A Supply Chain Logistics Program for Warehouse Management 13.pdfVIP

Chapter 12 Returns Process, Customer Return, and Vendor Rework Warehouse Actiities Introduction In addition to receiving, shipping, storage, and pick and pack activities, other important ware- house activities are the customer-returns process, vendor and customer-returns rework, and trash removal. In a warehouse with a WMS program, the last two warehouse activities that interface with the WMS program are 1 the customer-returns process, with its return-to-stock RTS and return-to-vendor RTV activity and 2 vendor rework activity. Trash removal is not related to a WMS program but it is important for a warehouse to have an on-time, cost-effective, and efficient returns operation. The objectives of this chapter are to a develop, identify, and evaluate warehouse design parameters and operational characteristics for the customer-returns process, vendor rework, and trash removal activities. Understanding design parameters and operational characteristics are key factors in making a warehouse more cost effective and efficient with the warehouse’s company customer-service standard. In this chapter, we shall 1 review manual and mechanical customer return process designs and SKU procedures; 2 RTS manual sort and WMS interface and routing patterns; 3 sort area equipment layouts and types; 4 activities that ensure an efficient and on-time returned, processed, and disposed SKU flow; and 5 vendor rework locations and flows. Customer-Returns Process or Actiity Functional Description The customer-returns process or activity is the warehouse activity that ensures a SKU returned by a customer is valid per a customer order that is obtained from a computer file see Figure 12.1 . After a SKU quality is determined to be valid, a SKU is disposed per the warehouse standard as a return to stock or return to vendor SKU. Per a SKU disposition, a SKU flows from the returns 415 ? 2008 by Taylor Francis Group, LLC 416 n ?A Supply Chain Lo