Warehousing and Inventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Warehousing and Inventory Management - Essay Example Proper inventory management helps increase operational efficiency across businesses, improve customer service, and reduce inventory & distribution costs. The inventory management system and inventory control process provide information to manage the flow of materials efficiently, utilize people and equipment effectively, co-ordinate internal activities, and communicate with customers. Inventory management does not make decisions or manage operations; they provide information to managers who make more accurate and timely decisions to manage their operations. Inventory management must be designed to meet the dictates of the market place and support the company’s strategic plan. The inventory management approach should be updated according to the changes in market demand, new opportunities due to world wide marketing, global sourcing of materials, and new manufacturing technologies. According to Smith (1998 ), the primary finite resource of a warehouse is space. The planning of this key physical factor is very important for the operating efficiency of the warehouse. To meet the objectives of warehouse, proper planning of warehouse space and layout requirements is imperative. The most important functions of a warehouse occur on the receiving and shipping docks where the control of merchandise is transferred, whether products are brought into the warehouse or taken from it. An important prerequisite of efficient, safe and accurate receiving and shipping activities is enough space in which to perform them. Let us review the following critical factors for determining warehouse space and layout planning: i) Staging Area: - The majority of warehouses require a staging area directly behind the dock maneuvering aisle. The staging area for receiving acts as an immediate depository for materials unloaded from the carrier. This area serves as an accumulation point for the merchandise that

GO-GO Gadgets Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GO-GO Gadgets - Coursework Example The company was established in the year 1976 by the legendary Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne (Apple, 2011). The company went public in the year 1976 and is presently ranked as the topmost brand in the Fortune magazine’s list of top 50 brands in 2011 (CNN Money, 2011). The iPad 2 is a multi user product that can be used by working professionals as a substitute for notebooks as well as by individuals for entertainment purposes that includes watching TV surfing the internet and performing multiple functions that are being done by the computers. The iPad 2 has advanced graphics that enables high definition graphics. It can also be used to play games view and modify photographs and pictures as well as VOIP services. In addition to the innovative product features of iPad 1, the new product would be 33 percent thinner and would be lighter by about 15 percent. The product would also have dual core A5 micro chip that would enable faster browsing and greater speeds for the device. All these features would come up with a battery life of ten hours. In addition the iPad 2 would also have two cameras that would enable video conferencing between two people and also enable capture of high definition images. The new smart cover on the device is something that is never seen before in any device with the cover being extremely compatible and would also automatically enable and disable the sleep mode by being opened and covered respectively. He cover can also be folded to make it up as a stand for the iPad while being in use. All these features largely hold the promise of making it a new revolution ushered by the company (Apple-a, 2011). The new version of the iPad draws its competitive advantage from the aspect of being compatible to high end graphics as well as from the increased speed and robustness of the product owing to the use of dual core A5 processor that would enhance its