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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Warehousing and Storage (English for Logistics)


STARTER: Look at the pictures of warehouse equipment. Match the pictures (a-f) with the words (1-6).
1.      Hand pallet-truck
2.      Tote bin
3.      Fork-lift truck (CB truck)
4.      Roll-cage pallet
5.      (euro pallet or UK ) pallet
6.      Trolley
Question 1: Read the text describing warehouse areas and label the areas with words from the list.
Sortation, marshalling and dispatch, receiving, collation and value-added services, back-up storage, order picking

First of all, there is the _____ area. That’s where all incoming goods arrive and documentation is checked and recorded. Goods are often unpacked here to make their format more suitable for warehouse handling.

The _____ area the goods are selected in the right quantities, that means the quantities required by the customer. Here we also brad bulk. That means, for example, after receiving goods in large quantities (e.g. pallets), we need to pack them in smaller separate units for the customer.

In the _____ area we deal with smaller order sizes. Sometimes several orders have been batched together to simplify the picking process and now need to be sorted down to individual orders.

After picking, the goods are consolidated and made ready for dispatch. Depending on the customer’s requirements the goods may be packed into cartons or cases or they are wrapped (i.e. stretch-warpping). Some warehouses also provide special services such as labeling. This part of warehouse operatons is called _____ .
The final stage in warehouse operations is the _____ area. The goods are brought together to form vehicle loads and are then loaded onto vehicles for onward dispatch.


Question 2: Match the warehouse areas (1-5) to activities that take place in them (a-f).
1.      Dispatch _____
2.      Collation _____
3.      Reserve storage _____
4.      Order picking and sortation _____
5.      Receiving _____
a.      Goods are brought together for loading and transport
b.      Where the goods are kept until required
c.       The goods are selected and put together in the units required by the customer
d.      Complete orders are packed and wrapped
e.      The goods are prepared for warehouse operations
Question 3: Match the verbs (1-8) from the text in exercise 1 to the correct definitions (a-h).
1.      Label _____
2.      Repack _____
3.      Handle _____
4.      Select _____
5.      Batch _____
6.      Sort _____
7.      Warp _____
8.      Load _____
a.      Put goods on a pallet or vehicle
b.      Provide specific information on the product itself or the packaging
c.       Deal with
d.      Pick or choose
e.      Put several things together
f.        Pack in special material for protection
g.      Put into new units or formats
h.      Arrange in a special way or order
THE PASSIVE
When describing process, the passive voice is often used with modal verbs such as can, must, may, should, etc.
The forks can be raised by a simple pump action.
This system must be fitted with detectors.

Or, we can use the passive in other tenses e.g. the present perfect tense.
After the goods have been checked, they go into back-up storage.
The unloading has been completed.


Question 4: Complete the sentences using the correct active or passive form of the verbs in brackets.
a.      After the unit load _____ (check), it goes into automated storage.
b.      As soon as an appropriate location _____ (identify) by the ware house management system, a put-away instruction _____ (must, issue).
c.       After the vehicle driver _____ (report) to the gatehouse, the vehicle documentation _____ (check) by staff.
d.      Then the packages _____ (process) i.e. they _____ (may, label) with bar codes.
e.      The goods _____ (check) on unloading.
f.        After that, staff _____ (direct ) the driver to an unloading by or a parking area.
Now put the steps in the goods receiving process in the correct order 1-6.
Question 5: Listen to this extract from a presentation about a new warehouse management system. Now say which of these statements is true, and which one is false.
1.      The existing system is not very efficient.
2.      They could centralize inventories in one Canadian warehouse.
3.      Cycle times can be reduced by at least half.
4.      They could reduce warehouse area from four floors to one.
5.      Print on demand allows them to print invoices in several languages.
Question 6: now listen to the recording again and complete the sentences.
1.      I think this new warehouse area management system WMS 2X would help us cut costs and _____ our processes.
2.      One great advantage of WMS 2X is that we could reduce the number of warehouses _____ across Canada.
3.      Another interesting feature of WMS 2X is customer order _____.
4.      Warehouse _____ could be improved as well by transferring departments.
5.      WMS 2X would also help us reduce warehouse area and ground _____.
6.      This could be achieved by installing an automated storage and _____ system.
7.      The new system would also enable us to _____ the material flow at any given moment.
8.      This allows printing of labels, brochures and customer _____ in 25 languages.
TALKING ABOUT ADVANTAGES AND POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS
One great advantage is ……….
The most interesting feature is ……..
It would help us reduce/increase/improve/optimize ….
Another major advantage is/would be ….
It would also guarantee/ensure …..

Question 7: work with a partner. Each of you has a warehouse management system. Present the advantages of your system to your partner.
Question 8: Complete the description of typical warehouse equipment and systems. Use the adjectives from the box.

1.      An automated guided vehicle is a _____ truck which is controlled by computer and electrically powered.
2.      IBCs (international bulk containers) made of metal or plastic are _____ , but there are also ones made of canvas, which are _____ .
3.      Cage and box pallets are fitted with corner-posts and sides. They are usually _____.
4.      In palletized storage APR, i.e. _____ pallet racking, is used.
5.      Some products are not _____ for palletization e.g. expensive electronic items or large and _____ items.
6.      _____ shelving is often used for smaller products in non-palletized systems.
Question 9: put the steps in this integrated packing location system in the correct order (1-8). Then listen and  check.
_____ you scan the barcode of the shipping label.
_____ The system calculates the weight of the package.
_____ You enter the system.
_____ You choose means of transport.
_____ You can put together packages.
_____ The shipping labels are printed.
_____ You can see and access all positions in the container.
_____ The order is complete – system prints delivery note.
Question 10: Now, listen to the dialogue again and complete the sentences.
1.       After the goods have arrived at the packing location, _____ to scan in the barcode of the shipping box.
2.       _____ you enter the packing location dialogue.
3.       OK. I got that. What is _____?
4.       Well, _____ you can access all positions in the picking container.
5.       _____ the package is complete; the system will automatically calculate the weight.
6.       That is _____ . The system will automatically print the shipping labels.
7.       And now we _____ of this process.
8.       _____ the order has been completed, the delivery note is printed automatically.
DESCRIBING THE STEPS OF A PROCESS
First(ly)/ First of all ….
Second (ly)
The first stem/stage (of the process) is ….
Then ..
After that ….
The next step/stage is ….
Following that ….
Finally ….
The last step is ….
Once/ after X has happened …