Who Do You Trust to Manage Your Products Within The Supply Chain?
Transit Inventory
Transit inventory consists of goods that are still in transit between companies. When a transaction involves the shipping of large quantities, it can take days or even weeks to occur.
Transit inventory can also result in accounting and ownership issues for companies that don’t track shipments between locations.
Large firms use the services of freight consolidators to combine inventories from several locations into one shipping source to establish economies of scale and reduce the input cost per unit. Consolidating shipments increases the size of transit inventory as well as the transit time.
Buffer Inventory
Some firms find themselves in volatile conditions, uncertainty in terms of product quality and delivery times from suppliers, and fluctuating demand.
To protect themselves against these conditions, companies keep buffer or safety inventory, which is stock at hand that exceeds demand.
When a firm runs out of existing inventory, it doesn’t have to backorder items, and as it can source them from buffer inventory.
Customer service is a crucial motivator to hold buffer inventory, as the firm is less likely to run out of stock and make the customer wait for the next order cycle. Buffer stock also mitigates the risk of customers switching to another supplier for their orders.
Anticipation Inventory
Anticipation inventory is stock that firms purchase in addition to their current need when they anticipate an increase in demand.
When there are anticipated events like seasonal increases in demand or labor strikes, firms ramp up their orders or production to be able to meet all orders.
Retailers typically stock anticipation inventory before demand increase for, for example, Christmas or the back-to-school season.
Manufacturers also maintain or increase production when demand is low, so they have stock available when demand rises again.
Producing anticipation inventory also eliminates the need to employ additional means of production in reaction to a demand increase.
MRO Goods Inventory
MRO goods are the maintenance, repair, and operating supplies that support production processes. Firms consume MRO goods during production, but they don’t form part of the finished product as raw materials or work-in-process inventory.
Examples of MRO goods include:
- Fuel, oils, lubricants, and coolants
- Janitorial supplies, protective clothing, and uniforms
- Packing materials and storage products
- Tools, screws, nuts, and bolts
Secondary supplies to support the production infrastructure can also fall under MRO goods, for example, stationery, paper, and toner.
Theoretical Inventory
Theoretical inventory is the average inventory at a given throughput while assuming an ideal situation where is inflow, processing, and outflow rates are equal. In other words, no work-in-process item has to wait for processing.
Firms determine theoretical inventory to calculate the minimum amount of stock that is necessary to maintain the given process throughput.
Theoretical inventory = Throughput x Theoretical Flow Time. Theoretical time includes the sum of all processing times for one unit and doesn’t include wait times.
Work-in-process inventory is equal to theoretical inventory when the actual process flow time is equal to theoretical flow time.
In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this article here >>
What Can Be Measured Can Be Controlled – for Profit!
Most businesses that supply products carry inventory, which is a stock or store of goods. A company manages its inventory and keeps it at hand so it can meet demands or carry out its daily operations.
The types of managed inventory that a business has depends on the industry. For example, retailers have finished products in stock, and manufacturers use raw materials or work-in-process.
An organization must manage its inventory carefully to ensure that it can fulfill its reason for existence, especially in volatile conditions with fluctuating demand.
In this section, we’re looking at the different types of managed inventory.
Raw Materials
Raw materials are a type of managed inventory that manufacturers use in the production of product components, subassemblies, or finished products.
Raw materials typically consist of commodities, extracted products, elements, or objects that the firm extracted or purchased.
Commodities that organizations implement in their production process as raw materials include things like minerals, ore, wood, steel, and chemicals.
Raw materials can also be finished products like nuts, bolts, wheels, and engines if the firm purchased the inventory to produce components.
Work-in-process
Work-in-process is a type of managed inventory that:
- Is not a raw material,
- Is a component of a parent,
- Is processed or about to be processed in the production system
Work-in-process inventory includes materials, components, subassemblies, assemblies released for initial processing.
This inventory can also be fully processed materials that are awaiting inspection before inclusion in finished products.
Finished Goods
Finished goods are completed products that underwent and passed final inspection and that are ready for order by wholesalers, retailers, or final users. This type of inventory does not have a parent in the production process.
However, the end-user may purchase a single unit to use as a component in another product, for example, car engines that are manufactured as finished goods and sold to wholesalers.
