Memo SCILaid
From: Francois Damba
Date: 27 February 2021
RE: UNIT 2 - TASK 1 – FUNCTION OF A WAREHOUSE
SCILaid uses a number of warehouses in the current Betaland Operation.
1. Where are these warehouses located, and what is the purpose of each?
-There are two warehouses one a 2000 square meters located in Mugla at the Mugla port, this
warehouse is the first point of delivery and storage of food imported by UNFA as well as the additional
locally purchased food staff for sorting and for further transportation to the camps. The same warehouse
keeps an inventory of the remaining housing items which may be needed in case an urgent need arise.
-The second warehouse a 500 square meters located at Changong in this warehouse only food is kept
there, packed in accordance with the distribution plan of the camps.
-The other four warehouse tents are situated in each of the refugee camps are used to store, repacking
of the food a day before food distribution to the beneficiaries.
2. In what ways are the warehouses adding value to the operation?
-If we track well SCILaid supply chain from start to the end of food assistance we will notice that there is
massive use of the warehouse services. From the start the food is delivered and stored in the main
warehouse where the food staff are inspected and stored for safety keep from damage, from the weather
and theft as well as providing good working environment to the warehouse teams, and in the warehouse
that is where the goods are packed according to the needs and requirements of the camps and
beneficiaries the process makes easy transportation to the next warehouse as well as dispatching correct
consignment to the camps.
- At the point of delivering food to the beneficiaries before distribution, the food is delivered to a camp
warehouse, the last but important stage of supply chain in that warehouse the food is not just stored for
safety, from thieves and damage but that’s where again the food re-inspected for damages and
contamination which could have happened during transportation and is repacked according to the needs
of the beneficiaries. Therefore without these warehouse facilities it becomes very difficult for the
warehouse team to conduct their duties without compromising quality service delivery and the food will be
vulnerable to damage, theft contamination and other conditions not suitable for some food products.
- A warehouse provides conducive working environment, it provides and maintain quality service delivery
and quality control, it keeps inventory safe and secure as well as easy tracking of records among other
things.
3. How does this network of warehouses support the aims of SCILaid as a
Humanitarian Aid Organisation?
-The networking of warehouses are maintaining continuity in the supply chain and delivery
of correct food, equipment and making sure that adequate supply as well as maintaining
quality service delivery the norm.
© 2017 Logistics Learning Alliance Ltd – ‘Supply Chain Improvement through Learning’
-Through the networking of these warehouses SCILaid is able to respond to the need of
food supply to the beneficiaries accordingly. Due to the well-organized network of these
Global warehouses, Regional warehouses and the local warehouse, SCILaid is able to
keep inventory of food staff in stores ready to respond to any urgent need as and when it
arises. SCILaid is able to plan in advance anticipating an increase in demand and
planning to protect against uncertainty in supply and demand, therefore SCILaid is able to
fulfill its humanitarian aid obligation.
-SCILaid as Humanitarian Aid Organisation requires swift response to humanitarian
needs, so it also requires a well-organized supply chain for the speed response to be
successful, since much time is consumed during transportation period it is very important
and very necessary to store inventory in the warehouses closer to the beneficiaries.
SCILaid realize the network of warehouses supporting the aims of SCILaid for the network
brings the inventory closer to the beneficiaries thereby also creating transportation and
responding to the need without wasting time and unnecessary related cost in the process.
4. Finally, explain how the stock is distributed across the different sites and consider
why this configuration is used.
-Initially goods are delivered from the suppliers to the main warehouse in Mugla in bulk
quantities larger than the required consignment for further delivery to the beneficiaries. But
before further delivery to the sights these goods are then repackaged into kits according
to each site and beneficiaries needs and requirements. The reason for kitting is to make
sure all other items are included in making up kits which are to be delivered to the sites
and finally to the beneficiaries. This configuration maintains quality control, accountability
and tracking of goods are up to date.
Regards
Francois
To answer this task, you will find the following learning material section helpful:
2.1. The Function of Inventory and Warehouse Management
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