Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with logistics

Will Satellite work with leaves off trees?

priested — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:09:23 -0800

Will a Hi-Defintion Satellite Signal go through tree branches in the winter months? Just moved and found out the trees in my backyard will interfere with a Direct TV or Dish Signal (my request for them to move the satellites went ignored). Now I have cable and am just not a big fan as I don't get the international sports channels Direct TV offered (namely Gol TV) or the NFL package for free as Direct TV offered. It is also really expensive.

A Direct TV technician came out and said the trees in the back yard would've needed to have been cut back about 8 feet or cut down. This was in mid-Summer. I don't believe in cutting down trees for the boob tube (yeah, my relationship with TV is dynamic).

Here's the question... When the leaves fall off the trees (in about a month in my area), can a Hi-Def signal get through? My plan is to get Direct TV for about 4 months a year and possibly got on TV sabbatical for the other 8 or switch between cable and Direct TV. Any experience with this? Thanks in advance.

House of (hopefully not) Jealous Lovers

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:52:29 -0800

Polyamory: What now? I am currently in a long term relationship with someone who I love very much. We have been together for 4 years and I guess that polyamory is always something that my partner has wanted to explore but has been comfortable not pursuing actively until now. While I can find no rational reason to be against the practice (in fact I can only see upsides) I am feeling a bit bewildered and lost. There are few tiers of questions that rise out of this.
What I need to know are the logistics of moving from a monogamous to polyamorous relationship. How do I go about finding like-minded people? How do I broach the topic of whatever I have with a new person either being secondary or a part of my primary relationship? How do I adjust my primary relationship to accommodate whatever might come up for either of us? We have already discussed ground rules re: communication, our apartment, what is off-limits, practicing safe sex and so on.
The next tier of questions has to do with emotional coping. To be honest I am feeling a little blindsided by this sudden shift in the dynamics of our partnership. I don't want to be a jealous partner and I want for my other half to explore without feeling like I am losing some part of what we have now. I feel like these are murky, treacherous waters and any advice on how to make it out for the better would be appreciated.
The last tier I guess is communication. How do you share this with friends/family? Do you share it?

Right now all of this is very seat of the pants and I am having trouble shifting gears. I am all for this experiment because no matter what our configuration the relationship will last or it won't. If it's something my partner needs to feel like a whole, honest person then I would be out of line to ask them not to walk this road. I guess I could just use a primer.

Follow-up questions can go to thewhatinthewho@gmail.com

Third Party Logistics

Frasermoo — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:44:46 -0800

How does a third party logistics provider typically charge their customers? We are looking at starting 3rd party logisitics functions for a supplier. This will involve holding the stock and shipping upon instruction from the supplier. Is there a typical model for charging for this service, such as per shipment, flat fee for the service, % value of goods moved?

The best of the best

simplesharps — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:15:41 -0800

If money was no obstacle, what complete eCommerce solution would you deploy for a medium to large online company? A complete solution could mean two systems tied together, one for the website and another for inventory (think about managing a large warehouse) or a system that handles both. The perfect product could be one developed from scratch, an existing framework that we could manipulate to our specific needs or a complete ready-to-go product.

I'm trying to identify examples of best practice solutions for the medium sized company and upwards - there are plenty of solutions for the small business (magento, shopify etc)

Thanks!

Ordering from an online pharmacy

Anonymous — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:09:20 -0800

Logistically, what are some things I should be aware of when ordering from an online pharmacy (for delivery into the U.S.)? This will be my first time ordering from an online pharmacy. What are some things of which I should be aware? I'm thinking about the following:

1) Should I use a prepaid Visa card? Is my own credit card OK? Something else? I realize that this question will depend highly on through whom I order, so for the purposes of this question, let's assume either (a) I'm ordering from a company that has received several recommendations on AskMe, and therefore is probably reasonably reputable; or (b) that "what's a trustworthy online pharmacy" is an alternative reading of this question. If a prepaid Visa is recommended, will any old prepaid that I get at a drugstore work?

2) Do I just give them my home address for shipping?

3) How long will it take to arrive? See the caveat on #1 above regarding the extent to which the answer to this question will differ depending on who I use.

