Have You Thanked Your Shipping and Receiving Department Today?

In today's globalized environment, shipping andexample with the shipping and receiving
receiving has never been more crucial - or moredepartment of a modern corporation.
complex. With Americans buying goods from, andIn such an environment, old-fashioned care and
selling goods to, the rest of the world, high-qualityintelligence make all the difference. The mail room
shipping and receiving professionals are among themust keep meticulous records, noting whether
most important links in the supply chain. Thepayment has been received from the customer,
numbers tell the story: the US Post office handleswhether and when orders have been sent, and
over a billion packages a year, representing morelogging customer complaints when mistakes do
than three billion pounds' worth of goods. FedExoccur. Every step in an item's journey from the
delivers over six million every day, while, in themanufacturer's assembly line to your door must
same twenty-four hours, UPS delivers a whoppingbe recorded. It's shipping and receiving workers
15.6 million.who keep the records that enable retailers to
It's up to shipping and receiving professionals toknow which items move quickly vs. which items
make sure this enormous volume of mail goes tocollect dust in a warehouse. And it's shipping and
the right places - and that's no easy task.receiving workers who tell you when your item
Consider the steps a single package goes throughhas shipped and how long it'll take to reach you.
- say a video game or DVD you order from anBut hard work is not enough. Along with smarts
online catalogue, or from an online store like orand initiative, good tools are a necessity. For
Barnes and Noble.example, computers have made the work of
Long before you click that "Buy" icon on yourshipping and receiving easier and more efficient in
Web browser, a distribution center must order itssome ways, allowing shipping clerks to use
stock from the manufacturer's warehouse, wherebarcode scanners, for example, to record all
a shipping clerk must correctly log the request.necessary information about an item (or an entire
Packers must find the ordered materials andpallet of items) at the touch of a button. These
package them safely for the series of longtechnological breakthroughs make it much easier
journeys ahead. Then the stock must reach theto track packages in their progress from one
distribution center, where, when it arrives, aplace to another. With the help of robotic
receiving clerk must make a note of its arrival,equipment, too, warehouses can sort items
unpack it, and safely store it. Then, finally, whenfaster. But with these gains in efficiency come
you place your order, someone has to find theincreases in customers' expectations.
materials in the distribution center's warehouse, atNot only flashy new technologies, but the
which time they're packed up once again, and yetsimplest, humblest tools are needed in the mail
another shipping clerk makes sure that they'reroom. The best packing supplies are needed, along
sent to the right place, with the right bill, to thewith a good record-keeping system and lots of
right person.writing equipment on hand. Good scales (for
Now multiply all that effort by thousands, andkeeping track of package weights), a plethora of
you'll have some idea of the difficulty involved incalculators, strong packing tape, and shipping
shipping and receiving. And let's not even talkboxes. And, because nothing is more important
about returns! The shipping and receivingthan the safety of employees, a good, sturdy
department of today is so central - and sobox cutter is critical - a strong utility knife that
representative of the complexity of modern,won't dull with frequent use. A priority should be
globalized business' that one suspects if Adamto find and utilize a safety knife that protects
Smith were writing The Wealth of Nations today,hardworking shippers and receivers from
he might well replace his famous pin-factorywork-related injuries.