Evaluation of the effectiveness of any manufacturing enterprise can be given by the level of cost of all operations carried out in it. And this indicator to a large extent depends on the organization of logistics processes for the movement of material flows, which include components and materials, semi-finished products, etc.
Relatively recently, business leaders focused on the rational use of equipment, machinery and labor. At the same time, much less effort was made to improve the logistics processes for the promotion of material resources. A completely different picture could be observed in highly developed countries. Here, for many years now, all objects of labor have been in the focus of attention of managers who monitor the efficiency of the logistics processes of production. All this allows to achieve minimization of expenses and maximization of income, which is the most important activity of any commercial structure.
The value of the warehouse in the enterprise
Ifconsider the logistics chain of any commercial structure, it becomes clear that the movement of material flows is impossible without the concentration and storage of stocks necessary for the production of products in specially designated areas. That's what warehouses are for. They are voluminous premises designed to accommodate material values.
Any movement through the warehouse is impossible without the cost of embodied and live cargo. And this, in turn, refers to investments that increase the value of goods. That is why issues related to the functioning of warehouses have a significant impact on the overall logistics process of the enterprise. And this can be seen in the promotion of material flows, distribution costs and the use of transport.
At large modern production facilities, a warehouse is a complex technical structure, consisting of numerous interconnected elements. At the same time, it not only has a certain structure, but also performs a number of functions that contribute to the transformation of material flows passing through it. In addition, the warehouse accumulates, processes and distributes existing goods among consumers. This complex technical structure sometimes has a variety of parameters, space-planning and technical solutions, as well as various equipment designs.
Warehouses are distinguished by a wide variety of incoming and processed goods. But at the same time, this structure is only one of the many elementslogistics business process, which dictates the necessary conditions for the movement of material flows. That is why the consideration of the warehouse should take place not isolated from the entire production. After all, this element is an integrated component of the overall logistics chain. Only with this approach is it possible to successfully ensure the fulfillment of the main functions assigned to the warehouse, as well as achieve the required level of profitability.
Rules for creating a warehouse system
It should be borne in mind that at different enterprises the logistics process of the movement of material flows can have significant differences. This is due to the difference in the parameters of the places of storage of components and raw materials, as well as all their elements and the structure itself, based on the relationship of these components.
When organizing a logistics process in a warehouse, it is necessary to be guided by the principle of making an individual decision. Only such an approach can make the work of this unit as profitable as possible. And this requires a preliminary analysis of logistics processes in matters of cargo handling, not only inside, but also outside the warehouse. At the same time, it is important to limit the range of possibilities to practical and prudent indicators. That is, the logistics process should provide only economically justified costs in the form of the implementation of any technical and technological solution associated with financial investments.
When determining the necessary investment, it is important to proceed fromexpediency and rationality of the decision taken, without regard to fashion trends and technical capabilities offered on the market. After all, the main purpose of the warehouse was and remains the concentration of stocks, their further storage, as well as ensuring the rhythmic and uninterrupted supply of consumers.
Organization of the movement of materials
The logistics process in the warehouse is very complicated. It requires complete coordination in the performance of the functions of supplying stocks, processing cargo, and also distributing existing values. In fact, the warehouse logistics process is an activity that covers almost all the main areas of the enterprise. This becomes especially clear if we consider this issue at the micro level. That is why the warehouse logistics process is an activity that, in terms of its functionality, is much wider than the technological process. However, it includes:
- initial supply of necessary stocks;
- control over the supply of goods;
- unloading and further acceptance of stocks;
- intra-warehouse movement and transshipment of goods; - necessary warehousing and further storage of received stocks;
- commissioning (picking) of orders received from customers, as well as further shipment of goods, their transportation and forwarding;
- collection and delivery of empty containers;
- control over the delivery of orders;
- maintenance of the warehouse information service system;
- provision of services in the form of securing customer requests.
Any logistics process, including in a warehouse, should be considered in the interdependence and interconnection of its constituent elements. With this approach, it becomes possible to coordinate the activities of all services. As for the warehouse, here the management of logistics processes should become the basis for planning the movement of goods, as well as exercising control over their movement.
Conventionally, the entire process of creating inventories can be divided into three components:
1. Procurement service coordination operations.
2. Operations required for cargo handling and documentation.3. Operations that coordinate the work of the sales department.
If we consider the first part of this logistics process, then it takes place in the course of supply activities. The main way to implement it is to control the supply of stocks. The main task of supplying material assets is to provide the warehouse with materials or goods, taking into account the possibilities of their processing in a given period of time and to fully satisfy the orders received from consumers. In this regard, when determining the need for purchase volumes, it is necessary to focus on the work of the sales service and the capacity of warehouse space.
Carrying out accounting and control over the receipt and dispatch of orders will allow the most rhythmic processing of cargo flows. In addition, this will maximize the use of warehouse capacity, reduce the shelf life of materials and increase the turnover of goods.
Unloading and subsequentcargo acceptance
Without these operations, all logistics processes at the enterprise are impossible. In their implementation, one should be guided by those delivery conditions that are available in the concluded contract. Under the vehicle indicated in the document (container, truck or trailer), the corresponding places of unloading, as well as all the necessary equipment, are prepared.
