Selection of logistics containers in the hottest r

Selection of logistics containers in retail logistics centers in recent years, many commercial enterprises are building logistics centers and regard logistics capabilities as the core competence of competition. Compared with manufacturing logistics, commercial retail logistics has its own uniqueness. Affected by many factors, such as the variety of goods, many stores, many orders, high frequency of distribution, large seasonal changes, like us, retail logistics seems to be more difficult. In today's increasingly fierce competition, how to improve the service quality and enhance the competitiveness of enterprises by improving the logistics system? For the commercial retail industry, the first thing to do is to strengthen the internal operation management of its logistics center. The unit management is the basis of the internal operation management of the logistics center, in which the logistics container as a unit plays an important role. In the past, containers were just a kind of packaging, protecting commodities on the one hand and facilitating storage and transportation on the other hand. However, in the modern supply chain environment and logistics operation process, containers are no longer a simple packaging, but are given a greater mission and become the carrier of modular management, which is particularly important. Here, the author would like to talk about the selection and requirements of retail logistics centers for containers based on the experience of Shanghai guanheng industrial equipment company in providing various logistics containers for supermarkets and convenience stores in recent years

problems faced by retail logistics centers

1. Problems of loading rate and distribution efficiency

Shanghai guanheng industrial equipment company has provided relevant logistics container products for nearly 400 logistics centers in the fields of medicine, supermarkets, convenience, tobacco, books, etc. in recent years, such as pluggable products have become standard products for retail distribution, and the operation mode extended through such products has become the use mode of many industry standards. But a few years ago, when we first took the pluggable turnover box to a logistics center of a large convenience store in Shanghai for demonstration, the customer actually raised such a question: will the amount of goods contained in the turnover box be reduced? Will the load be reduced? Will the transportation efficiency of distribution vehicles be reduced, resulting in an increase in costs? Of course, now it seems that these are no longer problems, but at that time, users will be full of doubts. From the perspective of logistics supply chain, the overall capacity of logistics depends on each logistics operation link, not just a node. If only the loading capacity of a node is met, there will be confusion between goods and stores, poor handover between delivery personnel and stores, and waste of time counting goods. By using standardized logistics containers to correspond to stores and orders, and realizing unit distribution management, we can find a balance between loading rate and distribution efficiency, so as to improve the distribution efficiency of the whole supply chain

2. The problem of goods counting and acceptance

handover with stores (especially franchise stores). If the quantity and type of goods in the box are counted improperly, only the number of boxes is checked, and then there will often be mutual wrangling and mutual non recognition. This was also a thorny problem in the past. We have done such tests with customers: strictly check the picking and review operations in the warehouse, use standard and easily recyclable pluggable turnover boxes as the distribution unit to the store for shipment, and lock the box cover with ties before shipment to prevent the loss of goods on the way. After arriving at the store, you only need to count the number of boxes. After receiving the goods, the store counts the goods according to the order and packing list, and takes back the containers delivered last time, so as to meet the requirements of rapid distribution and counting. Of course, there are also stores that have the problem of unclear inventory and delivery, but we did not give up because of choking, because individual phenomena abandon this method that can facilitate the overall operation, improve distribution efficiency and reduce operating costs. For individual stores that often have problems, the logistics manager uses the means of spot checking the distribution goods of the store in the warehouse to find out the reasons, and focuses on tracking to prevent the loss of goods on the way

after a period of experiments, it has been proved that using standardized container distribution with corresponding management methods can indeed help logistics centers improve efficiency, and also promote the operation norms of domestic retail enterprise logistics centers using standard containers. So far, we have provided at least 300000 pluggable logistics boxes for about 400 logistics centers

selection of logistics containers

at present, whether manufacturing or commerce, the concentration of the industry is getting higher and higher. Several leading enterprises can even drive the development of the whole industry, thus bringing many enterprises into their supply chain. The chain of supply chain is getting longer and longer. In this case, both leading enterprises and upstream and downstream enterprises are willing to use containers with unified standards. Such containers turn around in the supply chain, which can improve the overall efficiency of the whole chain. Therefore, the first thing to consider in the selection of logistics containers is its standardization. Choose standard containers instead of non-standard containers

secondly, we should consider the needs of business expansion and pay attention to the compatibility between different commodities when stored in containers. For example, there is a third-party logistics enterprise, which initially did the distribution of food, and later undertook the distribution of books, audio-visual products. At this time, they found that some of the containers originally selected could not contain new products, resulting in a lot of waste. Therefore, for some new large and medium-sized logistics centers, it is best to consider container selection, industry standards, operation specifications and other issues in the early stage of construction. The product manufacturers of each system company have their own product characteristics and benefit basis. What we advocate is the industry standard container and its correct use. Although the logistics container is a small product, if it is selected carelessly, it is easy to cause big trouble

third, in the same logistics center, try to use fewer standard logistics containers to cover most goods, so as to improve efficiency and reduce costs. It is best not to dump containers in the internal distribution of the logistics center (unless the industry characteristics or planning operations require dumping containers), and try to make containers integrated in storage, picking, distribution and other links

fourth, although it is a carrier of logistics operation information transmission and a node of commodity flow and information flow, the logistics container should be reserved with a location convenient for information processing. As the logistics equipment used in different commodity inventory areas and different operation links in the logistics center, the logistics container is usually collected in the leather area reserved on the container, the functional area of barcode scanning and the pasting position of distribution information to facilitate information processing

fifth, choose the logistics container with integrated box cover. At present, the domestic logistics container use environment is still in a relatively preliminary stage. The result is completely different whether the logistics center has management rules for the use of containers. For well managed enterprises, the service life of containers is long, and for poorly managed enterprises, containers are often scattered. Therefore, it is recommended that customers use the turnover box with box cover as much as possible to avoid the problems of box cover and box separation, mismatching of recycling quantity, and inconsistent deformation of box cover and box cover separation in long-term use. Using the pluggable turnover box with the integration of cover and box can not only save the recycling space and empty box storage space, but also because the buckle buckle is installed on the cover, it is not called the experimental machine to solve the problem of commodity loss. Of course, folding boxes and stackable boxes are also good choices. These two containers are widely used in Japan, but the use environment in Japan is better than that in China. Many logistics centers are also equipped with corresponding unpacking equipment. From the perspective of use environment, labor intensity, cost investment and so on, my personal view is that pluggable logistics boxes are more suitable for domestic retail logistics centers

in addition, the selection of containers should also consider the operating environment and commodity characteristics, such as low-temperature distribution, different drugs are easy to taste

Author: Tian Ming, general manager of Shanghai guanheng Industrial Equipment Co., Ltd.

source: logistics technology