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The purpose of this paper is to explore key factors driving four types of brand relationships, which will explain the reasons why different relationships can form in theory and direct brand managers to build brand relationships in practice.

A sample of 702 data was collected through four branch scales. The empirical methods of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used in turn to extract the key factors driving every kind of brand relationships.

The conclusion is that the established instrument relationships are driven by three factors which are: sociogroup pressure, condition restriction and saving the existing; the established emotion relationships are driven by four factors which are company reputation, approval of geography, approval of authority and word of mouth; the acquired instrument relationships are driven by three factors which are low price, brand homogeneity and attempt on new products: and the acquired emotion relationships are driven by six factors which are brand meaning, the staffs' service, marketing promotion, product design, product value and brand element.

There were three limitations in this research. First, the limitation of the sample structure decided this research as an exploratory one. Second, this research only adopted a static perspective although a relationship is a dynamic concept. Third, a few items were not drawn up appropriately so that the fitness of a few models was not perfect.

The formation mechanisms of different brand relationships have not been entirely explored in the former literatures. Based on a new sortation theory of four brand relationships in China, this research exploratorily put forward the completed key factors driving every kind of relationships.

One of the problems of distribution for a variety store chain is the enormous range of merchandise which needs to be moved around from suppliers to stores. Woolworth, in conjunction with consultants Modern Materials Management, have solved the problem by setting up four Transhipment Centres. Each of these incorporates computer reading of labels to control a totally integrated materials handling and data processing system. RDM talked to MMM Director Geoffrey Butcher and Woolworth Distribution Executive Michael Pedler to find out how the system works.

Outlines the development of a 2‐D matrix symbology and reader, designed to cope with the demands of a large parcel delivery business. Describes how the information for each parcel is encoded in a two‐dimensional array of hexagons surrounding central recognition patterns and discusses the technical challenge of developing a high speed conveyor belt reader. Concludes that this type of system could play an important role in package delivery services in the future.

Warehousing has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past thirty years. From a time when the fork lift truck was the most intricate piece of warehousing equipment, today's computer hardware and software now allow the construction of completely automated complexes. The technology which makes this state of affairs possible can bring key benefits such as reduced inventory, increased management control, greater accuracy and better labour efficiency, though at the same time costs incurred should be justifiable. This article attempts to give some guidelines for decisions in each of these areas.

Automated warehouse equipment is often regarded as being inflexible, and yet its use continues to rise even though markets are becoming increasingly volatile. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons for, and nature of, warehouse automation implementations in order to further this understanding.

The research is based on semi‐structured interviews with some of the key stakeholders in automation projects. This is followed by a survey questionnaire to widen the findings.

The research indicates that the main reason for automation is to accommodate growth, with cost reduction and service improvement also being important. The implementation process tends to be complex and lengthy, although most projects are controlled within the planned budget and timescale. There is, however, a real risk of disruption and service level failings during the operational start‐up of these projects, as well as some concerns about ongoing flexibility.

The findings provide a useful insight into these areas but further research is required to explore the key characteristics of successful implementations and to understand how warehouse automation can be designed to provide responsiveness to rapidly changing market conditions.

The findings have important implications as regards the need to incorporate scenario planning into the design process and to plan for the management of the ongoing operation.

There has been relatively little previous research into this important area, which involves a substantial proportion of the capital budget of many supply chains. The above findings are of value to academics and practitioners.

This paper presents a framework for the design of warehouse layout to organize the design process, facilitate the task of designers, and highlight important design issues to help warehouse managers make informed decisions. The framework accounts for several factors and operations of warehousing in the design, and addresses design decisions required to respond to them. It attempts to develop a layout that has several characteristics such as modularity, adaptability, compactness, accessibility, flexibility, and distribution of movement to enable it to respond to changing conditions, improve space utilization, and reduce congestion and movement.

An e‐fulfillment system is designed to meet the high order volume and stringent customer service requirements of global business‐to‐consumer e‐commerce. The system converts the traditional warehouse into a multi‐channel e‐fulfillment center. In the e‐commerce environment, some of the toughest decisions must be made on little or no hard information. In this study, the nature of e‐business and the typical fulfillment process are discussed. The authors further examine the strategy and operational requirements for e‐fulfillment. This article is concluded with the implication of a successful e‐fulfillment system, a suggested design of an e‐fulfillment center, and the future research focuses.

The writer contends that the mini‐computer provides a very substantial potential area of application for the processing of information, management control and physical control of warehouse plant. Mini‐computers can be coupled with a whole range of peripheral input/output devices, from which can be developed configurations extending from very simple systems costing as little as £3,500.

The British Post Office uses a phosphorescent machine readable code to enable letters to be sorted automatically. The phosphorescent material is printed in the form of a dot pattern in two rows across the face of the envelope. When activated by passing the latter under an Ultra‐violet light the phospor dots will start to glow and will continue glowing for some time after leaving the activating light source. This afterglow is read by a photodetector and the code pattern is interpreted by the machine electronics which instructs the machine mechanics to place the letter in the correct sortation box.