Warehouse
Receiving, storage, inventory control, picking, palletizing, container stuffing and stripping, and consolidation: How-To guides and Explainers built from primary sources, each with the date it was last checked.
How-To guides
- How to build a stable, shippable pallet loadLearn how to build a palletized unit load that holds its shape, stays inside the pallet edges, is secured, and meets wood packaging rules for export.
- How to receive and check inbound freight at the dockLearn how to check inbound freight at the dock: confirm the paperwork, inspect seals and units, scan labels, and record discrepancies before put-away.
- How to stuff and secure cargo in a containerLearn how to load, secure and seal cargo in a container so it arrives safely, using the IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code and the SOLAS verified gross mass rule.
- How to strip (devan) a shipping container safelyYou will be able to check, ventilate, test and empty a shipping container in a safe order, from seal check to clean-out.
- How to consolidate LCL cargo into a full containerComing soon
- How to plan container weight distribution and verify gross massComing soon
- How to run a cycle countComing soon
- How to set up an ABC analysis of inventoryComing soon
- How to calculate safety stock and a reorder pointComing soon
- How to label pallets with a GS1 SSCCComing soon
- How to meet OSHA forklift operator training rulesComing soon
- How to record damage and shortages when unloading freightComing soon
Explainers
- What a warehouse management system (WMS) doesA WMS is warehouse software that organizes receiving, storage, picking, packing and shipping, and keeps inventory records current.
- AMRs vs AGVs in the warehouseHow automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) differ in routing, flexibility and use, and which safety standard applies.
- Cross-docking explainedCross-docking moves inbound freight straight to outbound trucks with little or no storage, and it depends on tight timing, staffing and dock safety.
- FIFO, FEFO and LIFO: stock rotation rules explainedComing soon
- Picking methods: discrete, batch, zone and wave pickingComing soon
- Container freight stations: LCL consolidation and deconsolidationComing soon
- Container stuffing and stripping: blocking, bracing, lashing and dunnageComing soon
- Pallet types and sizes: GMA, EUR and ISO palletsComing soon
- Inventory turnover and days of inventory explainedComing soon
- Slotting: where each item lives in a warehouseComing soon
- Dock scheduling and yard management explainedComing soon
- What a 3PL warehouse does: storage, fulfillment and value-added servicesComing soon
- Cold chain warehousing explainedComing soon
- Bonded warehouse vs foreign-trade zoneComing soon
Briefings
- Cutter & Buck's Texas AutoStore DC targets 1,256 bins an hourCutter & Buck's Texas AutoStore site targets 1,256 bins an hour from 50,502 bins, drawing on lessons from its Renton system.
- Zalando returns robots live at two EU sites, no productivity data yetCEVA, Zalando and Sereact run AI returns robots at sites in Germany and Poland, but no productivity figures disclosed yet.
- Maersk's 1.1m sq ft Singapore DC automates storage for Asia PacificMaersk's new 1.1m sq ft Singapore DC relies on automated storage and retrieval, which Maersk says reduces manual handling and speeds order fulfilment.
- AI robots handle Zalando fashion returns in Germany, PolandCEVA, Zalando and Sereact run AI robots on fashion returns at two live European sites, but no productivity result is yet published.
- Walmart's 900,000 sq ft Stockton hub cuts fulfillment to five stepsWalmart's 900,000-square-foot Stockton center cuts its fulfillment process to five steps for West Coast orders.
- DHL's Carter robots add 30% productivity in Mexico so farDHL Supply Chain says its Carter robots have lifted Mexico productivity 30% so far, against over 60% reported in North America.