Decoupling Inventory
The machines in a production facility typically don’t have the same output rate. One station can take longer to process parts as the one before it in the production process.
Additionally, some machines may be removed from the production line for repairs or maintenance.
When looking at a functioning line, however, it may appear as if all the machines have a corresponding output and that the production process is flowing smoothly.
Production flows because of decoupling inventory or safety stock that ensures an indirect feed between devices and acts as shock absorbers in a production line.
Decoupling inventory prevents inventory from piling up at slow-moving stations in the production process, eliminating bottlenecks that can affect other stages in the process.
Cycle Inventory
Ordering or producing large quantities, the ordering cost per unit decreases. However, ordering large quantities can increase carrying and holding costs.
Economic order quantity is a concept that businesses follow to balance carrying and holding costs with the costs related to orders or production.
When the costs related to holding and carrying costs are equal, the total cost per unit is at its lowest. Cycle inventory is the excess stock that the business order to achieve this minimization point.
Continue to the second part of this series: Types of Managed Inventory Part 2
Pharmaceuticals Help Keep Us Healthy, But How Do You Keep Pharmaceuticals Healthy?
More than 131 million people use prescription drugs, which is 66% of all adults in North America according to the Georgetown Health Policy Institute. Many people depend on these drugs to manage severe or chronic conditions and maintain a certain quality of life.
The supply chain of prescription drugs and other pharmaceutical products must meet specific requirements. If a drug loses its quality or potency at some point between production and consumption, it offers no medicinal value.
Warehousing is a crucial component of the pharmaceutical supply chain management that contributes significantly to the wellbeing of millions of people.
General Information
In Canada, pharmaceuticals are regulated by the Health Products and Food Branch (HPFD) of Health Canada. In the United Sates, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pharmaceuticals.
There are numerous regulatory standards that apply to pharmaceutical warehousing, products, and processes through the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMF) standards.
Included are several pharmaceutical warehousing requirements in the GMF standards:
- Warehouses must store drugs in a manner to prevent contamination, and that allows for thorough inspection and cleaning of the area.
- Each drug lot must have a unique and traceable code to allow for lot identification and lot status identification (approved, quarantined, rejected.)
- Each drug in the warehouse must have written procedures that describe the processes for distribution and recalls.
- The written procedures of each drug must describe appropriate storage conditions.
Appropriate storage requirements present unique challenges to pharmaceutical warehouses. Each drug has individual storage requirements in terms of temperature, lighting, and humidity. The warehouse must follow the drug manufacturer’s storage requirements to the letter.
Meeting storage requirements often involves setting and monitoring the environmental parameters of a storage section’s temperature- and climate control.
Temperature control involves controlling and monitoring the temperature of the facility.
Climate control refers to the regulation of a storage unit’s temperature and humidity.
What to Look for in a Warehouse Partner
A pharmaceutical warehousing provider should not only meet GMF standards, but the facility should also meet the following requirements:
- The warehouse should be sterile with enough space for storage, maintenance, and inspection.
- The facility should have sufficient ventilation and lighting.
- The facility should have a dedicated quarantine area for drugs that are no longer usable.
- The warehouse should have indoor and outdoor security systems in place to prevent unauthorized entry and theft.
- The warehouse should be able to store drugs without specific storage requirements at room temperature.
- The warehouse partner should be able to provide the client with written documentation of policies, distribution, inventory, and procedures.
Brimich Logistics for Pharmaceutical Warehousing
Brimich Logistics in Ontario provides a wide range of warehousing and value-added services. Our facilities are HACCP-compliant, and SQF certified. The benefits of Brimich Logistics include:
- Real-time data on inventory
- Efficient warehouse staff
- Facilities to store pharmaceutical drugs according to manufacturer instructions
- Industry-standard safeguarding against drug contamination
Brimich Logistics provides pharmaceutical clients in Ontario with responsive and reliable warehousing solutions. We are ready to assist you with your pharmaceutical warehousing solutions today. To learn more about our warehousing, logistics, value-added, and transportation services, contact us today.
Is It Time to Move Your Business in a Different Way?
You have a business, big or small, and it’s doing great. Your products are moving, and your orders keep growing—but as usual, you wonder, could we do more? The answer is yes, and warehouse logistics can help you expand.
