It's not just about storage

Warehousing is one of the most important components of logistics and supply chain management.

Modern warehousing involves the dynamic storage of goods and is largely an automated process designed to facilitate stock rotation by means of a combination of equipment such as stacker cranes built into the storage area, remote-controlled forklift trucks for vertical and horizontal movement of goods and gravity flow racks in which pallets are automatically replaced in a line.

Many warehouses are computer-controlled and use the latest warehouse management software. Efficiency is of utmost importance, and there is no compromise on safety measures.

With its traditional trading background, ideal location between East and West and the high density of free zones, the UAE is a perfect place to have a warehouse.

Several international shipping and logistics companies have taken to warehousing products here to facilitate re-export to countries around the world.

Free zones in the UAE also allow leasing of warehouses.
Leading freight companies such as Modern Freight Company (MFC) facilitate the flow of information through their in-house warehouse management system, which provides clients with benefits such as online inventory management to help them manage their business more efficiently.
At MFC, focus is on quality, safety and security of operations.

"We have a fully qualified Nebosh Quality Manager. MFC is also covered by BSI under the 9001:2000 safety standards.
With respect to MFC's warehouse operations, we have 24-hour security in place as well as CCTV cameras positioned within the plot. We stringently follow the BSI safety procedures and have a fully qualified team in place to conduct periodical health and safety audits.

Our fire systems, which are linked to the Fire Department, are also tested frequently and we involve the MFC staff in periodical fire drills.

Our fire marshals and firefighters have training every year.
"We also ensure that our forklift drivers are fully qualified and are involved in annual training to improve their skills.

All of these procedures ensure that we operate a safe and efficient warehouse.

In line with our commitment to quality and environment, we are working towards gaining ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 accreditation," says Nick Trott, General Manger, MFC.

According to Bernard Dias, Operations Manager, RHS Logistics LLC, "Cross-dock, flow through, merge in transit and value-added and quality operations complement the traditional storage and pick, pack and ship.

"The warehouse or distribution centre has emerged as a supply chain node that adds value by providing multiple and diverse functions of greater complexity, including customisation, order processing and back-office functions.
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Managing inventory is a critical ingredient to successfully managing supply chains, with information technology being a key element of the supply chain strategy.

"The entire warehouse operation of RHS Logistics is bar coded and managed, utilising a highly sophisticated warehouse management system, modern material handling equipment with built-in safety and security features and highly skilled and trained workforce to ensure outstanding levels of customer service and inventory accuracy right from the point of order taking and various inventory management activities.

Dias says, "A primary measure of our success is a very low order cycle time — the time elapsed from receiving an order to shipping the order." Swift Freight Company has four warehousing facilities in the Jebel Ali Free Zone including stores equipped with temperature control systems.

"We have web portals where a customer can track his stock, generate reports, place orders for new stock etc.

The beauty of our system is that it can share interface with multiple backend systems such as Oracle, SAP, SQL etc," says Franklin Fernandes, Manager, Warehousing and Supply Chain Management of SFC.

Quality of service is one of the important values of the Swift brand. Swift believes in training all its blue-collar workers and officers for first aid and firefighting.

Proper training on equipment operation, automation and software usage are also provided to concerned personnel.

"It is because of our well-trained personnel on all fronts of our business that we have been consistently successful.

Swift Group is proud to have been one of the first companies to reserve space in Dubai Logistics City (totalling 28,800 square metres) for a purpose-built logistics centre.
It will also have an additional 25,000 square metres airside facility at the new World Central Airport to provide smooth air connectivity for shipments," says Fernandes.

Space constraints

Keyvan Nowrouzian, General Manager for UAE of Clarion Shipping, says, "Since we are in an important logistics hub of the world in Jebel Ali Free Zone, we face tremendous pressure due to space constraints and massive hike in warehouse rates.

"We are now building our own massive warehouse in the south zone of JAFZA, which will be ready by the end of this year."

The new warehouse will have a capacity of 50,000 pallet spaces and will be fully automated and supported by the most sophisticated warehouse management system software created by Dimensions Cybertech of India.

Training

Safety along with efficiency of its workers is of vital importance to Clarion. "Educating and training workers are of prime importance.

We make them aware of the safety precautions they should take in their duties. As for efficiency, we equip them with all possible tools and means to ease their tasks which would ultimately optimise their efficiency," says Nowrouzian.

One of the leading and integrated freight forwarding solutions providers in Dubai, Consolidated Shipping Services LLC, thrives on the well being of its employees by ensuring that on-site and off-site safety training is executed on a regular basis.

"We ensure that our staff fully understand and comply with the latest industry standards and technologies while keeping the company's mission and vision in perspective at all times.
Constant employee feedback assists us in designing new safety measures that will guarantee efficient operations within the warehouse," says T S Kaladharan, Chairman of CSS.