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Actividad de aprendizaje 8
Evidencia 2: Workshop: Understanding the distribution center layout

Aprendiz- Diego Alexis Ciro Jiménez

SENA- Centro de Materiales y Ensayos

Gestión Logística- 1667925
Instructora de Bilingüismo- Diana Patricia Mendoza Guantiva
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1. Getting familiar with Distribution Centers

a. Read the following description of a Distribution Center and complete it with the
words from the box.

STORAGE RECEIVING AREAS CENTERS

All distribution centers have three

main Areas and may have additional
specialized areas. The three main
areas are the Receiving dock, also
called loading dock, the Storage area
or cargo deck, and the shipping dock.
In small organizations it is possible
for the receiving and shipping
functions to occur side by side, but in
large Centers, separating these areas
simplifies the process.
b. Read and match. Read the
definition for each of the areas that a
distribution center may include and
match the definition with the name of such area.

1. LOADING DOCK 2 A. This area controls and ships large. This

department usually includes forklift truck
drivers to load containers and wagons, and
man-up or combi forklift trucks to unload
full pallets from warehouse racking.
2. BULK DEPARTMENT 5 B. This department controls orders which are
leaving the country of the distribution
center. This department is almost identical
in function to a bulk department; however,
workers in this department build pallets
conforming to different standards and sizes.
3. QUALITY ASSURANCE 7 C. This area is in charge of replenishing and
DEPARTMENT storing goods in the store's backroom or
warehouse.
4. TRANSPORTATION 6 D. An area reserved for inventory that is ready
AREA for final assembly or transport.
5. EXPORT 8 E. There are many types of this racking.
DEAPARTMENT However, all types allow for the storage of
palletized materials in horizontal rows with
multiple levels.
6. STAGING LOCATION 1 F. This is an area of the warehouse where
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goods vehicles (usually road or rail) are

loaded and unloaded. This area usually
includes pallet wrapping workers, conveyor
belt unloaders, forklift drivers, and
administrative staff
7. STOCKING 4 G. Arranges and coordinates shipments in and
DEPARTMENT out of the distribution center.
8. PALLET RACKING 3 H. This department performs periodic checks
of random samples of stock to check
quality, including from the warehouse
racking, goods in, and returned stock.

2. Describing a Distribution Center

Following, you’ll see the very basic design of any Distribution Center. Check the image
and answer the questions:

A) According to the image, complete the following paragraph by selecting the best
preposition for each case.
While creating a layout for your warehouse or distribution center can be
considered a big task, it doesn't have to be complicated. The
following tips can help you navigate the process of laying out your
warehouse and make the most out of your space.

1. Make sure you have enough pallets to store all your goods on them.
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2. Organize your pallets evenly in specific racks in such way that it is

easy for the machinery –forklifts- to access them.
3. There should be enough space for your equipment or machinery to
move through the warehouse.
4. The machinery or equipment station must be far the shipping and
receiving area in order to load and unload freight trucks.
5. The offices must be located in front of the warehouse racking for
you to supervise the activity within the warehouse.

Let’s check another example of a distribution center. Pay attention to the different areas
within this distribution center and answer the questions below:

B) Write sentences to describe the previous distribution center. Do not forget to use
prepositions to describe their location. Check the example:

Where is the…? Answer

- Loading area
- Value added services area
- Inventory control area
- Quality auditing area
The loading area is located next to the freezer.
The Value added services area is in front of the
line loading of the line loading
The Inventory control area is next to line
loading
Quality auditing area is within Inventory
control area control are
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- Order packing area
- Refrigerated specialty
products area
- Put-to-store area
The Order packing area is Opposite the Put-to-
store
The Refrigerated specialty products area is
Among the Value added services area and high
value products area
The Put-to-store area is next to reverse logistics

3. Critical thinking – Making decisions

A) Pros and Cons. Read the following statements about Distribution Center Design
and decide in your agree or disagree with the statement. Do some research on the
topic and provide pros and cons for each statement.

Check the example:

Your opinion:
I disagree. I think Distribution Centers
must have a specific design that
helps the regular non-changing
flow of goods.

The layout in your warehouse must be
flexible
PROS:
-With flexible Distribution Centers you
can ensure your facilities are
ready for anything that comes in
the future.
CONS:
-Flexible Distribution Centers tends to
be more disorganized. It is hard
to keep control of the changes.

Save space: cram as many pallet racks
into your warehouse as possible
Your opinion: I disagree, in my point of
view you should keep only the
necessary inventories to reduce costs
and find a better displacement for
personnel and machinery
PROS: It would be taking more
advantage of the distribution center
CONS: The displacements inside the
CEDI can be hindered, which generates
loss of time and money

Having an aisle map will help you
validate that the correct item is
in the assigned location.
Provide for the level of automation that
can be cost-justified based on
your particular operation and
cost structure.
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Your opinion: It seems to me a great
idea, since it helps to find stored
products in a more efficient way and
improves productivity.
PROS: streamlines the search for
products
CONS: Staff can become dependent on
these and, in turn, not work on their
own experience in CEDI.
Your opinion: The person in charge
must study the areas that need this
process in a more relevant way
PROS: Improves the flow of
processes and reduction of steps to
perform a task
CONS: Care must be taken to find
the practical way, it can lead to
capital expenditures