What is a Logistics Warehouse?
Logistics refers to elaborate planning, organizing, and management of materials and products, as well as the implementation of various complex operations. Within several industries, such as warehousing, logistics also extends to define the flow of goods, both physical and informational.
Warehouse logistics encompasses all the details of product and information flow within a warehouse. Some of these details include shipment and receiving of parcels, management of the physical inventory, and the movement of more abstract goods such as time and information.
What is the Difference Between a Warehouse and Warehousing?
Beyond the definition of a logistics warehouse, one separates a warehouse from storage by the external use of each factor. A warehouse, for instance, serves as a commercial building that stores goods and is often used by business people.
Warehouses come in various forms; some can be temperature controlled while others have specialized designs to receive different kinds of goods.
Warehousing describes the function and actions required to ease the storing of goods. The intricate process of logistics within the business chain comes from efficient warehousing.
What are the Objectives of Warehousing?
The main goals of warehousing are:
- Essential storage-warehousing should result in a safe, central location to store your materials and product
- Accessibility -that location should be accessible and suitable for your product
- Better inventory management-increase turnover and decrease shrinkage by tracking your inventory more efficiently
- Shorter lead times-accessible, well-managed storage facilitates shorter lead times, which increases customer satisfaction
- Reduce cost-efficiency in the warehousing process should result in reduced costs
Why is Warehousing Required?
The benefits of warehousing are far-reaching, both in the short-term and long-term. Here are some benefits that are proven from businesses who have consistently adopted a warehouse logistics model and a clear argument of why warehousing is required.
- The inventory counts are real-time and accurate all the time. In a unified system, the warehousing process will calculate the inventory available at any given time, their specific locations, and their use.
- The accuracy of the inventory also means a decrease in return items. In most cases, the goods get checked before being sent.
- The inventory details also mean the stock will always be available. In most cases, the stock levels operate with a required minimum, which, when hit, will trigger the purchase of more stock.
- Warehouse logistics also ensure that space is utilized effectively.
What is Warehousing in Supply Chain Management?
Warehousing forms an integral aspect of the logistics and supply chain management pattern. Put simply, warehousing is the process that makes a warehouse or storage area run smoothly within the supply chain.
The success and expansion of any business largely depend on its ability to perform well in warehousing logistics.
Warehouse Automation, it’s Benefits and the Future of Logistics
If you work in the warehouse or logistics business, then chances are you have heard of the changes that warehouse automation is already bringing to the industry.
There are two sides to the coin, however, with some people saying that warehouse automation leads to loss of jobs, and others being happy that warehouse automation will lead to a new world of increased productivity, efficiency, and accuracy.
The truth is, however, that warehouse automation will not completely take away human jobs. There are so many things that people still must do in the warehouse that machines cannot. To form an educated opinion on this topic, let’s investigate warehouse automation a bit further.
- How do warehouses work? A warehouse is basically a place where goods are stored while awaiting distribution to the customer. However, with 3PLs, warehousingnow has incorporated so many other services and solutions. It is possible for a company to outsource all of its supply chain management duties to a 3PL.
In the warehouse, goods are received, inventory movement takes place, goods are stored, and shipped. At the receiving dock, a clerk receives the entire inventory and all the documents pertaining to it are collected.
A receiving log is made to ensure that all expected inventory of the day is received. The inventory is then moved to the space it has been assigned by the warehouse’s certified and licensed movers. When the time comes, the warehouse also ships the products to the final destination.
- What is an automated warehouse? Warehouse automation can help make the warehouse processes much easier, faster and more accurate. For instance, conveyor belts can be used to move products from one part of the warehouse to another. Automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) is another commonly used automation technique. Automatic data capturing, automated vehicles, bar code scanners and readers, back office automation, and inventory automation are all processes that can be done in a warehouse to ensure that efficiency is enhanced. All of these processes also require use of specialized software for the capturing and storing of data.
- What is warehouse process? Not all warehouses are the same, but most of them have a basic process that occurs for goods that are coming in and going out. This process is as follows: Receiving, put-away, picking, packing, dispatching, returns, and value addition.
An automated warehouse is one in which part of its day-to-day processes are carried out by machines and systems. It is difficult to automate all of a warehouse’s processes, because people are better at carrying out certain processes.
Warehouse automation can bring many benefits. It improves efficiency and accuracy in the warehouse, and can also help save money by reducing the number of employees needed to carry out warehouse processes.
And, with warehouse automation, space utilization is dramatically improved, as well as shipping costs; denser pallet cubes can be created, leading to more tightly packed trucks, and efficiency in shipping. This can reduce costs by up to 10%.
If You Thought Packaging was Just Packaging, Think Again
Packaging can have different applications, dependent on the stage of distribution that the product is in; the product has to go from the producer to the retailer, and from the retailer to the consumer.
Through its long journey, a product might require specialized packaging, so that it gets to its destination in perfect condition. But what that destination is will determine which type of packaging it will need. Here, we will explore the difference between consumer and industrial packaging.
Before understanding the difference between consumer and industrial packaging, however, it is important to know what roles the packaging serves in the product’s journey from the manufacturer to the consumer. Here are some of the functions of packaging;
- Market the product
- Provide information about the product
- Protect the product against damage and unsanitary conditions
- Contain the product, especially liquids
- Simplify transportation
What is industrial packaging and consumer packaging?
So what is the difference between industrial packaging and consumer packaging? Industrial packaging is typically used to deliver goods from the manufacturer to the retailer.
There are instances when the industrial packaging is also the consumer packaging. Take for instance animal feeds that come in sacks. The sacks are loaded to trucks from the manufacturer directly to the retailer, and arrive the same way to the consumer.
Consumer packaging, on the other hand, is the packaging that the product gets to the consumer in. This packaging goes from the manufacturer to the retail outlet, and finally to the consumer.
For example, a package of cookies that leaves the manufacturer arrives at the retail store exactly as it will be sold to the consumer.
Another vital difference between consumer and industrial packaging is labeling; they have different labeling requirements, such as in declaration of quantity, responsibility, and identity.
What are the three levels of packaging?
There are three levels of packaging:
- Primary packaging: Wraps the product directly, which arrives to the consumer as is. The main purpose for primary packaging is to preserve and protect the product.
- Secondary packaging: Used in addition to, or on top of, the primary package. This level of packaging markets the product, and also gathers the products for easy handling and sales. It can also be used to group the product.
- Tertiary packaging: Typically used in the transportation of the products from the producer to the retailer; it is also used to define the sales unit that the manufacturer uses to sell to the consumer. For instance, a crate or corrugated carton containing a certain number of units of the product within.
What is the difference between CPG and FMCG?
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are often used interchangeably, but the two terms mean different things.
FMCG are those goods that are used on a daily basis in a household, like soap, detergent, deodorant, and shampoo. CPG are items used less frequently in the household, like canned foods, spices, etc.
Which Warehousing Option is Right for You?
Most people know that a warehouse is a place where goods are stored, or where a manufacturer places their goods for accumulation. It’s an important aspect of production and distribution of goods to the consumer. But did you know that there are different types of warehousing?
There are basically two different types of warehousing that a manufacturer or retailer can use, both of which will be discussed in this article.
What are the two basic types of warehouses?
Before understanding the different types of warehousing, it is important to know what the two basic types of warehouses actually are.
- Private warehouses: Owned and operated by the channel suppliers and manufacturers for their own activities. Usually these warehouses are owned by big manufacturers, due to the huge capital required to construct a warehouse.
- Public warehouses are owned by business establishments who provide warehousing—for a fee—to companies that do not have their own. They can also be operated by cooperatives. A public warehouse requires a license from the government to operate in accordance with the rules and regulations set out for such a business.
What is warehousing, and what are its functions?
Warehousing is more than just storage; it also includes other functions, such as receiving, identifying, holding, assembling, and packaging of products. Warehouses also assume responsibility for the goods until they have been collected.
Regardless of the type of warehousing you choose, here are the functions of warehousing;
- Storage: This is the basic function of any type of warehousing. It means simply storing surplus goods and awaiting the distribution process to the customer.
- Price stabilization: Warehousing creates time. This means that, if prices have fallen, the manufacturer can wait until they’ve stabilized to put their product back out on the market.
- Risk minimization: Most warehouses are constructed in such a way to avoid theft, damage, and deterioration to the products within. Many also have features, such as climate control and high security, to further protect products.
- Grading and packing: Many warehouses also now provide packing and grading services for products. The specifications are given by the manufacturer, and the warehouse provides these services as the goods await distribution.
- Regular production: Manufacturers can continue producing their product, even when they are unable to store the product themselves.
What is the difference between warehousing and logistics?
Warehousing and logistics are different aspects with similar functions in the supply chain. All types of warehousing involve safe storage of the goods and inventory.
Logistics, on the other hand, is a complicated process that involves the management of the entire flow of goods, from the manufacturer to the end consumer. It involves aspects such as material handling, production, packaging, warehousing, transportation, inventory, security, and flow of information.
Logistics, which can be further categorized as inbound and outbound logistics, is a critical component of supply chain management.
Cross-docking is one of the more unusual aspects of the supply chain that many businesses are not taking advantage of nearly as much as they should. It might be because many companies don’t even know what cross-docking is. This article will provide information and insight to answer the question, “What is cross-docking?”, as well as the benefits this model can bring to your business.
So, what exactly is cross-docking? It involves delivering products from a manufacturing plant directly to the consumer or retail store without a lot of handling in between, or storage time.
Here is an explanation of what cross-docking is in simple terms: Goods come in to the receiving dock of the cross-dock terminal. They are then screened and sorted before being loaded to trucks on the outbound side of the cross-dock terminal. There is minimal handling of the goods or storage in between the time they come in, and when they leave to be shipped to the retailer or customer.
Here is an example of cross-docking:
Retail store A has ordered 10 fridges, and retail store B ordered 20 fridges from the same manufacturer. A truck arrives at the docking station carrying 30 fridges.
The items are sorted on the cross-dock terminal; there are two trucks waiting on the receiving end of the dock terminal. One truck is heading to retail shop A, and the other is heading to retail shop B. Truck A is loaded with 10 fridges, and truck B is loaded with 20 fridges.
Why is cross-docking used? Now that you know what cross-docking is, let’s move on to the reasons why is it used. Cross- docking is utilized for three reasons:
- To combine different products into one method of transport, as in the example above, to save on time and transportation costs.
- To provide a central site where goods can be sorted and combined so they are easy to deliver to multiple destinations quickly and effectively.
- To break down large products so they are small enough to be transported to the consumer.
What are the benefits of cross-docking? Cross-docking offers the following benefits:
- Reduces delivery time significantly, as goods are not stored.
- Reduces shipping costs, since there is no storage or other warehouse services involved.
- Builds a strong shipping relationship for your business with one company.
- Reduces risk of damage to the product, as it is being handled less.
How does cross-docking affect warehouse design? For cross-docking to be effective, the warehouse must be designed to facilitate this process. It should have different inbound and outbound dock doors, so that trucks can dock accordingly, to either deliver or receive goods.
The warehouse size, shape and layout should be considered when setting up across-docking warehouse. Also, the technology used to move the goods is an important consideration in determining the layout of the warehouse.
A warehouse management system is an essential component of a company’s supply chain. It tracks products and raw materials while incorporating specialized equipment and computer software that allows full control of warehouse operations.
How Does a Warehouse Management System Work?
Central to a warehouse management system is a database that describes a wide range of standards warehouse elements. Standard warehouse elements include:
- Individual stock keeping units (SKU’s) that can consist of finished consumer goods, fabricated parts, basic materials, or assemblies
- Warehouse storage locations
- Type of storage, for example, cases or pallet
- Storage restrictions
- Expected labor units
A warehouse management system integrates these elements with all warehouse tasks, including receiving goods, inspections, acceptances, picking, packing, documentation, and shipping.
An effective system will divide orders into batches according to their locations. The system will also log products at various points as they move through the warehouse. This allows staff to know where products need to be around the warehouse at any given time.
What are the Benefits of the Warehouse Management System?
Lower Operational Costs
A warehouse management system calculates the optimal location for each warehouse element, which ensures the efficient use of space and reduces waste. It also increases the efficiency of the staff which, in turn, results in a higher output volume and lower demand for labor.
Improved Relationships with Suppliers and Customers
Quicker delivery times and less order accuracy errors mean that more customers are satisfied with their orders.
