Shipping Process Workflow Overview and Key Components

Shipping Process Workflow Overview and Key Components

Shipping Process - Current State

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Key Components

  • Submarine Areas: Mentioned areas include:
    • Shipping: This aspect involves the logistics of transporting goods.
    • Manufacturing (MFG): The process of transforming raw materials into finished goods.
    • Procurement: The sourcing and acquiring of goods and services needed for the shipping process.

Process Flow

  1. Operations Makes Request

    • This step indicates that operations teams initiate requests for items to be shipped, suggesting a centralized control over shipping needs.
    • Idea: Implement a digital request system to streamline this process.

  2. Requested Items to Ship

    • Once a request is made, it involves determining which items are needed for shipment.
    • Thought: Maintain a real-time inventory list to improve visibility over available items.

  3. Checking Inventory

    • A critical step where current inventory is checked before proceeding. Note indicates "Can't check inventory in the system!"
    • Idea: Upgrading to a digital inventory management system could resolve this issue, ensuring that operations can check inventory seamlessly.

  4. Required to Budget Purchase

    • If items aren't available, there's a need to budget for purchasing them.
    • Thought: Set up alerts for low inventory levels to trigger budget requests proactively.

  5. Packaging

    • Includes steps like creating packing lists and shipping documents.
    • Suggestion: Standardize packaging procedures to improve efficiency and reduce errors.

  6. Verifying What’s Being Shipped

    • Ensures that items being packed match the request.
    • Additional Info: This step is crucial for accuracy during shipping phases.

  7. Preparing Packaging

    • Physically preparing boxes and materials for shipping.
    • Idea: Explore eco-friendly packaging options to enhance sustainability practices.

  8. Pulling Parts

    • Final step where parts are collected for shipping.
    • Thought: Implement barcode scanning to streamline picking and packing processes.

Visual Summary

The whiteboard diagram illustrates a linear flow of the shipping process, with clear dependencies between each step. The highlighted issue in inventory checking indicates a critical point of improvement for the entire process. By addressing this and optimizing each step, the overall efficiency and accuracy of shipping can be significantly enhanced.

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