ASTM E3056-16(2021)

Standard Guide for Strategic Warehousing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide provides the considerations for the management of warehouses and warehouse contents.  
5.2 The central objective of this guide is to ensure that warehousing activities appropriately contribute to the mission of the entity.  
5.3 Measuring and managing the effectiveness of an entities’ warehousing activities should result in sustained usefulness of warehoused assets, reduced administrative costs, improved accountability, and enhanced operational performance.  
5.4 This guide makes a differentiation between the physical warehouse facility (also called “Real Property”) and the contents of the warehouse (also called “Personal Property,” “moveable asset,” “product,” or similar term that differentiates the contents of the warehouse from the physical structure of the warehouse itself). Considerations of both these aspects of the warehousing function must be coordinated to lead to effective warehousing activities.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides strategic considerations for effectively managing warehouse facilities and the contents of warehouses (collectively “warehousing assets”).  
1.2 This guide does not override or increase requirements specific to governmental authorities. To the greatest extent practicable, the guidance in this standard should be considered by these entities where efficiencies may be gained.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2021
• ICS: 55.220 - Storing. Warehousing
• Technical Committee: E53 - Asset Management
• Drafting Committee: E53.01 - Process Management

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E3056 − 16 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Guide for
1
Strategic Warehousing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3056; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope action to be followed. The resources put into the business case
depend on the complexity of the situation and the potential
1.1 This guide provides strategic considerations for effec-
impact of the decision. A formal business case may be written
tively managing warehouse facilities and the contents of
out in a structured and logical manner, whereas an informal
warehouses (collectively “warehousing assets”).
business case may be developed simply through conversations
1.2 This guide does not override or increase requirements
and deliberations.
specific to governmental authorities. To the greatest extent
3.1.2 material handling equipment (MHE), n—equipment
practicable, the guidance in this standard should be considered
that relate to the movement, storage, control and protection of
by these entities where efficiencies may be gained.
warehousing assets (for example, materials, goods, equipment,
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
and products) throughout the process of manufacturing,
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
distribution, consumption and disposal.
standard.
Modified from Wikipedia
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.3 warehouse, n—buildings or facilities used for storage
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
of personal property assets, including supply distribution
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
centers, material storage facilities, and structures used for
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
storage of vehicles, equipment, and surplus assets. Also in-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
cluded are underground or earth-covered ammunition storage
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
bunkers and magazines. This category excludes water reser-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
voirs and petroleum or gas storage tanks which are storage
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
structures.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.4 warehousing, v—the activity of storing, handling, or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
otherwise utilizing a warehouse to focus on the management of
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
personal property assets contained within.
3.1.5 warehousing assets, n—the warehouse facility and the
2. Referenced Documents
materials or moveable assets housed within the facility.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E2715 Practice for Moveable Property Storage
4. Summary of Guidance
E2135 Terminology for Property and Asset Management
4.1 Effective warehousing activities require a sound busi-
3. Terminology ness case decision to store moveable assets for short- or
long-term storage, operational staging, and other reasons.
3.1 Definitions: For additional definitions related to prop-
erty and asset management, refer to Terminology E2135. 4.2 This guide outlines the scope of strategic warehousing
3.1.1 business case, n—the sum of an entity’s review and activity; the numerous considerations provided here are not
analysis of pertinent facts and alternatives regarding a plan of developed in detail as there is much to be said on each aspect.
This guide is intended to ensure the entity is aware of the scope
of warehousing considerations.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E53 on Asset
4.3 Entities should be able to realize significant cost savings
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E53.01 on Process
Management.
and increases in efficiency when warehouse facilities and
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. Originally
warehouse contents (collectively “warehousing assets”) are
approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as E3056–16. DOI:
managed strategically and holistically.
10.1520/E3056-16R21.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.4 Strategic management of these warehousing assets and
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
activities goes beyond simply providing needed items in an
Standards volume information, refe
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