warehouses

A warehouse is a building or part of a building used for the storage of goods, raw materials, and finished products. They form a node in supply chains, enabling bulk handling, buffering variability in demand, and supporting procurement, production, and distribution. Modern warehouses emphasize accuracy, speed, and cost efficiency through layout and technology.

There are several types of warehouses. Private warehouses are owned or operated by the company that uses them; public warehouses are third-party facilities offering storage to multiple clients; distribution centers focus on rapid receipt, sorting, and dispatch of orders; cold storage stores perishable items; and cross-docking facilities shuttle incoming goods directly to outgoing shipments with minimal storage.

Core operations include receiving, put-away, storage, order picking, packing, and shipping, along with inventory control and returns processing. Storage is supported by racking systems and palletized or unit-load handling. Technologies such as warehouse management systems (WMS), barcoding or RFID, automated storage and retrieval systems, conveyors, and robotics optimize accuracy and throughput.

Design considerations include site location relative to suppliers and customers, dock layout, ceiling height for storage density, and fire safety. Performance is tracked with metrics such as inventory accuracy, turnover, order cycle time, and on-time shipments. Environmental and safety regulations, energy-efficient lighting, and climate control are common focus areas in modern warehouses.