ASA Warehouse Operations Seminar met with success in 3 locations.
Press Release Summary:
American Supplpy Association Education Foundation's Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations certificate course, offered via one-day seminars, took place in Findlay, Ohio; Bloomington, MN; and Downers Grove, IL. Addressing frequently mentioned issues, Jason Bader of The Distribution Team, Inc. led groups through program of instruction, discussions, and exercises that summarized highlights of 9-chapter course. Participants came away optimistic about taking operations to next level.
Original Press Release:
ASA Holds Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© Seminars in Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois
Chicago, IL - In March, the ASA Education Foundation introduced its Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© certificate course to ASA members through a series of one-day seminars. Through collaboration with ASA regional affiliates NCWA and MwDA, courses were held in Findlay, Ohio; Bloomington, MN and Downers Grove, IL.
Jason Bader of The Distribution Team, Inc., led each seminar. Bader began by collecting a list of major warehouse concerns from the participants, with inventory controls, working with short staff, and communication with sales the most frequently mentioned issues.
Bader then led the groups through a program of instruction, discussions and exercises that summarized the highlights of the nine-chapter course. To illustrate the learning points through the program, all participants were engaged in a unique exercise to "hunt for cash" in the warehouse. "Jason Bader did a great job of using the 'hunt for cash' as a device to reinforce key points while at the same time bringing together principals, managers, branch managers and warehouse members to work together for a singular purpose," shared Paul Martin, senior director of program & business development for the ASA Education Foundation. "It translated very well how the concepts taught in the course can be applied in real-life situations and reinforced that every role at a distributor can impact the profitability of warehouse operations."
The theme of valuing inventory as if it were stacks of cash was reiterated throughout the day. Ideas like closely managing who you let near the stacks of cash, using HITS reports to find profit opportunities, maintaining a 15-foot radius of tight security around every exit, increasing the accuracy of cycle counting, not turning the picking process into a scavenger hunt, and many more techniques were explored.
At the end of the day, the group wrapped up by developing a list of 35 ways to hunt for cash. Participants walked away with an energetic optimism on how to take their operations to the next level.
Jeff New, a former ASA President, attended the program in Ohio. As someone who has used all of the Essentials brand training courses in his supply house, he was well aware of the brand's quality. After the class he commented that "As a board member of NCWA, I was pleased to see a large crowd there. I was pleased to see that the audience included employees from all levels of our companies, a variety of companies, a wide geographic section, and even a few reps. The discussions were good; I learned a lot, and received a lot of good ideas. This program truly provides value for a distributor." Another participant who attended the Minnesota class, Quinton Young from Dakota Supply, said that, "As a new warehouse manager, this course is a must; very informative."
Over the next several weeks, seminar participants will complete reading the course's nine chapters, answer the end-of-chapter quizzes, and prepare to take the online exam to earn their certificate of completion.
For more information about the Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© certificate course and how it can be used to help the profitability of your own operations should contact Paul Martin at 312-464-0090 ext. 205 or pfmartin@asa.net.
