Top 12 distribution center metrics

According to the 2019 Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) DC Measures Report,here are the top 12 metrics and best-in-class scores. How does your operation compare?

1.order picking accuracy

Measures the accuracy of the order picking process, helping prevent errors prior to shipment.

Best-in-class operations achieve more than 99.89% order picking accuracy.

2.Average warehouse capacity used

Average amount of warehouse spaced used over a specific interval, such as a monthly or yearly window.

Best-in-class operations, on average, utilize 92.54% of available warehouse capacity.

3.Peak warehouse capacity used

Amount of warehouse capacity used during designated peak seasons.

Best-in-class operations use 100% warehouse capacity during peaks.

4.On-time shipments

Percent of orders shipped within a planned time, meaning off the dock and in transit to the customer.

Best-in-class operations ship more than 99.7% of orders on time.

5.Inventory count accuracy by location

Accuracy of physical inventory in relation to inventory reported in enterprise systems, such as WMS.

Best-in-class operations achieve a 99.89% match of physical inventory to reported inventory.

6.% of supplier orders received damage free

Number of orders processed damage-free as a percentage of total orders.

Best-in-class operations process 99.5% of supplier orders without damage.

7.Order fill rate

Percent of customer orders fulfilled with available stock.

Best-in-class operations fulfill more than 99.75% of customer orders from stock.

8.% of supplier orders received with correct documentation

Orders processed with complete, correct

documentation expressed as a percentage of

total orders.

Best-in-class operations receive over 99.2%

of orders with correct documentation.

9.Dock-to-stock cycle time

Time elapsed between the arrival of goods and when they are put away and recorded into inventory management systems.

Best-in-class operations achieve a dock-to-stock cycle time of less than two hours.

10.On-time ready to ship

Percent of orders ready for shipment at the planned time, meaning packaging and shipping documents are complete and ready for pickup.

Best-in-class operations have 99.8% of orders ready to ship on time.

11.Part-time workforce to total workforce

Number of part-time employees measured against the total workforce, with part time including employees working full-time hours for a limited time, like short season or peak periods.

Best-in-class operations have 0% of their workforce as part-time employees.

12.Cross-trained percentage

Number of employees able to work more than

one function/job within the company.

Best-in-class operations have over 90%

of employees cross-trained.