B4 teleportation… : supply chain and logistics

I know some cross-dock centers in Western France able to welcome transporters around the city of Cholet. Buildings for cross-docking are quite simple, yet who knows exactly what cross-docking is ?

I found this good explanation from Professor Kevin R. Gue of the Naval Postgraduate School:

“Cross-docking is a technique used “to rapidly consolidate shipments from disparate sources and realize economies of scale in outbound transportation. Cross-docking essentially eliminates the inventory-holding function of a warehouse while still allowing it to serve its consolidation and shipping functions. The idea is to transfer incoming shipments directly to outgoing trailers without have to store them. Shipments typically spend less than 24 hours at the facility, sometimes less than an hour.”

“Cross-docking uses loading and unloading docks in an existing warehouse facility in new, more efficient ways. Cross-docking is a method that allows a distribution center (DC) to more efficiently handle challenges including seasonal fluctuations in a supply-chain and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments, while simultaneously reducing warehousing, operating and transportation costs. By utilizing existing facilities, a company can get the most out of its investment without capital improvement costs, while also maximizing the efficiency of its workforce.”

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