FACILITIES PLANNING, WAREHOUSING, AND DISTRIBUTION CENTERS- WALMART

Assignment Overview

Location and Utilization Considerations

Changing consumer requirements for expedited delivery caused a shift in warehousing operations, including location and utilization to support transport to both brick-and-mortar locations as well as consumers. The tight turnaround times for stocked products necessitates vehicle and truck ingress/egress and loading which means focusing on local zoning requirements, traffic studies, and public outcry, which may delay the project. Warehouses that support multiple customers add another level of complexity to the scenario. Major cities and small towns often react to an increase in warehouses and associated increased traffic flow. Some locations provide tax breaks to attract warehouses for long-term tax base and employment opportunities. The background readings provide an overview of developments in warehouse location selection.

SLP Assignment

Selecting the location of a warehouse or distribution center is crucial and depends on many factors, including proximity to transportation hubs, area zoning, available workforce, and connection with the company’s logistics network. For this SLP, your task is to research an area that a company has chosen for its distribution center for non-perishable items. NOTE: Select an area in the U.S. with which you have familiarity.

Comparison of Two Choices: Location Summary

• Provide an overview of the company’s proposed distribution center: size, type of product(s) to be accommodated (based on the scenario you are creating).
• Specify the chosen general location (based on the scenario you are creating).
• Provide pertinent Census data (don’t copy tables); enter two possible municipalities and county/counties into the search and the database will list the most recent government data for each in tabular format.
• Compare the choices.
  The written portion of the section will be one-half page in length (tabular data not included in page count).

Property Search

Look for two available properties: either vacant land, warehouse space, or a building that can be converted to a warehouse/distribution facility in two different cities in the chosen area. There are multiple companies that list commercial properties. Use LoopNet or search “commercial properties listing” and major real estate companies will have links for commercial property listings.

• Explain how each property matches requirements enumerated in the first section.
• Research the area and discuss proximity to applicable transportation hubs (air, rail, port, highways).
  This portion of the paper will be one-half page in length.

Municipality and County’s Economic Development

• Go to each municipality’s official website and search for incentives, programs, or tools available for new businesses. Explain what is available to make the property appealing.
• Go to each county website and search for incentives, programs, or tools available for new businesses. Explain what is available to make the property appealing.
  This portion of the paper will be one-half page in length.

Location Choice

• Based on the research, which property will work best for the proposed distribution center?
  This portion of the paper will be ¾–1 page in length.

Appendices

Screenshot and paste property #1 information (include page hyperlink).

Screenshot and paste property #2 information (include page hyperlink).

Module 1 SLP Background Readings

1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets (2019)

This map shows how Amazon’s warehouses are rapidly expanding across the country (2020)

What’s the Deal With Flexible Warehousing? (2019)

Warehouse Leasing Plummets – Because There’s So Little New Space to Lease (2019)

Amazon’s Ant-Size Competition in Designing the Warehouse of the Future (2019)

Amazon Tests Cheap Warehouses to Make Cyber Monday Glitch-Free (2019)

Are Warehouses in the Inland Empire a Blessing or a Curse? (2020)

Since you are engaging in research, be sure to cite and reference the sources in APA format. The paper should be written in the third person; this means words like “I,” “we,” and “you” are not appropriate. For more information, see Differences Between First and Third Person. The excessive use of quotes or unoriginal content will directly impact performance since it suggests lack of comprehension and indicates that a student may not have mastered the concepts.

SLP Assignment Expectations

Use the attached APA-formatted template (LOG302 SLP1) to create your submission.

Your submission will include:

• Trident’s cover page
• A 2½-page paper with APA citations (2- or 3-sentence introduction, 2½-page body, and 2- or 3-sentence conclusion). Tables are not included in page count.
• The alphabetized reference list page in APA format
• Appendices (pages vary based on size of screenshots)