Throwaway email: exviojevlkubez@mailinator.com (I realize I can't respond from there; if anyone sends something that warrants a response, I'll figure out how to get back in touch with you)

Thanks in advance!

Let me take care of the boring stuff, while you get on with your doodling.

divabat — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:33:24 -0800

Emerging and small/medium scale artists and creatives: what would you like your manager to do? What would compel you to hire the services of a manager/admin person/PA and how much would you be willing to pay? I've been doing similar semi-managerial work for my best friend who's in broadcast media. Officially I manage her website and web presence, but I also manage fanmail, keep out the creepies, pass on job offers, liaise and organise job contacts & interviews, research opportunities, and help her hash out ideas. She finds me useful because she herself isn't very tech-savvy and doesn't know how to harness current technology as effectively as possible.

Based on my "charmed bridge" question, as well as past work & volunteer experience, I feel that I could do more this kind of work, as a freelancer or a business owner. Essentially I'd like to help artists concentrate more on their work by dealing with the extra not-creative side. I'm particularly interested in those who feel overwhelmed by the Internet (I've met TONS!) and who only have a basic poorly-designed site but not much else to help them get out there.

The things I thought of doing (that I'm actually pretty good at) are:
* Social media - knowing what their audience uses, maintain their web presence, etc
* Managing and screening fanmail
* Liaising and organising media/work/volunteer/speaking requests
* Research opportunities relevant to them (workshops, gigs, etc)
* Introduce them to other people they could collaborate with
* Taking care of "boring" paperwork (forms, visas, grants, etc)
* Ordering equipment/tools/items and finding good deals

Some other skills that may be handy include booking events, accounting, and PR/publicity, though I'm not as great in those as I am in the above.

If you were an independent creative person (of whatever form), what would compel you to hire a manager or assistant? What is the difference roles-wise between managers and PAs and assistants anyway? How much would you pay and how were you willing to pay for it?

Also, there are some tasks where I work better in collaboration with someone else - for instance, in managing people's websites, I usually deal with the concept and putting things together, while I get my boyfriend (who studies web services at uni) to code the website. How would I bring in a collaborator ethically and with fair compensation? Do I just recommend someone, get a commission, do it all myself?

What is optimal shipping pick & pack system

Dansaman — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:32:05 -0800

Can anyone suggest an optimal layout for a pick & pack operation in a shipping warehouse? Does it make sense for each worker to build a box, pick the items, pack them, tape up the box, and label it, or is some kind of assembly line operation better? The typical number of items is around 5, and they are picked mostly from about 10-20 most popular items. I'm thinking of a five-person operation for assembly: 1. Build boxes and provide next person in line with right size box for the particular order. 2. Pack bigger/heavier items which are near this person 3. Pack medium size items which are near this person 4. Pack small items which are near this person 5. Seal boxes and label

Managing an Anothology Project

divabat — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:16:08 -0800

What should I take into consideration when spearheading an anthology project? What resources are out there for us? I'm organizing a book project to collect real-life stories related to the Others (non-Malay/Chinese/Indian, classified as "Other" on all official documentation) in Malaysia. This only started a few days ago, so it's all planning at this stage, but currently I've built up a great team and we're discussing issues on content, definitions, research, publication, and publicity.

While some of us in the group have some experience with publishing (as a writer, editor, or just part of the process somehow), none of us really have that much experience in starting, organizing, and managing such a project. I'm doing quite a bit of brainstorming to work out what we need to consider, but would like some ideas and tips in case I left anything out.

1. Publication - I've contacted a well-known socially-conscious (and somewhat alternative, but great for our target audience) local publisher, who is interested in looking at our manuscript when we're done. Their advice was to "just do it". This is great, but I'd also like Plans B, C, D, Etc.

How else can we find possible publishers, what should we look for in a publisher, and what should we ask them? Some in our group have suggested self-publishing - what should we take into consideration about this option? What other alternative options are there? (Malaysians, particularly our target readers, are quite web-savvy, but it is a bit difficult to purchase online due to Paypal/bank restrictions.)

