For many years, the Halcrest Distribution Center has closed for two days each January2 so that every item in the building can be counted by hand. Beginning December 1, this annual count will be replaced by cycle counting1, a method in which a small portion of our stock is counted every working day4. [1] By the end of each quarter5, every storage location in the warehouse will have been checked at least once.
The change is intended to address two long-standing problems3. First, the January shutdown delays outgoing orders at a time when many of our retail clients are restocking after the holiday season. Second, errors discovered during a once-a-year count are often several months old, which makes it difficult to determine their cause. [2] By counting continuously, we expect to correct discrepancies while the relevant details are still fresh in employees' minds.
Counts will be carried out with the handheld scanners that were delivered to each shift last week8. [3] Every morning, shift leads will receive a list of twenty to thirty locations6 to be counted before noon. Employees assigned to counting will be relieved of their picking duties during that time7, so overall workloads should not increase. [4]
Training on the scanners will be held on November 12 and 14 in the second-floor break room. Each session lasts about 45 minutes, and all warehouse staff are required to attend one of them. Please sign up with your shift lead by November 10. Questions about the new process may be directed to Grace Mwangi in Inventory Control at extension 352.