Modern warehouses usually have road or rail ramps, as well as container yards. It is on them that unloading work is carried out. For maximum efficiency of this process, it is important to properly equip such places, as well as the correct selection of the appropriate equipment. This will allow unloading in the shortest possible time and with the most minimal losses. This will also reduce the downtime of the vehicle, and therefore reduce the distribution costs.
Operations carried out at this stage of the logistics process include:
- unloading materials from vehicles;
- monitoring the compliance of the physical volume of the order with its documentary description;
- registration of the received cargo through the information system available at the enterprise;- definition of a cargo storage unit.
Internal movement
In the planning of logistics processes, the distribution of received inventory items into different zones of the warehouse should be provided. For example, from the unloading ramp, the cargo can be delivered to the place of its acceptance. Then it is moved to where it will remain in storage or will beto be completed. After that, the material or goods can be fed back to the loading ramp. Such operations are performed using lifting and transport mechanisms or machines.
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Intra-warehouse movement of goods takes place with a minimum length in time and space. In this case, through "direct-flow" routes are used. Such a logistics scheme will eliminate the repeated return of cargo to any of the warehouse areas, as well as increase the efficiency of all operations. When planning such transportation, it is worth considering that the number of transshipments from one type of mechanism to another should be as small as possible.
Storage
This process should also be taken into account when planning the logistics process. Warehousing is the stacking and placement of the received cargo for the purpose of its further storage. At the same time, such actions should be as rational as possible. To do this, it is important to use the entire volume of the storage area as efficiently as possible. And this is possible with the optimal choice of storage equipment, which should take into account the specifics of the cargo and maximize the area and height of the premises. At the same time, do not forget about the working aisles that need to be arranged for the normal movement of lifting and transport mechanisms and machines.
Storage
In order to organize the cargo in the warehouse, a system of its address placement is used. Moreover, it can be fixed or free. In the first case, the cargo is placed in strictly designated areas.places. In the second - in any zones available for this.
After the cargo is placed in storage, it is necessary to ensure the appropriate conditions for this, as well as constantly monitor the availability of stocks using the information system available at the enterprise.
Order picking and shipping
The processes of the supply chain lead the work of the warehouse to the preparation of the goods available on it in accordance with the requests of consumers and its further dispatch. All these activities include:
- receiving a selection list (customer's order);
- viewing and selecting goods in accordance with the received application;
- order picking;
- packing goods into containers;
- preparation of documents to accompany the prepared order;
- control of registration and completion of the application;
- preparation of a batch of orders with the issuance of waybills;- placement of goods in vehicle.
Commissioning of all orders is made in the warehouse in the picking area. At the same time, the preparation and subsequent execution of the necessary documentation are carried out using the information system. What in this case helps to simplify the order picking process as much as possible? Used address storage system for materials. When applied, the picking list immediately indicates the place where the stocked goods are located, which reduces the time of ordering and allows you to track its release from the warehouse.
If picking is done usinginformation system, this greatly facilitates the process of combining all cargoes into the most economical batch, which allows you to effectively use the existing vehicle. At the same time, it is important to develop an optimal logistics route for the delivery of orders.
Transportation and forwarding
Such actions can be carried out both by the warehouse and directly by the customer. The use of the latter option can justify itself only if the purchased lot is equal in capacity to the vehicle. However, the most common delivery option is when it is centrally carried out by the warehouse. In this case, logistics chains are developed taking into account the optimal routes and unitization of goods. This allows you to minimize transport costs and deliver the goods in smaller and more frequent batches.
Collecting and delivery of containers
Such operations play a big role in expenditure items. Containers or goods carriers in the form of containers, pallets, etc., as a rule, are reusable.
That's why they need to be returned to the sender. This process can be as effective as possible only if the optimal amount of packaging is known and the schedule of transportation between the warehouse and consumers is met.
Information service
The connecting core of all services involved in warehousing is information flow management. However, this system can beindependent or composite. The first option takes place in mechanized warehouses. In automated services, the information system is part of the overall program that exists in the enterprise. The second option allows you to manage all material flows as efficiently as possible.
The information service system includes:
- processing of all incoming documentation;
- issuance of proposals for orders to suppliers;
- management of the processes of receiving and sending cargo;
- control over the availability of stocks available in the warehouse;
- receiving orders from consumers;
- documenting the shipment;
- dispatching assistance, which includes the optimal selection of shipment lots, as well as delivery routes;
- processing customer accounts;
- exchange of received information with the management of the enterprise, as well as with operating personnel;- receiving and processing statistical information.
Conclusion
Rationally conducted logistics warehouse process is the key to the profitability of this service. That is why, when organizing such promotion of stocks, as a rule, they achieve:
- rational allocation of working areas for an efficient cargo handling process;
- increasing the capacity of the warehouse through the rational use of space;
- reducing the fleet of used lifting and transport mechanisms by acquiring universal equipment; - reduce operating costs while minimizing intra-warehouse routes;
-reducing transport costs through centralized deliveries;
- maximizing the use of all the possibilities available to the information system.
