Warehousing and Distribution Tips for US Based BusinessesPosted by Hughes Kondrup on June 11th, 2021 US based warehousing and distribution companies have a very specific way of doing things. Their warehousing operations must adhere to strict guidelines that are in place by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The FDA regulates all food and livestock entering into the country. This includes all foods and animals that are for human consumption. FDA regulations also regulate the transportation of livestock from one point in the country to another. When fulfillment comes to the warehousing and distribution of goods, companies must keep track of thousands of items that are incoming and outgoing each day. These thousands of items include product specifications, shipping labels, invoice information, and receipts. To ensure that companies are meeting these stringent requirements, they hire an agency to perform these responsibilities. This agency is called a third party logistics outsourcing (TOS) companies. TOS companies are independent third party organizations that contract with companies like UPS or FedBiz. TOS perform warehousing and distribution tasks under contract. These companies must comply with all federal and local laws, as well as their own company policies and procedures. They are charged with maintaining reliable and efficient warehousing and distribution networks. TOS companies must evaluate all aspects of warehousing and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the whole organization. They must understand all of a company's requirements for transportation, receiving, processing, and transporting goods. Companies may be required to review all incoming and outgoing freight. They must be prepared to assist companies in all aspects of implementing effective warehousing and control methods. Companies that utilize TOS are required to monitor the inventories of goods at their facility. This means that a company may not release merchandise to a customer until an inventory of that product has been completed and all deliveries are received and handled. Tracking inventory is extremely important to the success of any warehousing and distribution operation. Many companies may have thousands of pallets of goods that need to be handled each day. Warehouses must have sophisticated tools that allow them to rapidly process the load of goods. Companies that have a consistent supply of raw materials must carefully monitor their warehouse operations. They must be able to quickly identify out-of-stock items and re-order products as quickly as possible. All warehousing providers must meet federal guidelines for timely delivery and on time delivery. US based warehousing providers must be able to ship all appropriate supplies to all locations. These companies must also meet all environmental regulations for their operations, including restrictions on the types of materials that they can use. Companies that utilize US based warehousing providers must be ready to take immediate action if their warehouses are not up to par. Upkeep of warehouses is a key element in warehousing operations. warehouses must be cleaned and sanitized to prevent the spread of infections. Warehouses must also be organized to properly route finished products through the warehouse so that they are prepared for shipping. Companies that are seeking a US based warehousing provider should make sure to find one that offers on-time delivery, quick turnaround, high quality products, customized solutions and excellent customer service. The ability to work closely with management is another important factor when finding a provider. Companies that offer excellent support and management assistance will ensure that warehousing requirements will be met quickly and efficiently. Some companies may require specialized warehousing services. For example, companies involved in the manufacture and assembly of medical devices may choose to contract with warehousing companies that offer in-house lab space. Other companies may require specialized services that are not readily available within a regular warehousing company. When hiring a provider of warehousing and distribution services, companies should inquire about the types of carriers the provider uses. Many companies ship goods using air freight, but some companies may ship by water and others may only do shipment's air-freight. Knowing which fulfillment of carriers the company uses will help determine which carriers will be used for shipments to specific destinations. Companies that have a tight budget but need additional warehouse capacity should contact several providers to inquire about rates. Flexible packaging options are another way to obtain extra capacity. Finding fulfillment that offer both flexible and reliable packaging is a good way to obtain additional warehousing capacity and reduce logistics costs.Like it? Share it! More by this author |