2. Rights - how do we manage rights and contracts with contributors? I would like the contributors to keep the copyright to their works (and give an option for a Creative Commons license), but would this be a good idea overall? We're planning on field interviews (to get stories from people who won't necessarily write their own tales, such as older folk) and may possibly deal with translations - who gets the rights to those?

3. Finances - assuming we make money out of this, what would we do with the money? I don't think we'll ever make enough to pay each contributor individually (though that would be great!!). Donating the proceeds to an NGO would be great, but our topic is in-between niche and general and there isn't a specific NGO for Malaysian Others yet.

Also, I've heard a lot about how we shouldn't pay to get something published. If we're getting published through an established publisher, are there any costs we still have to look out for? We're thinking of possibly getting sponsorship - is it worth it? Would we need sponsorship? (Perhaps to cover costs of research and compilation?) Where would be good resources for money?

4. Timelines - what's a typical timeline for this project? I was thinking 6 months - get the Call for Submissions and guidelines ready within 3-4 weeks, get submissions for about 3-4 months, edit and compile and get everything ready for publication by Month 6. Is that realistic, or too short? What's normal?

5. Team needs - currently I'm scouting people for editorials, research/field interviews, publicity/promotions, website management, and logistics/finance/publishing. What other skills and roles would we need for a project like this?

Are there any resources for managing a project like this? I've seen plenty of books and articles on non-fiction writing, but those tend to assume you're the sole writer. Any resources on managing anthologies?

Thanks so much!

I want my four day work week back!

desjardins — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:56:08 -0800

I need to make a case to higher management to move to four-day work weeks for our department. They're already sold on the "soft benefits" (less commuting, improved morale, greater efficiency), but they're concerned about having enough coverage on the weekends. What's the best way to figure out the logistics? The department is ~50 people, split roughly evenly into three teams. Currently, we work five 8 hour days, Monday - Friday, and every four weeks we work a weekend day (we are off Friday of that week, so it still adds up to 40 hours worked). We rotate betwen Saturdays and Sundays, so for example, I worked last Sunday, and four weeks from now, I will work on Saturday. Each team needs at least one member to work on the weekend. Plus, every person needs to be here on the same day of the week so we can have a departmental meeting.

Ignoring people's personal preferences for the moment, how can I structure this? My initial instinct is to make a list of employees in an Excel sheet, with days as columns, and block off hypothetical schedules. We want everyone working Monday - Thursday or Tuesday - Friday (because no one will want to work Saturday - Tuesday) and to work a weekend day every four weeks as in the current system. Is Excel the best way to handle this?

Morbid obesity bathroom logistics

forallmankind — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:42:29 -0800

I recently watched BodyShock: Half Ton Man & BodyShock: Half Ton Mum. How do people of this size go to the bathroom? In the first documentary they touch on how Patrick is so big he'd never had sex with his wife. In the second, Renee was so big she'd been in bed for 4 years. Renee also says, "Most people of this weight cannot move around at all."

Watching either documentary you find yourself wondering how natural functions are carried out, but neither discuss it.

I'm looking for answers perhaps from healthcare professionals or those with some sort of experience of this condition, but certainly none from comedians. Thanks.

Bar, bar Black Sheep

strawberryviagra — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:26:06 -0800

Help me itemise the necessities for opening a small bar. Let's not concern ourselves with the licensing aspects - I'm interested in logistics - what are the things I need to open a simple, small (<5>Anybody can be a non-drunk. It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance. Endurance is more important than truth. Henry Chinaski

Marketing Filter: Please help a wannabe be all that he can be!

cdmwebs — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:32:22 -0800

What's the best marketing strategy for an independent contractor looking to focus on distribution centers and third party logistics providers? Long-winded version inside... I've spent the bulk of my career solving logistics and distribution problems inside big box distribution centers for some of the largest companies in the world. I've written databases, developed intranet reporting systems, changed operational arrangements and helped to increase efficiency in every single distribution account I've ever worked with. My most recent "title" was Project Manager.

