Tracy Warren, a seasoned Supply Chain expert at Katalyst Software Services Limited, knows all about the evolution of warehouse yard management. In this blog, she takes us through the progression of yard control, all thanks to the ongoing advancements made in technology.
When it comes to warehousing, we tend to think the first steps in receiving and shipping occur inside the warehouse on the dock. In actuality, it all starts outside the “yard.” The yard refers to the area outside the warehouse where tractor-trailers wait in transition, and freight deliveries and pickups take place.
An organized yard will ensure a smooth flow of shipments in and out of the facility. Therefore, adhering to pick up and drop off schedules is imperative. Just think about it at a very high level: if the inbound load shipment is mismanaged (lost in the yard, late to dock for an appointment, etc.), it can affect the ability to fulfill the outbound load. Such mismanagement could result in order shortages and shipping delays.
Fortunately, most facilities have a guardhouse for the gate attendant. The attendant oversees the activity coming on and off the yard. In the ‘old days,’ we kept a written log at the guardhouse where the security guard would write down pertinent information about trucks/trailers coming and going from the facility. He did his best to route them correctly, depending on their purpose in the yard. He’d call inside (on a rotary phone to be exact) to have someone determine if the trailer was an immediate need at the dock, or if it’s better to store it at a yard location. He’d then use a radio to call out to a ‘switcher,’ a driver in the yard. The switcher would move the trailer and confirm the physical location to the guard so that the paper log could be updated. If trailers were leaving, the guard confirmed load paperwork and controlled all movement on the yard. At the end of his shift, he’d walk through the yard and take inventory, cross-checking it to the paper log.
Eventually, we evolved into our first integrated Yard Management System (YMS). Similar to a hotel concierge, the security guard could use a computer in the guardhouse to ‘check-in’ and ‘check out’ vehicles coming on and off the yard. He was able to assign parking locations/dock numbers in the system, perform easy lookups, and run reports to assist in his yard inventory checks.
Over time, the YMS was upgraded to give the security guard the ability to send a task in the system to the person operating the trailer switcher in the yard. So instead of using radios, the guard, or any authorized WM user, can trigger a task to have a trailer moved to or from a dock, yard, or staging location. This feature allowed users to stay focused on assignments in order of priority.
Most recently, I had the chance to work with integrating a tagging and locating system. The objective of the project was to manage the trailer inventory in the yard. When a truck/trailer comes in the yard, the guard applies a magnetic transmitting device that allows us to track a pinpointed location of the trailer via GPS. As the trailer exits the facility, the device is removed and cleared/recycled for another inbound trailer. For any trailers recurring, they can have permanent tags affixed. The yard was mapped initially with all the coordinates assigned in the system for every parking place that exists. This method allows for automatic ‘inventory check.’ When the yard worker drives around the yard slowly with a small receiver mounted on the side of his vehicle, he puts the receiver in capture mode. As he drives around the lot, it corrects any incorrect location assignment, which was done manually at the initial check-in process.
But the most exciting thing I have witnessed is the use of a drone-mounted receiver to perform the inventory checks! No more lost trailers. No more stumbling around with a flashlight while checking trailer numbers in the dark. This type of yard control is a whole new level! Talk to a Katalyst consultant today to see how we can help you determine the best mix of technology and manpower to get your yard in control.
In the meantime, check out our related blogs on efficient and effective warehousing. From 3 simple ways to combat warehouse complacency to how to improve inventory accuracy, our content provides resources for managing your supply chain.
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