Workshop: Understanding the distribution center layout

Aprendices

Jhonathan Fernando Vanegas

Edisson Alexis Salazar Beltran

Sena 2021

Instructora

Liliana Solarte

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

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. Supply chain (B) A. That is where the commodity or product is stored in the
cellar until the supplier requires.
2. Inventory ( G) B. It is a network of facilities and distribution means whose
function is to obtain materials, processing of these
materials into intermediate and finished products and
distribution of these finished products to consumers.
3. Wholesaler ( E) C. It is the area that supports and guides in case of loss or
damage to the product.
4. Storage ( A) D. This is the place where the goods are stored prior to
use, distribution or sale.
5. Loss and damage E. Someone who is dedicated to buy and sell wholesale
claim support ( C) products.
6. Network (H) F. Transportation or shipping, storage and related
logistics, which are provided by companies employed to
undertake tasks that were previously performed by the
customer services.
7. Shipping ( F) G. It is the list of goods, products and other valuables
things that belong to a company
8. Warehouse ( D) H. An interconnected group or system.

2. Describing a Distribution Center

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

1. Make sure you have enough pallets to store all your goods
_____on_______ them.
in / on / at

2. There should be enough space for your equipment or machinery to move

through the warehouse. by / near / through
 3. The machinery or equipment station must be far the shipping and
receiving area in order to load and unload freight trucks. far / below
/ close to

4. The offices must be located_ in front of the warehouse racking for you
to supervise the activity within the warehouse. in front of / under /
above

3. Write sentences to describe the next distribution center. Do not forget to

use prepositions to describe their location. Check the example:

Let’s check another example of a distribution center. Pay attention to the

different areas within this distribution center and answer the questions below:

Where is the…? Answer

Where is the Loading area? The loading area is next to the
freezer.
Where is the Value-Added services area?
The Value Added services area is just
 behind refrigerated sproducts

Where is the Reverse Logistics area?

The reverse logistics area is ahead of

put-to-store
Where is the Quality auditing area?

stands on the shelf in front of the

batch selection

Where are the trucks? the trucks are in the area of yard
management

1. Critical thinking – Making decisions

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. Dar su opinión (está de
acuerdo o en desacuerdo) y dar pros y contras de los enunciados propuestos.

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

Example:
The layout in your warehouse must
be flexible
1. Cram as many pallet racks into your
warehouse as possible
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.
Your opinion: Your opinion: there are areas
that do not have a good space for their
work

PROS: we have to have more capacity to store

merchandise

CONS: the other areas are reduced can affect

the supply chain and logistics

 2. Have an aisle map
Your opinion: I agree, with a distribution center

map you can contribute in the order and best

location of the aisles for the storage of

merchandise

PROS: more orderly location for employees by

streamlining the marking readiness process

CONS: In case of making a poorly prepared

map, it can generate reprocessing and

uncoordination in the plant

3. Rely only on manual processes and Your opinion:

manual labor to get product in and through
the center and the customer orders out the No estoy de acuerdo, esto debe ser
door.
sistematizado, esto agiliza los procesos en

cuanto a recepción y envío

PROS:

You can have an agile process and surely that

would help us with the operational issue

CONS:
it may generate more delay in the processes,
there may be a serious logistical error