Taking a DC’s “Pulse” - Johnson Stephens Consulting

The Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) recently published an article with content by Steve Johnson, Managing Principal of Johnson Stephens Consulting.

Excerpts from the full article are as published in July – August 2009 WERCSheet – Taking a DC’s “Pulse”

“Conducting a periodic diagnostic review of DC and warehousing operations provides management with a very low cost approach to determining what Lean improvements can be identified and implemented", explains Steve Johnson, principal, Johnson Stephens Consulting, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.  “These reviews typically yield savings in terms of payback in weeks versus years."

“Johnson adds, “The purpose of diagnostic reviews is to provide a total overview/diagnostic of the current state of your DC or warehouse.  The review includes all inside operations, both warehouse/DC floor and the office functions, and external operations, such as receiving and shipping yard operations."  Other purposes of the audits include identifying the ‘low-hanging-fruit’ or ‘fruit-on-the-floor’ that can produce significant operating expense savings.  They are also useful for assessing your operations prior to conducting more strategic oriented planning projects, according to Johnson."

WERC members can read the full article at WERC.