U FLOW

The above digram shows a U flow of goods in the warehouse.

There are 5 main areas:
1) Goods in (receiving dock area)
2) Main store (reserve storage area)
3) Order picking (forward storage area)
4) Marshalling (conveyor lines area)
5) Goods out (shipping dock area)


The flow of goods appears to be an U flow design as the loading and unloading bays are located as the same side of the building. The goods coming from receiving dock, unloading, put away to reserve storage area, break-bulk and replenish to forward (active) storage area, conveyor lines to shipping dock.

Advantages

1. Minimise the movement of goods by locating fast product lines close to the loading bays.


2. Due to it's design, it has better utilization of dock space and associated handling equipments


3. A possibility that it requires lesser total area with seprate loading and unloading bays.


4. More flexibility. Enables expansion in 3 other directions.


5. Better control of security and environment.

Disadvantages

1. Higher risk of confusion of goods between goods in and goods out.


2. Unable to meet different docking requirements between goods in vehicle and dispatch vehicle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkfHVYv5nUo&feature=related

Above link will give you a better understanding in the 5 main areas of a warehouse operation.