I left the corporate world behind last year to work with a friend on a small trucking/logistics company he was starting up and learned a million and one things doing it. I've since left that startup and been freelancing doing some basic web development and IT support work for several friends with their own businesses, none of which are in the logistics/distribution field.

I've also been fortunate enough to get some seat time in the sales and marketing world, albeit not exactly my world. I've knocked on doors and made cold calls, but it seemed to be a captive audience for me then. Basically, walk in the front door with some cookies, slide past reception and make a brief introduction to the (mostly) ladies running the phones. This seems to be as far from that as I can imagine.

So, hive mind, how can I combine the previous experience (which I loved doing) with the new independent role and get to the people I need to get to in order to market my services? Specifically, using IT systems and services to increase the efficiency of automated distribution centers? Besides handing out business cards and putting up a site, of course...

Thanks in advance!

Montreal with no car and a desire for IKEA

TauLepton — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:20:42 -0800

In Montreal for business with no car - how to get to IKEA and then post what was purchased? There are so many things at IKEA that they won't ship. Since my husband is in Montreal for business, I'd like him to go over and pick up some of the things I've been craving. He said he'd go if I could do the logistics for him, as he's busy with work.

Problem: No car and the current size/weight regulations of the airlines.

Because I'm not familiar with Montreal nor the French language, I'm finding the navigation of the STM impossible. How can he get from the Omni Hotel Mont-Royal to IKEA (9191 Cavendish Blvd)? I'm just looking for the stops nearby & connections here. Thankfully, I can read the schedule times. :-)

Then, is there any place nearby from which he could post the packages to the US? (I'd like him to get at least one flat-packed furniture item, so proximity is very important.)

Thanks!

How to get silly string overseas

Smedleyman — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:29:36 -0800

Anyone know any way to send cans of Silly String overseas? The post office won't touch it (obviously) and neither will any package carrier - since it's aerosol. It's possible to send it on the ground to the coast perhaps, but I haven't found any private carriers willing to fly into, or near, a war zone. Anyone know of any outfits that might be able to pull this off?

Three weddings, three states, in 30 days...are we insane?

weirdoactor — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 12:07:08 -0800

My fiancée and I need to have three wedding ceremonies in three states. Um, help? It’s that old story…I’m from Texas, she’s from Michigan, and we live in Chicago. We figure we should have a city hall ceremony, with just a few people, so that we are married in Illinois (wedding #1!)

She has relatives in Michigan who can’t travel for health reasons, much like my mom in Texas. So, we want to “re-create” the ceremony in Michigan (#2!), and then in Texas (#3!), about two weeks apart (at least).

Pros: I used to DJ weddings, I’ve produced theatrical shows large and small (size and budget), I’ve worked as a party planner, a business trip/meeting/conference organizer, and a bit for catering companies. I am also excellent with logistics and planning. My fiancée plans conference meetings, and is great with small details. We can probably use a relative’s farm for the wedding in Michigan. A friend of mine is going to “stage manage” for me (as opposed to DJing) in Michigan.

Cons: We’re not rich, or even well-off. Her parents are semi-loaded, but we don’t know how much we can count on them, without them trying to control things. They are religious, we aren’t.

Has anyone else in the hivemind ever done something this crazy? I’d appreciate any advice I can get, on any of the varied things I might not know about planning weddings. I’m not asking for a “how-to” (although I wouldn’t refuse one), I just want to know some of the pitfalls and landmines we should watch out for, and any tricks or tips that could help.

I’ll stop before I get too long-winded. If you have any answers that require the answers to specific questions, ask ‘em, and I’ll answer ‘em, if they aren’t too private. Thanks in advance.

Logistics & College

divabat — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:11:56 -0800

How can I best get experience in logistics in a college setting? I've been told that I'd be pretty good in logistics. I have strong skills in data management, I'm very productive, I do things quickly, and I'm highly resourceful.

I don't actually have any logistical experience though - maybe organizing a treasure hunt or two in high school, coordinating bus rides, and that's about it. I'm re-entering college soon and would like to use this time to gain experience, so what's the best way to gain logistical experience (especially related to people and events) in a college setting?

So far I can only think of organizing events, but what else can I dive in to?