Warehousing provides storage and consolidation of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods to facilitate supply chain flow. Key functions include transportation consolidation, product mixing, cross-docking, and protecting against contingencies. The economic benefits are reducing overall logistics costs through consolidation and break bulk operations, sorting goods for distribution, seasonal storage, and reverse logistics. Warehouses must consider throughput needs, demand stability, service requirements, and multiple business unit needs in their operations and design.