IDENTIFY THE GOODS

 Items are identified with the appropriate stock-keeping unit (SKU) number (part number) & the
quantity received recorded

 Dispatch goods to storage

 goods are sorted & put away
 Hold goods

 goods are kept in storage & under proper protection until needed

 Pick goods

 items required from stock must be selected from storage & brought to a marshalling area

MARSHAL THE SHIPMENT

 goods making up a single order are brought together & checked for omissions or
errors; order records are updated

DISPATCH THE SHIPMENT

 orders are packaged, shipping documents are prepared, & goods loaded on the
vehicle

OPERATE AN INFORMATION SYSTEM

A record must be maintained for each item in stock showing the quantity on hand, quantity received,
quantity issued, & location in the warehouse.
INDUSTRY PROFILE
INDUSTRY PROFILE
TYPE OF WAREHOUSING

 Public Warehousing
 Private Warehousing
 Contract Warehousing
 Multi-client Warehousing
 Bonded Warehousing

The global warehousing concept has gained popularity over the last decade as stock pre-positioning
becomes one of the strategies for ensuring a timely response to emergencies. They are usually purpose
built or purpose designed facilities operated by permanent staff that has been trained in all the skills
necessary to run an efficient facility or utilizing 3PL staff and facilities. For such operations, organizations
use, information systems that are computer based, with sophisticated software to help in the planning
and management of the warehouse. The operating situation is relatively stable and management
attention is focused on the efficient and cost effective running of the warehouse operation. Numerous
organizations have centralized pre-positioning units strategically located globally. Some of these offer
extended services to other humanitarian organizations on a cost plus operating charges basis.

FIELD WAREHOUSE

They are usually temporary in nature. They may be housed in a building which was not designed to be
used as a warehouse or in a temporary building/structure, in mobile units such as rub halls, Wii halls and
sometimes are little more than a tent in a field. The initial staff may be a casual workforce that has never
worked in a warehouse before and the inventory system is more likely to be paper based. Often the
situation is initially chaotic, sometimes dangerous coupled with a humanitarian need which may be very
urgent. The management style must therefore be practical and action oriented with a focus on making
the humanitarian goods available as quickly and efficiently as possible, but yet at the same time
accountable.