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The hot topics and issues will be part of the agenda and our small/large group discussions at the 2008 Warehouse Benchmarking ShareGroup. This ShareGroup is a peer-to-peer exchange of ideas, strategies, thoughts, and opinions on operational challenges and issues. Everyone will have an opportunity to add to this list of other questions or topics that they would like to have covered during the ShareGroup as well. View the general agenda for the Warehouse ShareGroup. To register, visit our registration form. Contact Jeff Barry via email or call 804-740-8743 with any questions or concerns.
FREIGHT COSTS CONTROL
INBOUND
- How has the growing issue of Port Security affected inventory management?
- Imported vs. Domestic vendors trends and issues
- Vendor compliance issues – more pressure to meet future technology opportunities
- What should be included in a Vendor Compliance program? How are charge
backs handled? What is the magnitude of charge backs? Where does the function report in the organization?
- Prepaid vs. collect
- Use of inbound freight management companies
- How should Receiving productivity be measured? What are some best practices in Receiving to improve efficiency?
OUTBOUND
- What changes are being made to react to higher transportation costs? What’s new? What is working for you?
- Zone skipping/consolidators – do they work? When should they be used? Which ones are doing a good job?
- Rate shopping software – What vendors are being used? Which ones work well?
- Canadian shipping – any suggestions for improving the process?
- Use of outbound freight management companies – any experience with them?
- Good or Bad? What about freight bill auditing services?
- Marketing programs and their impact on shipping
- Free Shipping
- Class action law suits – overcharges and definition of terms
- Do you consider transportation issues when you design your warehouse layout and processes?
STAFFING
- How are forecasts used to develop a staffing plan? How are variances handled in the forecast? Are WEB orders forecasted? Are forecasts multi channel?
- Staffing – How are seasonal peaks handled? What happens to the ratio of supervisors to staff during peak? What is a good ratio at peak and non peak times? How are additional management staff required during peak obtained?
- What is happening to your seasonal spike?
- What things are being done to increase employee retention and loyalty?
- What incentives are used? What works? What results are attained?
- What is working for recruitment?
- What training is provided? How is training provided? How much is provided?
- Any use of pre-employment testing? To what success?
- Has the increase in internet orders changed your staffing needs and processes?
- What do you see in the overall workforce in your area? What does the future hold? What can you do to address the increasing shortage?
- With wage rates ranging from $7.00 to $14 per hour and up, what planning do you do for facility location selection?
- How can you face the task of staffing for a short period of 24/7 operation in the warehouse?
WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
- Who are the main vendors?
- Is there a mid-tier WMS product?
- What WMS vendors are either being used or considered for future use? Any comparisons or comments on the different packages?
- What do they cost?
- Changes in software vendor world
- Integration issues
- How to determine if a WMS is right for you and what is the payback? When should you consider a WMS?
- How should you select a WMS?
- Any issues with RFID in the warehouse?
FACILITY UTILIZATION
- How can seasonal outside warehouses be used effectively?
- What are you doing to increase the utilization and capacity of your warehouses?
- How should capacity and utilization be measured?
- What are guidelines for clear stacking height, aisle widths, dock area depth, etc.
PICKING METHODS
- What picking methods do you currently use or are considering for the future?
(PICK TO LIGHT, VOICE PICKING, CART BIN, PICK TO SHIPPING CARTON, RF PICKING, BATCH PICK AND SORT, PICK AND PASS, ZONE PICK)
- Do you use some type of a “Hot Pick” zone?
- Do you verify the picks? At picking? At packing? Other?
- How do you manage slot replenishment? How can it be done in a 24/7 operation?
- What special handling techniques are used for non-conveyable items?
- What slotting tools are used? What is your slotting philosophy? Does it change during Peak Season? How often do you re-slot? What are the differences in techniques for slotting for on-line companies?
- What procedural differences are there between hard and soft lines in the warehouse?
- How do you determine what the right level of automation is or what method should be employed?
- How is product cube and weight used in the fulfillment process to help efficiency? What issues arise when you use product cube?
INVENTORY CONTROL
- Cycle counts vs. physical inventories (wall to wall)
- When do you consider having multiple warehouses? How should they be used?
- When do you consider splitting warehouses by business channel? By geographic
areas?
- What is the impact on the warehouse if you decide to dedicate your inventory by business channel? Virtual vs. physical separation?
MEASUREMENTS AND REPORTING
- What are the key metrics that you should measure in the warehouse? How should they be used and communicated? What frequency of reporting works best? Are there different levels of reporting information required.
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
- As a result of increased pressure on improving service level standards, some companies are employing a “Mystery Shopper” to objectively evaluate how well you are taking care of your customers. Do any of you do this today?
- There has always been a communication gap between marketing, Merchandising, and warehouse functions. What have you done to improve the situation and how is it working?
- Is anyone currently combining your purchasing power with others to lower costs for the acquisition of supplies and services? What are the implications and issues?
- Is there anything new in the processing of returns? What is being done with outside return processors? How well do they work?
- Are there any other issues we have not discussed that arise out of the emergence of the multi-channel business?
Schedule
Salt Lake City, Utah
Monday, March 17, 2008 |
| 8:00-8:30 AM |
ShareGroup Convenes – Little America Hotel
Continental Breakfast in Conference Room |
| 8:30-8:45 AM |
Welcome and Introductory Comments
Backcountry.com
F. Curtis Barry & Company |
| 8:45-9:15 AM |
Data Review and Summary of Trends |
| 9:15-10:00 AM |
Group Discussion |
| 10:00-10:15 AM |
Break |
| 10:15-11:45 AM |
Small Group Roundtables |
| 11:45-12:00 PM |
Pre-Tour Discussion |
| 12:00-1:00 PM |
Lunch |
| 1:00 – 1:15 PM |
Travel to Backcountry.com’s Distribution Center |
| 1:20-4:40 PM |
Tour and break in Backcountry.com’s Distribution Center |
| 4:40-5:00 PM |
Return to Little America Hotel |
| 5:00-5:30 PM |
Small Group/Tour Discussions
Discuss and document overall audit findings for tomorrow’s reporting |
| 5:30 – 6:30 PM |
Break |
| 6:30-8:00 PM |
Reception at Little America Hotel
Dinner on Your Own |
Salt Lake City, Utah
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 |
| 8:00-8:30 AM |
Continental Breakfast in conference room |
| 8:30-9:15 AM |
Report Audit Findings to the ShareGroup members |
| 9:15-10:00 AM |
Small Group Roundtables |
| 10:00-10:15 AM |
Break |
| 10:15-12:00 PM |
Small Group Roundtables |
| 12:00-12:45 PM |
Lunch |
| 12:45-1:45 PM |
Small Group Roundtables |
| 1:45-2:15 PM |
Large Group Discussion – Open Topics |
| 2:15-2:30 PM |
Wrap Up and Evaluations |
| 2:30 PM |
Adjourn |
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