Location Transport

What are the top 10 criteria should be considered to choose a location to build a computer warehouse ?

I'm talking about Location Decision. If I were a manager and have to choose 3 locations (3 cities) in USA to build a warehouse for, let's say, Dell, what criteria should I look for to evaluate in order to to choose the best alternative? Many thanks!

Public Comments

1. 1. proximity to target market 2. proximity to existing customers (if any) 3. major freeway access 4. airport access 5. rail access 6. proximity to metropolitan area 7. proximity to suppliers 8. taxes 9. workforce availability 10. average workforce wages
2. How easy/cheap is it to get staff and parts to the site? How easy/cheap is it to get the finished product out? Is there a work force nearby? (Esp important if you specialized workers) Whats the cost of rent/buying? Is there competition nearby? Are there external facilities available - car park, public transport, shops to buy dinner etc. Just some of the things I can think of off the top of my head. Make a list of pros and cons for each site and decide which factors are more important. Eg no shops to buy lunch so provide a canteen. Hope this helps!
3. 1. Need to be close to three segments (usually west, east, and south/north). 2. Closeness to the transportation hubs 3. Expenses associated with storage and shipping of inventory 4. Availability of the right staff (cost, skills...) 5. Availability of alternative transportation mode 6. Rules and regulations friendly 7. Potential for expansion
4. I can't say "just" a warehouse. But here are some of the things I looked for when selecting sites. If I were looking... 1.) High and dry. Security from the elements and physical security of the facility. 2.) How are my suppy lines in and out? Airport close? (for supply, shipping and corporate travel.) Good interstate system close? (trucking and employee travel) Rail system? (an alternative to trucking for shipping and possibly employee rail commute.) 3.) Public transportation for employees? 4.) Population. Am I going to have enough population to draw from to staff the facility? What are the skill sets of the local population? 5.) Infrastructure? If I need to import people to staff.. is there enough housing and education support for them? And stores and like that. 6.) Colleges and trade schools? I may need to educate people to fill positions. And my people are certainly going to have to update their training and education to keep up with the industry. Quality of those schools is also a major factor. 7.) Will the government entities of the area provide us with any incentive and/or tax relief packages for locating there? 8.) What are the locals like? Will they be receptive to a new major facility? 9.) What assistance and/or support can I depend on from the local business owners, city officials and chamber of commerce? 10.) Can the location support all of my needs for the facility and employees? UTILITIES! Can the infrastructure support the increased demands on available resources? Power, water, sewage. For some locations... I also consider what the weather and other climate conditions are like. A place I was looking over in Oklahoma was great, with the exception that it was near smack in the middle of tornado alley. I've looked in a few countries where political stability was an issue to consider. Hope this helps.