Warehouse/Distribution Center Layout and Material Handling

  • Overview
  • Course Content
  • Requirements & Materials
Overview

Warehouse/Distribution Center Layout and Material Handling

Course Description

This “how-to” course teaches Systematic Layout Planning (SLP). It greatly expands the depth of coverage on warehousing methods, especially material handling with sessions on topics such as detail rail layout and installation planning. It includes added coverage on site location and selection, warehouse relocation, and installation. Equal attention is given to planning new or rearranging existing facilities, including analysis of order-picking, storage, and material handling methods.

You will learn by doing. Over 100 pages of worksheets and exercises and a dozen case problems assure your mastery of the material. Checklists and Excel™ Working Forms prepare you for immediate application.

This course provides essential learning for those who are short on space, storing new or different items, performing new functions, or simply looking for productivity improvements.  

Georgia Tech offers an in-person, hands-on course (Warehouse/Distribution Center Layout) that covers many of these topics. However, this online version is for those who want access to expanded coverage of these topics, plus additional content in material handling not covered in the in-person course.

Course Content

INTRODUCTION

FUNDAMENTALS OF SYSTEMATIC LAYOUT PLANNING (SLP)

LEARN-BY-DOING EXERCISE: NEW FACILITY LAYOUT; RELATIONSHIP CHARTING & DIAGRAMMING

OVERVIEW OF THE FULL SLP METHOD: PHASES; FUNDAMENTALS; PROCEDURES AND CONVENTIONS; KEY DOCUMENTS AND OUTPUTS

KEY INPUT DATA FOR LAYOUT PLANNING: P Q R S T

ORDER-PICKING & STORAGE (LESS THAN UNIT LOAD)

UNIT LOAD STORAGE METHODS

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: AUTOMATED STORAGE & RETRIEVAL

CASE PROBLEM: STORAGE METHODS SELECTION

CASE PROBLEM: INTEGRATION OF STORAGE AND PICKING METHODS

MATERIAL HANDLING METHODS

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: AUTOMATIC GUIDED VEHICLES

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: CONVEYING

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: SORTATION

CASE PROBLEM: MATERIAL HANDLING METHODS

INTEGRATION OF STORAGE AND HANDLING METHODS

CASE PROBLEM: INTEGRATION OF STORAGE AND HANDLING METHODS

CASE PROBLEM: STORAGE METHODS AND ERGONOMICS

TYPES OF LAYOUTS & DEFINITION OF ACTIVITY-AREAS

CASE EXERCISE: FLOW OF MATERIALS ANALYSIS

FLOW OF MATERIALS ANALYSIS IN SLP

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: MAG COUNT

COMBINING FLOW & OTHER RELATIONSHIPS

DIAGRAMMING ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS

HOW TO DETERMINE SPACE REQUIRED

SPACE RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAMS

HOW TO DEVELOP LAYOUT PLANS

CASE EXERCISE IN BLOCK LAYOUT: EXISTING FACILITY REARRANGEMENT

HOW TO COMPARE MATERIAL HANDLING EFFORT

HOW TO EVALUATE AND SELECT THE BEST LAYOUT PLAN

DEPARTMENT, SMALL AREA AND WORKPLACE LAYOUTS USING SLP

RACK AND SHELF AREA LAYOUTS

RECEIVING, SHIPPING & DOCK AREA LAYOUTS

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: TRUCK DOCKS

SITE LOCATION AND SELECTION

SUPPLEMENTAL READING: NETWORK ANALYSIS

LAYOUT AND EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION

CASE PROBLEM: USING SLP TO PLAN AN EXPANSION

CASE PROBLEM: USING SLP TO EVALUATE A PROPOSED PLAN

CASE PROBLEM: USING SLP TO RE-PLAN WHEN NEEDS CHANGE

PROJECT PLANNING & MANAGEMENT USING SLP

Requirements & Materials
Materials

Required (student must provide)

  • A computer with speakers and high-speed internet connectivity to access online content.
  • The ability to view and print Portable Document Files (PDF).
  • Microsoft PowerPoint is needed for one short exercise.
  • Microsoft Excel is needed to open one checklist provided and the Working Forms referenced throughout the course.
  • Microsoft Visio is needed if you wish to complete two layout planning exercises in electronic form. If you do not have or are not permitted to load Visio, both exercises can be completed with pencil on printed PDFs.

 Provided (student will receive)

  • Access to online course content and optional reading materials until the course end date.
  • A die-cut template ruler and set of colored pencils will be mailed by the instructor to you at the address that is listed in your GTPE account. You will need these for the initial layout exercise and for subsequent exercises not completed using Microsoft Visio.*

*Please note that it may take several weeks to receive these supplies, especially if you are outside of the United States.

Session Details

  • Special Discounts: All residents of the State of Georgia are eligible for a 50% discount while funds last thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. Use of this discount is subject to verification of GA residency. Enter coupon code SCL-GAAIM at checkout (cannot be combined with other discounts).

    Non-Georgia residents can register and pay for all required courses in a Supply Chain & Logistics certificate and receive a discount of 17% off per course. Enter coupon code SCL-Cert at checkout. Review coupon instructions for more information.

    If you have 3 or more participants from your organization, please contact us for volume discounts at course@scl.gatech.edu.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for managers of warehousing, distribution and logistics; warehouse supervisors and team leaders; industrial engineers and systems analysts; planning teams for new or expanded facilities; leaders of supply chain and lean initiatives; and material handling engineers and equipment suppliers.

Supply chain professionals learning in classroom

What You Will Learn

  • The phases and steps of Systematic Layout Planning (SLP)
  • Choices and conditions for order-picking and storage
  • Choices and conditions for material handling methods
  • How to identify, agree and assure that your most important relationships are honored in your layout plan
  • Short- and long-term space estimating and how to resolve space shortages
  • Block and detailed layout plans and how to agree on the best
  • Project planning and management
  • Factors to consider and evaluate for warehouse site location and selection
  • Relocation and installation planning
Supply chain professionals collaborating in warehouse

How You Will Benefit

  • Improve material flow, throughput, and performance.
  • Reduce handling costs in storage and order picking.
  • Improve space utilization.
  • Provide for flexibility, adaptability, and volume growth.
  • Get earlier agreement on plans and changes while saving time.
  • Boost management’s confidence and get faster approvals for your plans.
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  • Taught by Experts in the Field icon
    Taught by Experts in the Field

I am really impressed with the scope of subjects covered and the practical case studies in diverse sectors from health, education, and other public sector projects.

- Kenny Onasanya
Team Lead

TRAIN AT YOUR LOCATION

We enable employers to provide specialized, on-location training on their own timetables. Our world-renowned experts can create unique content that meets your employees' specific needs. We also have the ability to deliver courses via web conferencing or on-demand online videos. For 15 or more students, it is more cost-effective for us to come to you.

  • Save Money
  • Flexible Schedule
  • Group Training
  • Customize Content
  • On-Site Training
  • Earn a Certificate
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