

Step 4 - Picking Process

In this warehouse process, you pick the items from their storage location to fulfil the customer orders.

This is the costliest process in the warehouse. It accounts for 55% of the total operating expenses in the warehouse. You will have to choose the right picking method depending on your warehouse facility.

By optimising this process, you can easily reduce the operating costs significantly and increase your warehouse efficiency.

• Invest in proper wireless networking solution in your entire warehouse
• Deploy technology wearable by the clerks
• Wirelessly view the order picking lists
• Scan the warehouse from time to time
• Access systems in real time

You must always keep in mind that not all orders are created equally and this is why it is important to choose the right picking method in your warehouse. Some order must be prioritised over the others.

• Always be wary of the picker location.
• Improve the picking process by reducing the walking distance of the picker, which can only be possible if you have successfully optimised the put-away process in the warehouse.
• Release the orders based on the picker location
• Also, check if you have the required inventory available to be picked by the picker

In short, you just have to minimise the product touch points.

Step 5 - Packing Process

In the packing process all the picked items will get consolidated in the sales order and get prepared for the shipment to the customer.

You have to ensure that there are minimal damages to the packed items from the time the items leaves the warehouse.

Three things to keep in mind while Packing

1. Packing must be light enough so as to not increase the overall weight of the entire goods
2. Minimal enough to control the packaging cost
3. Good enough to ensure the safety of the item packed.

Otherwise the customer will return the items that got damaged because of poor packing.

You can use softwares that can guide the people in executing the packing tasks. Product dimensioners or scanners can easily automatically determine the right type and amount of packing material for the packaging.

With the help of Technology, you can actually keep your packed items safe and the packaging costs low.

Step 6 - Shipping Process

The End process of the warehouse in logistics, where you dispatch the items/goods from your warehouse to your customer

This process is also the start of the journey of your packed items from your warehouse to the customer.

Successful Shipping process includes the following

• Right sorting of the items
• Right loading of the items
• Dispatching to the right customer
• Travels through the right transit mode
• Gets delivered safely and on time

Also, this below given list of documentation will help you optimise your shipping process.

• Cargo document
• Export Licence
• Shipment Licence
• Bill of Lading
• Inspection Certificate
• Insurance Certificate
• Invoice
• Certificate of Origin
• Advanced Shipping Origin
• Picking the correct Transit Mode for your Shipment

The above list may vary from warehouse to warehouse. Not always you need all the documents mentioned above.

So, I really hope with this post I have properly explained all the Starting to End process for Warehouse in Logistics. If there is anything you think that I have missed, it's my request that you please it down in the comments below. I will be really happy to reply.

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