Warehousing & Storage Needs

For the purpose of this survey, warehousing includes dedicated facilities operated by supply chain that serve more than one crew location.

What type of warehousing do you currently have (check those that best describe your facilities)

Central warehouse for most/all lines of business
Regional warehouses for most/all lines of business
Separate central warehouse for regular distribution materials
Regional warehouses (a few stand alone) for regular distribution materials
Decentralized (many smaller serving local areas) for regular distribution materials
Separate central warehouse for regular transmission materials
Regional warehouses for regular transmission materials
Separate central warehouse for project materials
Regional warehouses/yards for project materials
Separate central warehouse/yard for emergency spares/slow moving materials
Regional warehouses/yards for emergency spares/slow moving materials
Other (please describe in comments)

Which of the following apply?

A significant amount of your pole inventory goes through your warehouse
A significant amount of your pipe inventory goes through your warehouse
A significant amount of your fleet material goes through your warehouse
A significant amount of your IT material goes through your warehouse
A significant amount of your project material goes through your warehouse
Most of your storm/emergency response material goes through your warehouse
You have a separate investment recovery site(s)

Comments

How would you describe your current warehouse capacity? Select Underutilized Just enough reserve capacity for needs At capacity Mostly okay, some areas over capacity Some okay but most over capacity Over capacity

What is your forecast for your warehouse storage needs (next 3-5 years)? Select Decrease or working down inventory About the same as now Significant increase

Do you see a change in your approach to warehousing?

More centralization
More geographic decentralization
Separation by lines of business
Bringing more inventory in-house (vs. vendor sites)
More strategic partnerships (vendor-stocked materials)
Other (please describe in comments)

Comments

Have you brought additional warehouse space online in the last 3-5 years? Select No Only modest improvements or expansions Yes, large expansions or new facilities

If so, who defined the facility size, and location? Select Supply chain (internal) Supply chain (with consultant) Supply chain with property services Property services

Do you have plans for projects in next 3-5 years to address warehouse needs?

Actively planning for expansion of existing facilities
Actively planning to build new warehouse space
Actively planning to lease third party space
Actively planning to outsource some material management
Considering additional warehousing but no active planning yet
Actively working to improve existing space utilization/efficiency
Actively working on condition/capacity of existing warehousing
Nothing special - continued support of currently sufficient warehousing
Other (please describe in comments)

Comments

Your survey results are confidential and contact information is optional. However, if you wish to receive the results or are willing to answer questions from others, please provide your email.

Your Organization (just for our use to track responses)

Your Name (optional - only if you want us to contact you)

Your Email (optional - only used to send the results)

Would your organization be open to a more detailed survey of warehousing (including specific metrics and processes) with utility peers? Yes No

Would your organization be open to further discussions of warehousing with utility peers (beyond the shared practice meeting)? Yes No

Has your organization used a warehouse planning consultant recently - if so, can you share their name?

Any other comments?