We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webcasts
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • COVID-19
    • Events & Webinars
    • Business Resources
    • Industry Announcements
    • Health & Safety
    • Op-Ed
Home » Conveyance: A beginning and an end

Conveyance: A beginning and an end

Here’s a lean, speed-of-flow strategy for distribution centers and warehouses. 

March 29, 2017
Howard Coleman
No Comments

If your company has growth aspirations, then a modern design of your distribution center and/or warehouses requires that you enable “speed-of-flow” to obtain increased order throughput velocity, and to accommodate a variety of SKU’s.  Simultaneously, materials handling and storage equipment need to deliver a minimization of congestion, be able to expedite shipping, and bypass unnecessary pick processes – what I call “early exit.”


Let’s start with some basics…


Why don’t I observe more conveyors in wholesale-distribution warehouse facilities?  In other words; the shortest line between “a beginning and an end.” Is it really because there is a preference to see a picker walk or transport material all the way to a staging area, from wherever the last pick was? Now, consider that a warehouse associate spends approximately 70 percent of his/her time walking. That actually means about 2.5 hours/day is spent performing “time-on-task” activities. Think about that! Now, there’s an opportunity to employ a lean, speed-of-flow strategy.
Where do conveyors come into play?


Conveyance systems can optimize speed-of-flow under a variety of circumstances and particularly if you are pursuing a growth in e-commerce (where you often experience more frequent, smaller orders). Don’t struggle to keep up.


If you have done some high velocity “hits” analysis, then you probably have located (slotted) — or should locate — those “top sellers” into its own pick zone – a “high velocity pick zone.” Then, convey it!


If you have a variety of storage media (standard shelving, pallet racks, flow-racks, etc.) then you may be relying on — or should be relying on — different pick methods (batch, zone, wave, etc.) to accommodate piece picking, varying carton sizes, split cartons, and products with specific or unusual physical characteristics. Those varying types of product picks need to have an “outlet” to be consolidated with other products. Divert it.

Convey it!


Are you allowing for some orders to “early exit?” Particularly where discrete order processing is still the primary picking practice, why have a picker walk all the way through a warehouse and/or all the way to a staging area? Divert it. Convey it!


Appropriate conveyance increases the opportunity for packing and checking efficiencies by combining picked product into fewer shipping containers, i.e.; less cube. 


Conveyance solutions


Today’s flexible conveyance solutions can satisfy, by appropriate design scaling, every order fulfillment requirement, from polybags to more rigid totes, cartons of all sizes, and pallets. For larger companies, with greater volumes, conveyors can be combined with sortation equipment (another speed-of-flow concept) that can direct products/orders to an appropriate shipment preparation/or staging area. 


Note: I’ve observed that even a “simple length” of conveyor through a strategic section of your warehouse can dramatically cut down on “walk time.” It’s a significant, cost-effective solution.


Reimagine your warehouse design…go for it!


If you have growth aspirations, and a plan in motion, then modernizing warehouse design including conveyor utilization will, I guarantee, become more important to your organization’s focus on future cost avoidance, competitive advantage and to your customer’s satisfaction. 

Best Practices Business Commercial Distributor Management Residential Technology Trends Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Related Articles

    Barbara C. Higgens: The End of an Era

    End-of-Year Trends

    Is Robotics an Option for Smaller Companies?

Howard coleman
Howard Coleman

What are the impacts of a well-managed supply chain?

More from this author
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular

  • James “Lukey” LaPorte Passes Away at His Home in Elmwood Park

  • Plumbing, HVACR Bright Spots in 2021

  • Operating Commercial Buildings with Confidence in the Age of COVID

  • Facets of Austin opens its renovated showroom designed to showcase only the products it sells with no distractions.

Featured Video

Sureseal video

SureSeal Floor Drain Trap Seal

Industry Events

  • 28Apr

    2021 BLUE HAWK Annual Conference

    Austin, TX
  • 12Oct

    BOILER 2021 – ABMA Boiler Technology Conference & Expo

    Dallas, TX
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw01 2021
    Learn More
  • Pe01 2021
    Learn More
  • Phc01 2021
    Learn More
  • Es07 2020
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2021 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing