Shipping Operations

Shipping function objective is to ensure that the warehouse's order-picking activity has provided the correct SKU, in the right quantity in good condition and on schedule to our customers.

The activities for the various shipping dock in a warehouse or distribution operation includes:

Checking

The checking activity ensures that the correct product, in the right quantity and in the right condition is delivered to the right place. The checking activity is performed either manually or using the bar code method. In the manual method, the employee visually verifies that the product appearing in the customer order form matches with that on the package.

With the bar code method, the checking employee directs a hand held scanning device light beam onto each product bar code label.

On a conveyorized sortation system, a fixed position scanning device reads the product bar code and the information triggers the sortation device to divert the product onto the appropriate shipping line. The bar code info is held in memory and is transmitted on-line to the computer. Some hand held device also indicates which customer the product belongs to.


Packing, Sealing & Securing

Packing is a more extensive activity which is done after picking. Packing ensures that products are according to customers requirements and protected against damage. Packing may done in several ways, such as; in cartons or pallets.The customer’s address and details of the products will be allocatted on the exterior package.

Manifest

Manifest ensures that the customer order was handled and processed by the distribution facility. This activity is a manual data entry , Bar-code scanning or even using (RFID) to process the operations.


Loading

Loading refers to how the products in the shipping area will be transferred to the outgoing delivery vehicle.

The loading methods have been covered in our Receiving post earlier.

But factors to take into considerations are:What type of delivery vehicle,What time the vehicle will be arriving ,allocation of empty dock for loading and allocation of manpower. These factors will determine how fast the loading process will be.