Questions

Questions posted on the chatbox will all be answered here accordingly.

1) ?Are key performance indicators the only solution to management problems? If not state the reason and some alternatives to key performance indicators."

I think you may have gotten the wrong idea, key performance indicators are not solutions to management problems. Key performance indicators as we have earlier discussed, are financial and non-financial metrics used to help an organisation define and measure progress towards organisational goals. So in the case of a warehouse and distribution centre, KPIs are are metrics used to define how effective they are respectively. KPI's are used to measure progress towards the goals of a certain organisation. These goals differ from industry to industry. Hence, different industries would have outlined a different set of goals.

2) "Will different warehouses and distribution centers have the same standards with regards to the key performance indicators?"

That will only be possible if the warehouse or distribution center share the same goals! Normally, different warehouses and distribution centers have different sets of goals in which they work towards. For example, a warehouse with high throughput level and a warehouse with low throughput level. Both would be steering towards different goals. A high throughput level warehouse will have a KPI that indicates throughput level. Whilst in the case of a low throughput level warehouse, it's most important KPI might be it's quality and service.

3) "Can you give me examples of different types of storage systems which might be used for space utilization?"

These would be the Bin ASRS, Pallet ASRS, Mobile Racking system or the Vertical carousel system.

Depending on the nature of the item, the warehouse will have to make decisions on which item to use which storage system in order to maximize the use of space.

Mobile Storage System

Vertical Carousel

Pallet Storage