Begin with the first handover
Identify who supplies the goods and who arranges transport to the warehouse. List the information that should arrive with the consignment and the checks you expect at receipt. Clear responsibilities help avoid assumptions when something is missing or different.
Define the receiving unit
Goods may arrive as sealed pallets, mixed pallets, cartons or other formats. Describe packaging condition, product identifiers and any information that needs to be captured before the goods can be allocated to storage.
Connect physical movement and stock records
A movement of goods should be understandable in the stock record. Consider what information is needed when goods are received, moved, held, adjusted or released. Requirements should be agreed alongside the physical workflow.
Make release instructions clear
Explain who can authorise an order and how changes are communicated. Consider rotation rules, customer allocations and stock that must remain on hold. A proposed system should support the business process rather than leave responsibility unclear.
Plan the outbound handover
Share the receiving arrangements at the next destination and who appoints the transport provider. Identify the documents and records that should accompany dispatch. Transport requirements should be discussed with the storage and handling scope.
Include an exception route
Shortages, damage, document gaps and schedule changes need a decision process. Identify the people who can give instructions and the information they need to do so. An exception plan is a useful part of an initial requirements brief.
Take it with you
Your planning checklist
- Supplier and transport responsibilities
- Arrival format and receiving records
- Stock identifiers and movement history
- Release authority and rotation rules
- Dispatch and destination requirements
- Exception contacts and decisions
