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Warehouse Technology Forum Events


Welcome to the Warehouse Technology and Materials Handling Forum

Warehouse Technology and Materials Handling Forum

Chair: Martin Brickell, Operations Director, Accenture UK

During the last few years, the role of the warehouse has radically changed to meet increasing demands of more responsive supply chains. The warehouse has taken on the role of manufacturing as a mass customisation centre and retailing where it supplies direct to the end-user. Customer demand has changed significantly which has impacted all operational areas, inventory carrying costs have been recognised as a key financial measure and the cost of capital employed in a warehouse impacts the bottom line along with speed of service now being a major contributor to a business’s success.

There are many complex technologies now deployed in order to produce an effective operation and to optimise the cost-performance equation -  including automation where applicable and ever more integrated and sophisticated Warehouse Management Systems. But there are also operations where expensive investment in not justified and more basic processes / technology are more appropriate – these also can be optimised for minimum cost and maximum return.

The mission of the Forum is to inform, educate and support the logistics industry in achieving excellence through shared experience, practical knowledge and best practice in all aspects of  warehouse applications and technology.

The aim therefore is to better equip the logistics professional to make the right decision for the business, be it to improve what they have through new technology or improved business process, right through to entirely new solutions.

Forum events are user-driven and requests for areas to be covered are always welcome. If you are a logistics professional and would like to know more about new technologies on the market before investing, or are seeking ways to maximise benefits from your existing asset then the Forum is the ideal opportunity.

The Forum is committed to producing a comprehensive range of industry knowledge to all levels of operational and development management

  • The Forum recognises the need to be neutral, relevant, comprehensive and practical
  • The Forum recognises the need for dynamic involvement of our younger members
  • Business is serious but – it can be fun and exciting – and so the Forum approach, whilst informal is nonetheless very focused on our mission.
  • To initiate review and discussion in all areas of warehouse design, operation, and in the appropriate use of technology and materials handling.
  • To share information with members via the setting up of events and workshops and by providing articles on the forum website.
  • To aim where applicable to collate common standards of (best) practice to promote operational improvement and benchmarking.

Martin Brickell - Forum Chair

Haydn Costin, MILT - Forum Vice Chair

Mark Hollowell, MILT - Committee Member

Martin Elliott, FCILT - Committee Member

David Godsell - Committee Member

Darren Hartland, MILT - Committee Member

Witold Bahr - Committee Member

Reports and Presentations

Focus Magazine

  • Real Warehouse Performance Gain from MHE and Process Optimisation - February 2022 - View here
  • Warehouse in the age of Covid 19 - June 2021 - View here
  • Automating movement within the warehouse - April 2021 - View here
  • Warehouse Technology and Materials Handling Forum Article - March 2020 - View here
  • Warehouse Technology and Materials Handling Forum Article - January 2020 - View here

Want to find out more?

If you would like to get involved with the CILT Warehouse Technology and Materials Handling Forum or have any questions then please contact the Forum Co-ordinator.

 

Archive

Reports and Presentations

Focus Articles

  • Challenges of Technology in the Warehouse – August 2016 – View here
  • The Business Case for Automation Systems – July 2016 – View here
  • The Circular Economy: Securing Tomorrow’s Resource at Yesterday’s Prices – January 2016 – View here

Don't buy a new WMS until... - 24.04.2012

Software as a Service and the Cloud in the WMS - 05.10.11

    • Brian Hewer - Introduction to Multipart - View here
    • Haydn Costin - Software as a Service - View here
    • Gavin Clark - SaaS WMS - View here
    • Tony Pearson - Cloud Computing - View here

 

Taking the mystery out of Software as a Service (SaaS) - 31st March 2009 

  • Taking the mystery out of Software as a Service (SaaS): A hosting provider's view - 7Global Presentations - View here 
  • SaaS Applications - What you need to know - View here 
  • Software as a Service from a Finance Director's Perspective - Anisa Presentation - View here 
  • Solution as a Service DHL Case Study - View here 


Choosing the Right Approach to WMS - 20th November 2008 

  • Choosing the Right Approach to WMS For Your Business. “Justifying a WMS” - Jeremy Batchelor, Catalyst Logistics - 20th November 2008 - View here 
  • Choosing the Right Approach to WMS. The Ultimate Choice – The WMS Itself - Haydn Costin, Systems Manager, gm2 - 20th November 2008 - View here 


'Great Expectations or Bleak House?' - WMS Forum Conference - March 2007 - View here 


Warehouse Management Systems - Saints or Sinners Presentations - 21st March 2006 

  • Why Buy a WMS - Steve Cross, Managing Director, ATMS - View here 
  • The WMS Selection Process - Nick Weetman, Davies & Robson - View here 
  • Minimising Risk - Andrew Wood, Risk Management Director, Serco - View here 
  • Implementation Best Practice - Col Brian Mobley (Retired), MOD - View here 
  • Implementation Dos and Don'ts - Simon Thomas, IT Director, Threshers - View here 
  • What is the true cost of a WMS - Steve Smith, EMEA CEO, Manhattan Associates - View here 
  • Warehouse Technology & Materials Handling Forum Update – April 2018 - View here
  • Warehouse Technology & Materials Handling Forum Update – March 2018 - View here
  • Warehouse & Materials Handling Forum Update - December 2016 - View here
  • The Business Case for Automation Systems – July 2016 – View here
  • Warehouses of the Near Future – October 2014 – View here
  • Warehouse & Materials Handling Forum Update – January 2014 – View here

Focus Articles

  • Visit to Wiggle - September 2019 - View here
  • Euro Car Parts DC Operation - March 2019 - View here
  • Warehouse Technology & Materials Handling Forum Update – April 2018 - View here
  • Warehouse Technology & Materials Handling Forum Update – March 2018 - View here
  • Warehouse & Materials Handling Forum Update - December 2016 - View here
  • The Business Case for Automation Systems – July 2016 – View here
  • Warehouses of the Near Future – October 2014 – View here
  • Warehouse & Materials Handling Forum Update – January 2014 – View here

Other Articles

  • Are robots taking over our warehouses? Article reproduced with the kind permission of Kogan Page Ltd. from their webpage of the book: 
    Rushton, A., Croucher, P. & Baker, P. (2017) “The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management”, 6th Edition, Kogan Page, London. 

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