Efficiency is beneficial for supplier relationships as well. If your warehouse can accept incoming orders without delay, it means that your suppliers can start working on their next shipments.
Efficient Warehouse Staff
A warehouse management system can allocate on-the-floor tasks in a way that is as efficient as possible ensuring that the warehouse staff can meet material handling requirements in less time. The system also coordinates the warehouse staff’s activities so that there is no duplication of labor.
Enhanced Inventory Visibility
Warehouse management system software provides real-time data on inventory by making use of identifiers such as barcodes, serial numbers, and RFID tagging.
Increased visibility makes it possible to create demand forecasts, which is necessary to determine which products are most popular during specific times of the year.
What Are Some Warehouse Management Systems?
ProVision
ProVision is a high-end warehouse management system solution that is user-configurable to manage a wide range of warehouse operations and activities. This warehouse management system is popular among several reputable supply chain and logistics companies, including Brimich Logistics.
Infoplus
Infoplus is the ideal warehouse management solution for small to mid-sized companies in a wide range of industries. This warehouse system is a web-based solution and features core inventory management, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization.
Oracle SCM Cloud
Oracle is a cloud-based warehouse management system that is geared towards distribution manufacturing, inventory management, and fleet management. An additional feature of Infoplus is product development that companies can use to create a bill of material from a conceptual design.
Contact Brimich Logistics
If you feel your business could benefit from the addition of a new or updated warehouse management system, contact Brimich Logistics today for a free no-obligation quote.
Keeping Your Cool in Business
If ensuring your products or materials stay at a stable temperature is vital to their quality, cold storage solutions are likewise vital to your company’s success. However, not all cold storage solutions are created equally.
What is Cold Storage Used For?
Many products lose their value in normal storage conditions. These products require cold storage solutions for adequate storage and shipping.
Since cold storage is much more complex than dry storage and refrigerated warehousing tends to be expensive, many businesses opt to outsource cold storage to supply chain specialists.
If you are moving products that are temperature sensitive, you need cold storage solutions that include processing, packaging, and delivery without the products ever being exposed to fluctuations in temperature.
Cold storage is often used for products with varying shelf lives and temperature range requirements. These products include, but are not limited to:
– Plants and flowers
– Perishable food
– Biopharmaceutical products
– Perishable nutrient products
– Artwork
What is Cold Storage in Food Preservation?
Due to the nature of certain food products, they can spoil if they are exposed to high temperatures. Not only can this result in losses, but also health hazards. Cold storage for food preservation is, therefore, an essential component of the supply chain of food businesses.
Perishable foods, including dairy products, fish products, and meats have to be kept in a temperature specification range along the entire supply chain. Temperatures higher than the required range can result in the growth of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms and can, ultimately, cause the product to be inedible.
Since the consequences of food spoilage can potentially be dire, food businesses have to ensure that they use reputable and experienced cold storage service providers to take care of their products.
Types of Cold Storage
There is a wide range of cold storage solutions from single units to entire warehouses. The types of cold storage include the following:
– Refrigerated containers
– Blast Chillers
– Cold Rooms
– Pharmaceutical-Grade Cold Storage
– Plant-Attached Cold Storage
– Custom Cold Storage Facilities
Companies that have a wide range of products typically have many different cold storage needs. If your products have to be stored at different temperature ranges, you may need more than one type of cold storage. Outsourcing your cold storage may be a viable solution if you don’t have cold storage facilities.
What is Cold Supply Chain?
The succession of cold storage applications along the supply chain to maintain the desired temperature is often referred to as the cold chain. If the integrity of the cold chain is breached and the risk is unknown or not reported, it can result in foodborne illnesses.
Developments in technology make it much easier and cost-effective to implement temperature monitoring and optimize stacking, which, in turn, make cold chain objectives more attainable.
Contact Brimich Logistics
Your business needs a partner to deliver the freshest food in the safest possible manner. Brimich Logistics is ideally suited to provide your business with high-end cold storage solutions along with your supply chain. We have more than 200,000 square-feet of food-grade cold storage space available.
All our facilities are Hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) compliant, and we have safe quality food (SQF) certification. Contact us today to discuss your cold storage and supply chain needs.