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.

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.