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There are Five types of warehouses :
Private Warehouse : This
type of warehouse is owned and operated by channel suppliers and
resellers and used in their own distribution activity. For
instance, a major retail chain may have several regional
warehouses supplying their stores or a wholesaler will operate a
warehouse at which it receives and distributes products.
Public Warehouse : The
public warehouse is essentially space that can be leased to
solve short-term distribution needs. Retailers that operate
their own private warehouses may occasionally seek additional
storage space if their facilities have reached capacity or if
they are making a special, large purchase of products. For
example, retailers may order extra merchandise to prepare for
in-store sales or order a large volume of a product that is
offered at a low promotional price by a supplier.
Automated Warehouse : With
advances in computer and robotics technology, many warehouses
now have automated capabilities. The level of automation ranges
from a small conveyor belt transporting products in a small area
all the way up to a fully automated facility where only a few
people are needed to handle storage activity for thousands of
pounds/kilograms of product. In fact, many warehouses use
machines to handle nearly all physical distribution activities
such as moving product-filled pallets (i.e., platforms that hold
large amounts of product) around buildings that may be several
stories tall and the length of two or more football fields.
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Climate-Controlled Warehouse :
Warehouses handle storage of many types of products including
those that need special handling conditions such as freezers for
storing frozen products, humidity-controlled environments for
delicate products, such as produce or flowers, and dirt-free
facilities for handling highly sensitive computer products.
Distribution Center : There
are some warehouses where product storage is
considered a very temporary activity. These
warehouses serve as points in the |
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distribution
system at which products are received from many
suppliers and quickly shipped out to many customers. In
some cases, such as with distribution centers handling
perishable food (e.g., produce), most of the product
enters in the early morning and is distributed by the
end of the day. |
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