“The line between disorder and order lies in logistics…”  Sun Tzu

The top warehouses in North America were recently profiled in a great article by the fine folks at Modern Material Handling.

Back in 2008, just before the U.S. auto manufacturing market melted down, I was conducting value stream mapping workshops at tier one suppliers (Magna, TRW, Yazaki, Johnson Controls, etc..).

When mapping a supply chain, I would always put a big red circle around the warehouse.

Back then, a warehouse was always suspected of being a big waste of money.  In lean consulting, you would often find excess inventory, rework, over processing and other wasteful practices inside a warehouse.

Times have changed!  The car guys are back on their feet and warehouses are leaner than ever.

Warehouses are a hot commodity for a number of reasons.  As world trade grows, foreign companies often use domestic warehouses to manage their products.  These companies aren’t just looking for some empty space for storage; they are looking for partners who can help them conquer a new market.

Additionally, many on-line retailers are outsourcing their fulfillment needs.  These companies are technology focused and would rather not invest in warehouses.  Other long established companies are recognizing that they can save money by outsourcing the warehousing function.

The warehousing industry has become very high tech.  The top warehouse companies are really more like strategic partners and a world away from the old drafty buildings of the past.  Most companies can’t match the efficiency and effectiveness of the players on the top warehouses list.

The warehouse business is made up of the following 7 service offerings: pick and pack, cross-docking, fulfillment, distribution center management, vendor managed inventory, sub-assembly and site location.

The 7 Warehouse Service Offerings

Top Warehouses in North America

  1.  Exel (DHL Supply Chain)
  2. Genco ATC 
  3. Jacobson Companies
  4. Americold
  5. Ceva Logistics
  6. Ohl 
  7. Ryder
  8. Kenco Logistics Services
  9. Neovia Logistics
  10. Uti Worldwide 

To view 10 more Top Warehouses click here