CIM Warehouse Operations & Storage Systems 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between 'throughput' and 'capacity' in warehouse performance measurement?
- Throughput measures storage volume; capacity measures order lines picked
- Throughput is the rate of goods processed per time period; capacity is the maximum volume the facility can hold (Correct answer)
- Throughput measures inbound flow only; capacity measures outbound flow only
- There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
Correct answer: Throughput is the rate of goods processed per time period; capacity is the maximum volume the facility can hold
Throughput measures how much product flows through the warehouse in a given time period, while capacity refers to the maximum static storage volume available.
Question 2: In a pick-to-light system, what guides the picker to the correct bin location?
- A printed pick list
- An RF scanner displaying locations on a handheld device
- Illuminated display units mounted at each storage location (Correct answer)
- A voice prompt through a headset
Correct answer: Illuminated display units mounted at each storage location
Pick-to-light systems illuminate LED displays at the correct bin location showing the quantity to pick, eliminating the need for paper lists or handheld scanners.
Question 3: A warehouse uses 'chaotic storage' (also called random storage). Which technology is essential to make this system work?
- Color-coded bin labeling
- A warehouse management system (WMS) with real-time location tracking (Correct answer)
- Fixed-location placards on every shelf
- Manual inventory ledgers updated daily
Correct answer: A warehouse management system (WMS) with real-time location tracking
Chaotic storage assigns inventory to any available location dynamically, so a real-time WMS is essential to track exactly where every SKU is located at all times.
Question 4: What is 'dwell time' in the context of warehouse dock management?
- The time a picker spends at a single bin location
- The total time a trailer occupies a dock door (Correct answer)
- The delay between order receipt and pick start
- The time inventory sits in quarantine before quality inspection
Correct answer: The total time a trailer occupies a dock door
Dwell time is the total duration a carrier's trailer occupies a dock door, including wait time, loading/unloading, and departure, which affects dock throughput and carrier fees.
Question 5: Which storage rack type is specifically designed for long, heavy items like lumber, pipes, or steel bars?
- Pallet flow rack
- Cantilever rack (Correct answer)
- Pushback rack
- Mobile pallet rack
Correct answer: Cantilever rack
Cantilever racks have horizontal arms extending from vertical columns with no front uprights, providing unobstructed access for storing long or irregularly shaped materials.
Question 6: What is a 'license plate number' (LPN) in warehouse management system terminology?
- A vehicle registration number for warehouse forklifts
- A unique identifier assigned to a unit load (pallet, tote, or carton) to track it through the warehouse (Correct answer)
- The barcode printed on a shipping label by the carrier
- A code identifying the dock door a shipment arrived at
Correct answer: A unique identifier assigned to a unit load (pallet, tote, or carton) to track it through the warehouse
An LPN is a unique ID (barcode or RFID tag) assigned to a pallet, tote, or carton that allows the WMS to track its contents, location, and movement history.
Question 7: Which government agency regulates hazardous material storage placarding requirements in US warehouses that ship via common carrier?
- EPA
- OSHA
- DOT (PHMSA) (Correct answer)
- CPSC
Correct answer: DOT (PHMSA)
The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under 49 CFR regulates hazmat placarding for materials shipped via common carrier.
CIM Warehouse Operations & Storage Systems 5
What is the difference between 'throughput' and 'capacity' in warehouse performance measurement?