The flow that I will talk about is a company that buys, sells and refurbs, monitors. So now that's out of the way let's talk about workflows. In this business model, there are several main tasks.
- Receiving: A trailer appears at the receiving dock and the driver gives the agent a Bill of Lading. This is matched to a Purchase Order as each pallet is removed from the truck they are given a BAR CODE Label this label also contains the location in the warehouse (this is called a sport and it is the first open spot). The agent records the trailer information in the computer's database. And the pallet is deposited in the warehouse where it is scanned again by the forklift driver. This possess is repeated for each pallet, and over multiple trailers.
- Warehouse: This is an ordered collection of pallet racks, cabinets, etc. This is where things are stored. There are only 2 actions, STORE IT and REMOVE IT. Both actions need a paper trail.
- Test: This is where the pallets come, from the warehouse. This is where the pallets are stripped. each monitor is given a trailer which includes: the manufacturer, Model, Serial Number, and whether it has our barcode. Technicians power them up to test them and take the plastic off, when the test & repair are done the unit is placed on the burn-in rack. If it fails burn-in then it goes back to the technicians. If it passes then it goes to cleaning a bar code is fixed to the case, and sent to packing. If the plastics are yellowed the monitor is sent to the paint shop, painted, and tested again before being sent to packing.
- Packaging: Here the monitor is boxed with spray foam our paperwork for the monitor and a new power cord are added to the box and a barcode (the same one that is on the rear of the monitor) is attached to the box and then scanned and then placed on an appropriate pallet consisting of the same manufacture make and model. When the pallet is full it is placed on a shrinkwrap machine. A large bar code is affixed along with information about it spot. A forklift picks the pallet up and deposits it in the designated spot the pallet is scanned and placed in the spot.
- Shipping: Receives a Sales Order. When the truck arrives the agent notifies Shipping and the pallets are loaded onto the truck. The agent takes down the trailer number and other information and gives a seal for the trailer doors the driver attaches the seal with the agent watching and the driver signs the paperwork. and the truck leaves
- And of course purchasing and sales of the monitors. This is an autonomous group and it generates Sales Orders and Purchase Orders. Sales and purchases are normally done in bulk, that is to say by the pallet or by the trailer(s). Sales drive this model.