2016 Warehouse/DC Operations Survey: Ready to Confront Complexity
Survey respondents indicate a desire to apply more IT solutions and keep up on capital expenditures as they confront complex issues like bigger facilities, labor issues, high SKU counts and the growing reality of omni-channel.
As it has the last few years, our “Annual Warehouse and Distribution Center (DC) Operations Survey” points to growing order fulfillment complexity, larger labor forces, and other challenges associated with e-commerce. However, the 2016 survey reflects an industry that’s not only well aware of these challenges, but one that’s poised and ready to do something about them.
From tweaking operational processes, to tapping labor as a means of flexing capacity, to incrementally applying more technology, the survey clearly indicates that respondents are in the midst of addressing omni-channel challenges. For example, capital expenditure (CapEx) levels have kept pace with CapEx growth seen in recent surveys, and workforce numbers held steady or grew among some respondents.
According to Donald J. Derewecki, a senior consultant with St. Onge Company, and Norm Saenz, Jr., a managing director with St. Onge Company, a supply chain engineering consulting company and SCMR’s partner for this annual research, a majority of the data points to an industry engaged in confronting omni-channel complexities.
“As operations requirements become more complex, companies in general seem to be coping,” says Derewecki. “E-commerce has been affecting nearly everything. Even companies that don’t directly participate in e-commerce now experience Amazon-type expectations from customers about rapid ordering and fulfillment. So the bar is set pretty high on requirements, and in response, the majority of respondents seem to be focused on improving their processes and the information systems support for those processes.”
This complete article is available to subscribers
only. Click on Log In Now at the top of this article for full access. Or, Start your PLUS+ subscription for instant access. |
Latest News
Port of Baltimore May Not Reopen Until Summer Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Mastery A New Priority Greets Procurement Professionals in 2024 Cargo Shipping Remains on Hold in Baltimore Following Bridge Collapse Maximizing the Bottom Line: The Power of Procurement More NewsDownload Article PDF |
As it has the last few years, our “Annual Warehouse and Distribution Center (DC) Operations Survey” points to growing order fulfillment complexity, larger labor forces, and other challenges associated with e-commerce. However, the 2016 survey reflects an industry that’s not only well aware of these challenges, but one that’s poised and ready to do something about them.
From tweaking operational processes, to tapping labor as a means of flexing capacity, to incrementally applying more technology, the survey clearly indicates that respondents are in the midst of addressing omni-channel challenges. For example, capital expenditure (CapEx) levels have kept pace with CapEx growth seen in recent surveys, and workforce numbers held steady or grew among some respondents.
According to Donald J. Derewecki, a senior consultant with St. Onge Company, and Norm Saenz, Jr., a managing director with St. Onge Company, a supply chain engineering consulting company and SCMR’s partner for this annual research, a majority of the data points to an industry engaged in confronting omni-channel complexities.
“As operations requirements become more complex, companies in general seem to be coping,” says Derewecki. “E-commerce has been affecting nearly everything. Even companies that don’t directly participate in e-commerce now experience Amazon-type expectations from customers about rapid ordering and fulfillment. So the bar is set pretty high on requirements, and in response, the majority of respondents seem to be focused on improving their processes and the information systems support for those processes.”
SUBSCRIBERS: Click here to download PDF of the full article. |
About the Author
Roberto Michel Roberto Michel, senior editor for Modern, has covered manufacturing and supply chain management trends since 1996, mainly as a former staff editor and former contributor at Manufacturing Business Technology. He has been a contributor to Modern since 2004. He has worked on numerous show dailies, including at ProMat, the North American Material Handling Logistics show, and National Manufacturing Week. You can reach him at: [email protected].Subscribe to Supply Chain Management Review Magazine!
Subscribe today. Don't Miss Out!Get in-depth coverage from industry experts with proven techniques for cutting supply chain costs and case studies in supply chain best practices.
Start Your Subscription Today!
Article Topics
Distribution Centers · E-Commerce · Warehouse Management Systems ·It’s high time to go beyond visibility Driving supply chain flexibility in an uncertain and volatile world View More From this Issue