TABLE OF CONTENTS The vendor-delivered UOP or CO flow through a facility and valued-added activities has an impact on the order-fulfillment process. It is understood that a building's physical shape and size, the number of floors, and the value-added activities determine the location of the pick area and pattern of flow of vendor-delivered UOPs or COs through a facility. The design team determines the most cost-effective and efficient flow pattern and sequence of value-added activities.
Options for vendor-delivered UOP or CO flow patterns are:
For a single-floor facility, a horizontal flow pattern that is:
One-way or straight flow
Two-way patterns
A vertical or up-and-down flow pattern that is used in a multi-floor facility
A one-way or straight vendor-delivered UOP or CO flow pattern through a small-item or flatwear order-fulfillment facility is also referred to as an "in one side and out the other" pattern. Vendor-delivered UOPs enter the facility from one side and COs exit the facility from the opposite side. In this one-way flow pattern, vendor-delivered UOPs travel through the entire facility. In a store/hold inventory flow pattern, there are increased transport costs because storage area forklift trucks do not perform dual-cycle storage transactions. When the order-fulfillment operation has a low volume, few SKUs and low pallet inventory, and this pattern is used, facility construction and landscape costs are higher due to the need for more vendor and customer delivery truck roadways and yard area.
