Question

Discuss the influence of omni-channel distributionson warehousing operations, and analyse its congruence with the quality and lean management principles.

Accessment criteria:

1. Concept explanation (omni-channel distribution, concepts in quality and lean warehousing management principles, etc.)

2.. Influence of omni-channel distribution on warehouse management

3. Congruence of omni-channel distributions with the quality and lean management principles

Answer 1

Omni-channel distributions: As the name suggests, omni-channel distribution channels include all those resources which help the customers to access the delivery form anywhere at any time. This provides a unified end-to-end experience of purchasing to the customers. Retailers, wholesalers and all other e-commerce channels together give a reason for the existence of a successful omni-channel distribution.

Omni-channel distributions influence on warehousing operations

To take the advantage of excellent networking and communication channels, global technologies, as well as advanced science of managing the distribution practices, warehouse operations is integrated with these technologies. Consumer base is expanding at large and to serve such a large pool of expectations and opportunities, technological advancement is must.

Warehousing facilities should be equipped with the latest technologies. Due to this reason, various warehouses and distribution centers transformed themselves into the technology based platform to conduct transact business across the globe and expanding their demand. WMS has been emerged and various other software have been developed such as SAP business one, LISA DWMS, that helps in achieving the maximum gain with rapidly growing market place.

Omni-channel distributions and the quality and lean management principles

The quality and lean management is concerned with the initiatives that firm and suppliers take towards improving, and maintaining quality standards. It helps in identifying the quality defects in suppliers’ product and facilitates cooperation between the suppliers and manufacturer to improve the quality of the items supplied. With the advent of omni-channels distribution, maintaining quality becomes a great concern as multiple channels across the globe are involved in this. Consumers are expecting easy and fast accessibility with quality that binds them to the concerned product/market for a long-term. Thus, to ensure the quality aspect in the process which is majorly concerned with reducing waste and increasing quality, omni-channels are being developed in todays’ time.