Warehouse Management: A Complete Guide to Improving Efficiency and Minimizing Costs in the Modern Warehouse

by Gwynne Richards

Warehouses are an integral part of the modern supply chain, involved in sourcing, producing and distributing goods. However, due to the complexities of warehouse operations they can often be one of the most costly parts of the supply chain. Their efficient management is therefore critical for minimizing cost and contributing to an effective and efficient supply chain. 

Warehouse Management provides a complete guide to best practice in warehouse operations. Covering everything from the latest technological advances to current environmental issues, this book provides an indispensable companion to the modern warehouse. Supported by case studies, the text considers many aspects of warehouse management,  

-cost reduction 
-productivity 
-people management 
-warehouse operations 

Backed up with numerous case studies that demonstrate how to apply new technology, minimize spending, and create efficient, stream-lined operations, this book is an invaluable resource for warehouse managers, logistics professionals, operations managers and students of logistics.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Engineering

344 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2011

Reviews

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, at least, this British focused book--be prepared for odd spellings of familiar words if one approaches this from the point of view of the United States and its measurements and terminology--is perhaps most intriguing in discussing the trade-offs that exist in warehouse management and the way that these trade-offs are simply impossible to completely avoid.  A great deal is asked of the contemporary warehouse when it comes to keeping stocks low, but also being able to meet changing demands rapidly at a low cost and with a somewhat demoralized workforce to do it.  After all, few people think that logistics is as cool as I do, and therefore a great many of those who work in logistics are faced with the problem of low status for what is a deeply important job with a lot of massive pressure placed on people to be more and more accurate with their projections and with their picking and packing.  This book is certainly useful for those who deal with warehouse management or those who simply want to understand it better and how it relates to other aspects of logistics.

This book is a bit more than 300 pages long and is divided into seven parts and seventeen chapters.  After an introduction the first part of the book looks at the role of the warehouse (1) and of the warehouse manager (2) within the overall logistics strategy of a given company.  After that the second part of the book discusses warehouse processes from receiving and putting away (3) to pick preparation (4), picking strategies and equipment (5), order-picking methods (6) and replenishment and dispatching (7).  After that the author discusses warehouse management systems (8), warehouse layout (9), and storage and handling equipment (10).  After that the author discusses how warehouses are resourced (11) and what sort of costs are involved (12).  The next part of the book then deals with performance management (13) and outsourcing (14), about which whole books have been written.  The sixth part of the book then discusses human elements to warehouses like health and safety (15) and the trendy look at how warehouses can help preserve the environment (16), which leads to a discussion of such matters like packaging and pallets.  The final part of the book allows the author to play prophet and look at the warehouse of the future (17), after which the book ends with references, useful websites, and a glossary and index.

There was a good deal to learn from this book and although the approach of the book was sometimes a bit dry the author did a great job at demonstrating the human angle of warehouse management and the way that solutions depend widely on context, and on knowing the sorts of goods that one has to store and ship.  People may be enamored with the idea of lean and the lower inventories that it involves, but then may not be willing to accept the lost sales and profits that are involved when one lacks the supplies to meet demand, and may even lose longtime customers as a result of not having items often enough.  There are always tradeoffs--one can do more with a better trained staff and voice packing, but in order to keep a well-trained staff one needs to make sure that employee morale stays high as well.  Even in a subject that deals as much with concrete goods as logistics does requires a great deal of attention to the human arts.  And it can be hoped that those who read this book will do a good job at pondering the conditions of the warehouses they deal with so that they can act and plan appropriately.

[Steve Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent discussion of warehouse operations, covering virtually all aspects of managing a warehouse and cost efficiency from the high level strategic view down to floor level processes. He includes ample graphic, pictures and tables which help to get the points across and allow the reader to better understand the subject. Quite current regarding technology, processes and management styles.

[Abhishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic intro and insights into the science of warehousing.

Lucid, to the point, illustrative.

Provides a superb overview of key concepts in warehousing.

Generally a very good book for anyone interested in the aspects of supply chain, process transformations or operations.

[Alex O'Cardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be a good source of all the basics, but it's worth keeping in mind that this industry is constantly developing, and if you're willing to become a professional in this field, it's better to check more modern publications. When I was just learning about ways to optimize data entry and order fulfillment, it was pretty useful for me, but I can say that this solution https://deusrobotics.com/ helped me do that without any difficulties at all, so it's possible to just check the internet to find automation options.

[Roger Hau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful overview of warehousing concepts, but lacks the detail required to truly picture and reason about warehouse operations.

[Ethan J · Rating 3 out of 5]

good reference book to warehouse management, but not quite tech savvy

[Louisa Trinh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over view about warehouse. What does it have? How to build it? How to manage it? The way to set up, etc

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that should be strongly considered as required reading for anyone whose job is even the most tangentially-linked to the supply chain. Yes, that might include those in the executive suite who still cling to the old notion that a warehouse is a place for tying up a company’s money.

The author has done a great job with this rather hefty book in managing a fine balancing act: providing a LOT of great, informative, up-to-date information for the “supply chain geeks” as well as offering a lot of actionable, helpful, no-hype-just-facts to the rest of us.

Seventeen large chapters are crammed full of information covering everything from the seemingly basic “role of the warehouse” to “performance management” and “outsourcing”. Yet this is not a dumbed-down book, far from it. Just the right amount of information is imparted to make the reader be better informed, filling their mind with information they might not have considered before but but boy can be it be relevant. An outsider will not look at a warehouse in the same way ever again. This is all backed up by a lot of other information in appendices and various web references should you need to drill down even further. There is no excuse for ignorance after having this book on your shelf.

This is a book that will be a regularly-consulted companion. Even if you believe you know “this stuff” just like you know your alphabet.

To the more casual reader there might be an element of sticker shock - even though the book doesn’t even cost an hour of a consultant’s time and you could be ploughing through it for weeks. For those on a budget there is also a Kindle version. This reviewer could see a book of this kind being required reading for students too.

There is a lot of thought-provoking, eye-opening text that even managed to get this jaded “been in the business world too long” reviewer thinking. In many cases companies tend to overlook the importance of “the warehouse”, especially with the past rush to JIT and stock minimisation. With a book like this maybe some attitudes will be changed by those in power, reaffirming what those who do this sort of job daily have known for a long time.

Really, you might think it strange that someone can get “excited” about a book like this. Yet the author’s carefully-crafted, chosen words are literally as powerful, as engaging and as required reading as perhaps a dozen (or more) management theory and “life story” books. If you invest the time you will look at things in a more positive, different light and see a greater degree of connectivity between business processes in the long run. Many examples and lessons learned from “the warehouse” can be also adapted to other elements of business life if you try.

Warehouse Management: A Complete Guide to Improving Efficiency and Minimizing Costs in the Modern Warehouse, written by Gwynne Richards and published by Kogan Page. ISBN 9780749469344 (2nd edition), 448 pages. YYYYY.

[Adam Langham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to the proper management of a warehouse for laymen. I found that many of the concepts and tools were directly applicable to the warehouse in my small manufacturing business. The book is slightly slanted towards larger warehouses but that probably has more to do with the size of our warehouse than. The author makes a couple of assumptions which should probably not have been made, notably in the introduction that she expects the cost of transport will increase in line with oil prices. Reading the book in Spring 2016 the price of oil and the cost of transport of goods have both decreased steeply. Where she discusses the topics she is obviously comfortable with, and has a lot of expertise in, such as inventory turns and warehouse design the concept and implementation are explained clearly and concisely. I would recommend this book to other people involved in small manufacturing firms.

[Marc-Antoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what you would expect from the title, a good overview of warehouse management.

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