| flow-through (IS-R) |
Method of processing merchandise in a distribution center. The goods are transported at goods receipt to a zone for repackaging and are then brought to the goods issue area. There is no placement into storage between being received and issued from the distribution center. The extra repackaging step differentiates the flow-through process from that of cross-docking.
50 stores are to receive 2 cases each of a particular merchandise. The goods arrive in the distribution center on a pallet containing 100 cases. In the repackaging zone, the pallet is unpacked and the cases put into wheeled baskets destined for each store.