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Guest Column: The Five Most Common Mistakes when Planning a Distribution Center
With facilities increasing in size, any mistake in design can escalate costs, create unnecessary delays and reduce operating efficiency; planning ahead can help you avoid a DC debacle
Every minute and every dollar counts today. Achieving maximum efficiency is not just a goal; it's a requirement.
In the past, it may have been possible to tolerate certain types of mistakes, but not now. Getting a new distribution center project completed quickly and operating efficiently is a business necessity.
With distribution costs escalating daily, finding more efficient and cost-reducing ways to get products to customers is an absolute must.
A critical component of this process is, of course, the distribution center As these facilities increase in size, some now well over 2 million square feet, any mistakes in planning only escalate the costs, create unnecessary delays and reduce the ultimate operating efficiency of a facility.
Experience suggests that there are five major mistakes in planning a distribution center that, if avoided, can result in a much more satisfactory distribution center project.
Mistake #1. Planning without involving a material handling systems integrator early enough in the process.
Since a distribution center's primary function involves material storage, picking and handling processes and systems, the overall planning for a new facility should include and incorporate these functions from the start.
While this may seem obvious, it doesn't occur as frequently as might be expected. Rather than a deliberate oversight, it often results from focusing on getting the project underway — permitting for the building, obtaining construction bids and starting to show physical evidence the project is underway.
In the past, it may have been possible to tolerate certain types of mistakes, but not now. Getting a new distribution center project completed quickly and operating efficiently is a business necessity.
With distribution costs escalating daily, finding more efficient and cost-reducing ways to get products to customers is an absolute must.
A critical component of this process is, of course, the distribution center As these facilities increase in size, some now well over 2 million square feet, any mistakes in planning only escalate the costs, create unnecessary delays and reduce the ultimate operating efficiency of a facility.
Experience suggests that there are five major mistakes in planning a distribution center that, if avoided, can result in a much more satisfactory distribution center project.
Mistake #1. Planning without involving a material handling systems integrator early enough in the process.
Since a distribution center's primary function involves material storage, picking and handling processes and systems, the overall planning for a new facility should include and incorporate these functions from the start.
While this may seem obvious, it doesn't occur as frequently as might be expected. Rather than a deliberate oversight, it often results from focusing on getting the project underway — permitting for the building, obtaining construction bids and starting to show physical evidence the project is underway.
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