Introducing Amazon Supply Chain
Public Facts about Amazon
Amazon first launched its distribution network in 1997 with two Fulfilment Centres in Seattle and New Castle, Delaware. Amazon has several types of distribution facilities consisting of cross-dock Centres, Fulfilment Centres, sortation Centres, delivery stations, Prime now hubs, and Prime air hubs. There are 75 Fulfilment Centres and 25 sortation Centres with over 125,000 employees.
Employees are responsible for five basic tasks: unpacking and inspecting incoming goods; placing goods in storage and recording their location; picking goods from their computer recorded locations to make up an individual shipment; sorting and packing orders; and shipping.
A computer that records the location of goods and maps out routes for pickers plays a key role: employees carry hand-held computers which communicate with the central computer and monitor their rate of progress. Some warehouses are partially automated with systems built by Amazon Robotics. In September 2006, Amazon launched a program called FBA (Fulfilment By Amazon) whereby it could handle storage, packing and distribution of products and services for small sellers.
Learn about Amazon Fulfilment Centre below
Amazon Supply Chain Optimisation Technologies
Based on Amazon Report, Every time a customer places an order on Amazon.com, we make a promise to deliver it quickly. Supply Chain Optimisation Technologies (SCOT) is the organisation behind our ability to make that promise – to get customers what they need, when they need it and at a great price. We use advanced techniques and technologies including machine learning and data science to predict demand, forecast inventory needs and select suppliers.
