Effective supply chain management is essential to the success of any business involved in the manufacture and distribution of physical products. Goods need to be manufactured, transported, packed, stored, and distributed as part of a smooth process to ensure effective supply chain management. From food to pharmaceutical products, clothes to toys, all of these items depend on supply chain management to reach their end customers.
Warehousing lies at the heart of supply chain management and helps to facilitate the distribution of essential goods used daily by consumers across the world. However, the vital role that warehouses play in the supply chain is often overlooked.
Warehouses may be the simple, often unremarkable buildings that you see dotted around the country on industrial estates and alongside motorways. But, these buildings are the beating heart of the manufacturing industry and integral to the success of any supply chain.
Here we will explore the vitally important role that warehousing and distribution play in supply chain management.
Provides Secure Storage of Goods
Having a secure place for the storage of goods following their manufacture is essential. This is because large quantities of products can be a sitting target for potential theft. So taking steps to ensure that goods are protected and kept secure is essential.
Warehousing provides a secure space for products throughout the period between goods being manufactured and haulage to their final destination. Selecting warehousing facilities equipped with high levels of security provides reassurance to manufacturers and distributors that their products are secure in the interim period.
Many warehouse facilities offer advanced CCTV and alarm systems alongside 24-hour security officers and guard dogs.
Facilitates cost-effective haulage
transportation costs continually rising , it has never been more critical for businesses to focus on making the haulage of goods as cost-effective as possible. Warehouses are typically found at strategic locations within close proximity to major transport networks. These locations enable fast and efficient haulage of goods.
Choosing warehousing facilities located close to motorways and within easy reach of ports enables businesses to cut down on the costs involved in transporting their goods. This helps to make managing an effective supply chain far more efficient.
In addition to helping to provide cost savings, choosing warehousing based on its location also helps to save time. Logistics can be complicated, and the transportation of goods is often a time-consuming process. However, selecting a conveniently located warehouse can help to speed up transportation times and reduce potential delays. These time-savings can prove crucial in meeting service level agreements set by clients and protecting the reputation of your business.
Enables Efficient Inventory Effective inventory control is vital to keep the supply chain moving and to maximise efficiencies at every stage in the process. Choosing the best warehousing service for your business’s needs plays an integral role in successful inventory control. Choosing warehouses that utilise advanced warehouse management systems helps to ensure that stock quantities are efficiently monitored.
With an efficient inventory control system in place, companies can prevent potential issues such as overstocked items and not having enough stock to meet customer demand. These issues can be costly and may even impact the reputation of a business. But with effective inventory control, monitoring the flow of products in and out of the warehouse and ensuring that optimum stock levels are maintained becomes so much easier to manage.
Allows fast order fulfillment
A supply chain depends on every stage to maintain maximum efficiency. Any delays or breakdowns in the supply chain can have a significant impact right through the chain and result in a poor experience for customers and potential financial losses for the businesses involved.
Choosing to outsource to an experienced warehousing facility that has fully-trained staff and is equipped with resources to manage order fulfilment efficiently can make a vast difference to your business.
When stock levels are managed efficiently, and orders are picked and packed quickly, fulfilment becomes a seamless process. This means that customers receive their goods on time, every time, and order preparation is much faster with fewer mistakes made during the fulfilment process. Ensuring fast and accurate order fulfilment helps to protect the reputation of your business and enables you to offer the highest level of service to every customer.
Offers Safe Preparation of Goods As well as ensuring that inventory levels are managed effectively, and orders are fulfilled efficiently, it is also crucial that your goods are picked and packed carefully. Choosing a warehousing facility that is able to pack your goods to a high standard and ensure that they are prepared for transportation safely is vital. Packaging each item in every order so that it is protected while still maximising space on the delivery is not an easy task. However, an experienced warehousing facility will be able to take care of this on your behalf. Safe, protective packaging means fewer damaged products and fewer returns. So, ensuring that you choose a warehouse that can facilitate this is essential.
Conclusion
As you can see, warehousing and distribution play a vital role in supply chain management. If these two aspects of the supply chain are not managed effectively, the success of the entire process can be put at risk. All businesses depend on warehousing facilities to ensure that their goods are stored safely and securely and that their orders are fulfilled accurately and on time. So, selecting the right warehouse service for your business is crucial.
There are many factors to keep in mind when choosing a warehouse service for your goods. If you are looking for a warehouse operated by highly experienced and fully trained staff with easy access to UK motorways, we can help.
Key takeaway’s
- Effective supply chain management is crucial for the success of businesses involved in manufacturing and distributing physical products.
- Warehousing is an essential aspect of supply chain management, often overlooked but plays a vital role in facilitating the distribution of goods to end customers.
- Warehousing provides secure storage for products, protecting them from potential theft during the interim period between manufacturing and distribution.
- Strategic location of warehouses near major transport networks helps in cost-effective haulage of goods, saving transportation costs and time.
- Efficient inventory control in warehouses ensures smooth flow of products and prevents issues like overstocking or stock shortages.
- Choosing a well-equipped warehousing facility with experienced staff enables fast and accurate order fulfillment, leading to customer satisfaction and business reputation.
- Safe and careful packing of goods in warehouses ensures protection during transportation and reduces the number of damaged products and returns.
- Effective warehousing and distribution are vital for the success of the entire supply chain process, making it crucial to select the right warehouse service for a business.
What’s next?
Our team at Trans-European Port Services can help with all of your warehousing needs. We have a choice of four warehousing facilities for you to choose from, including warehouses approved by HM Customs & Excise for the storage of dry bonded goods.
If you’re looking for superior haulage, distribution, and storage services, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Trans European Port Services TEPS by calling 01482 326856.
