Integrating Business Management Processes

Chapter 9

Warehousing and Logistics

9.1 Evolution of Warehousing

The history of warehousing can be traced back to the early years of evolution of humans. In early writings, humans were described as having stored excess food and kept animals for future consumption. There have been three notable periods in our civilisation. The first period, the age of agriculture, lasted from the dawn of recorded history until two centuries ago. The second period was the industrial era which evolved during the Renaissance period (around 1,400–1,600). During the last three decades, the age of information has played a vital role in business transactions (Ackerman, 2000).

Genesis describes the role of granaries for storing food to prevent famine in Egypt, and the ...