EVIDENCIA 2: WORKSHOP: UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER

LAYOUT

LEONARD JESÙS CANTILLO ALTAHONA

(APRENDIZ)

INSTRUCTOR: VIVIANA LÒPEZ

GESTIÓN LOGÍSTICA
FICHA DE CARACTERIZACION: 1749875

CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DEL MOBILIARIO.

ANTIOQUIA, MAYO DE 2019
 Workshop: Understanding the distribution center layout

Your warehouse or distribution center layout greatly affects the performance of your
business. In fact, without a properly configured warehouse layout, you could face
capacity issues and even a decrease in productivity.
Complete the following activities in order to understand the importance of the layout
when designing a Distribution Center or warehouse.

1. Getting familiar with Distribution Centers

a. Read the following description of a Distribution Center and complete it with

the words from the box.

STORAGE RECEIVING AREAS CENTERS

All distribution centers have three

main areas and may have additional
specialized areas. The three main
areas are the receiving dock, also
called loading dock, the storage area
or cargo deck, and the shipping dock.
In small organizations it is possible
for the receiving and shipping
functions to occur side by side, but in
large centers, separating these
areas simplifies the process.
b. Read and match. Read the
definition for each of the areas that a
distribution center may include and match the definition with the name of
such area.
 b. Read and match. Read the definition for each of the areas that a
distribution center may include and match the definition with the name of
such area.
1. LOADING DOCK
2. BULK DEPARTMENT
3. QUALITY ASSURANCE
DEPARTMENT
4. TRANSPORTATION
AREA
5. EXPORT DEAPARTMENT 8
6. STAGING LOCATION
7. STOCKING
DEPARTMENT
8. PALLET RACKING
2 A. This area controls and ships large. This
department usually includes forklift truck
drivers to load containers and wagons,
and man-up or combi forklift trucks to
unload full pallets from warehouse
racking.
5 B. This department controls orders which
are leaving the country of the distribution
center. This department is almost
identical in function to a bulk department;
however, workers in this department
build pallets conforming to
different standards and sizes.
7 C. This area is in charge of replenishing and
storing goods in the store's backroom or
warehouse.
6 D. An area reserved for inventory that is
ready for final assembly or transport.
E. There are many types of this racking.
However, all types allow for
the storage of palletized materials in
horizontal rows with multiple levels.
1 F. This is an area of the warehouse where
goods vehicles (usually road or rail) are
loaded and unloaded. This area usually
includes pallet wrapping workers,
conveyor belt unloaders, forklift drivers,
and administrative staff
4 G. Arranges and coordinates shipments in
and out of the distribution center.
3 H. This department performs periodic
checks of random samples of stock to
check quality, including from the
warehouse racking, goods in, and
returned stock.
 2. Describing a Distribution Center

Following, you’ll see the very basic design of any Distribution Center. Check the image and
answer the questions:

Fuente: SENA
A) According to the image, complete the following paragraph by selecting the
best preposition for each case:
While creating a layout for your warehouse or distribution center can
be considered a big task, it doesn't have to be complicated. The
following tips can help you navigate the process of laying out your
warehouse and make the most out of your space.

1. Make sure you have enough pallets to store all your goods on
them.
2. Organize your pallets evenly in specific racks in such way that
it is easy for the machinery –forklifts- to access them.
 3. There should be enough space for your equipment or
machinery to move through the warehouse.
4. The machinery or equipment station must be far the shipping
and receiving area in order to load and unload freight trucks.
5. The offices must be located in front of the warehouse
racking for you to supervise the activity within the warehouse.

Let’s check another example of a distribution center. Pay attention to the different
areas within this distribution center and answer the questions below:

Fuente: SENA
 B) Write sentences to describe the previous distribution center. Do not forget to
use prepositions to describe their location. Check the example:

WHERE IS THE…? ANSWER

- LOADING AREA The loading area is located next to the
freezer.
- VALUE ADDED The Value added services area is in front
SERVICES AREA of the line loading
- INVENTORY CONTROL The Inventory control area is next to
AREA lineloading
- QUALITY AUDITING Quality auditing area is within Inventory
AREA control area
- ORDER PACKING AREA The Order packing area is Opposite the
Put-to-store
- REFRIGERATED The Refrigerated specialty products area is
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Among the Value added services area and
AREA high value products area
- PUT-TO-STORE AREA The Put-to-store area is next to reverse
logistics
 3. Critical thinking – Making decisions

A) Pros and Cons. Read the following statements about Distribution Center
Design and decide in your agree or disagree with the statement. Do some
research on the topic and provide pros and cons for each statement.

The layout in your warehouse must Your opinion:

be flexible I disagree. I think Distribution
Centers must have a specific design
that helps the regular non-changing
flow of goods.

PROS:
-With flexible Distribution
Centers you can ensure your
facilities are ready for anything that
comes in the future.
CONS:
-Flexible Distribution Centers tends
to be more disorganized. It is hard to
keep control of the changes.
Save space: cram as many pallet Your opinion: I agree As long as it
racks into your warehouse as does not harm the normal
possible development of machinery and
personnel.
PROS: helps to take more
advantage of the distribution center
CONS: hinders good management
within CEDI

Having an aisle map will help you Your opinion: It is perfect to locate,
validate that the correct item is in the verify and load the desired item
assigned location. efficiently
PROS: The aisle maps not only
facilitates the location of the article,
but also to propose ideas for a new
organization
 CONS: can hinder the good work of
the staff, since it will be attached to a
map and not to your experience
Provide for the level of automation Your opinion The person in charge
that can be cost-justified based on must study the areas that need this
your particular operation and cost process in a more relevant way
structure.
PROS: Improves the flow of
processes and reduction of steps to
perform a task
CONS: Care must be taken to find
the practical way, it can lead to
capital expenditures