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EVIDENCIA 2: WORKSHOP: UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER

LAYOUT

YULYETH CAMPUZANO BARBOSA

(Apprentice)

VIANNA MARIAN VERACIERTA

(Instructors)

GESTION LOGISTCA

(1667926)

REGIONAL MATERIALS AND TESTING CENTER CAPITAL DISTRISC

SENA
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EVIDENCIA 2: WORKSHOP: UNDERSTANDING THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER

LAYOUT

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

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All distribution centers have three main -

CENTERS and may have additional

specialized areas. The three main areas

are the AREAS dock, also called loading

dock, RECEIVING the area or cargo

deck, STORAGE 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.

1. LOADING DOCK 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.
2. BULK DEPARTMENT 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.
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3. QUALITY ASSURANCE 7 C. This area is in charge of replenishing and

DEPARTMENT storing goods in the store's backroom or
warehouse.
4. TRANSPORTATION 6 D. An area reserved for inventory that is
AREA ready for final assembly or transport.
5. EXPORT DEAPARTMENT 8 E. There are many types of this racking.
However, all types allow for
the storage of palletized materials in
horizontal rows with multiple levels.
6. STAGING LOCATION 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
7. STOCKING 4 G. Arranges and coordinates shipments in
DEPARTMENT and out of the distribution center.
8. PALLET RACKING H. This department performs periodic
checks of random samples of stock to
check quality, including from the
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warehouse racking, goods in, and
returned stock.

Note: In case you have any questions with vocabulary, remember to check the following
dictionaries:

- http://www.businessdictionary.com/
- http://www.linguee.com/
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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
in/on/at them.
2. Organize your pallets evenly in/on/at specific racks in such
way that it is easy for the machinery –forklifts- to access them.
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3. There should be enough space for your equipment or

machinery to move by/near/through the warehouse.
4. The machinery or equipment station must be far/below/close
the shipping and receiving area in order to load and unload
freight trucks.
5. The offices must be located in front of/under/above 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:
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Where is the…? Answer

- Loading area
- Value added services area
The loading area is located next to the
freezer.
The value added service area is located
on the right-hand side of refrigerated
special products and on the left-hand
side of the line loading.

- Inventory control area The inventory control area is located

between the line loading and the batch
picking.

- Quality auditing area The quality audit area is located in the

middle of collection by batch and order
packing.
- Order packing area The order of packing is located at the
front of quality auditing.
- Refrigerated specialty The refrigerated specialty products area
products area can be found in front of high-value
products.
- Put-to-store area The put-to-store area is on the right side
of the order packing.

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.

Check the example:

Your opinion:
I disagree. I think Distribution
Centers must have a specific design
that helps the regular non-changing
flow of goods.
The layout in your warehouse
must be flexible PROS:
-With flexible Distribution
Centers you can ensure your
facilities are ready for anything that
comes in the future.
CONS:
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-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:

racks into your warehouse as The pallet racks that are
possible necessary can be placed as long
as enough space is left for the use
of machinery and the passage of
personnel without putting the
workers at risk.

PROS:
It will be able to take advantage of
the sufficient spaces of the
warehouse and thus be able to
have greater order.
CONS:
If the pallet racks are not properly
organized and marked in the
warehouse, failures may occur
when the goods are ready.

Having an aisle map will help you Your opinion:

validate that the correct item is in the If I agree that there is a map at the
assigned location. beginning of the corridor and to
complement it, the pallet racks or
shelves of the warehouse are
marked.
PROS:
With the location of the maps in
the corridors it will help the
workers to find the merchandise
more easily.
CONS:
If the corridors are not organized
with the merchandise indicated
on the map, there will be faults in
the deliveries and also delays.

Provide for the level of automation Your opinion The automation is

that can be cost-justified based on important for the company since it
your particular operation and cost allows him to advance and to have
structure. royal real time information
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PROS The level of automation

must insure that the benefit
should correspond to the cost
since otherwise it is not
necessary to to use
CONS The cost there affects the
expenses before a company
which generaria fewer earnings
since this serious an added value

1. Sharing your opinion

The design of a distribution center withthe traditional approach works for someprojects, i
nconsistent results leave thebusiness vulnerable to costly failures. Today's supply chain
companies arelooking at the operational designapproach, as evaluations and decisions
made during the initial design processwill drive implementation. The futureresult must b
e based on a detailedbusiness case that is credible anddemonstrates the need for chan
ge thatgenerates innovation to generateresults of real information compliancein real tim
e, easy to consult bycustomers and the logistics process.