Network Planning

Network Planning interview prep.

The library content Coach uses to tailor reports for this role. Generated reports personalise this against the candidate's CV + the firm's context.

Behavioural questions to expect

  1. Walk me through your background + your path into DC / fulfillment network design.
  2. Tell me about a DC or FC design / capacity / automation project you've owned end-to-end.
  3. Why warehousing / fulfillment network design vs broader 3PL design or shipper-side supply chain?
  4. Why network planning specifically vs warehouse operations, industrial engineering, or commercial roles?
  5. Why the firm?
  6. What's your read on our network + customer footprint?
  7. Tell me what you understand about our network design tooling + automation posture.
  8. Walk me through how you'd design or redesign a DC / FC network.

Technical concepts to master

  • Network design fundamentals

    Greenfield vs brownfield · MILP + heuristic solvers · Tool stack · Service-cost trade-off curve · Baseline + scenario discipline

  • Cube + throughput economics

    Cube utilization · Dim weight + parcel economics · Throughput vs nameplate · Velocity slotting + flow path · Pick-density + travel time

  • Automation strategy + vendor map

    Automation archetypes · Capex vs flex trade-off · Ramp curve realism · Integration debt

  • Sustainability + scope-3 in network design

    Scope-3 logistics emissions · Network density + carbon · Building + energy levers · Load + cube optimization

Practical drills

  • A 600K sq ft e-com FC is evaluating a GTP shuttle system. Capex is $40M (hardware + integration + facility). It would reduce 80 pickers (out of 200) at a fully-loaded $55K / yr each. Maintenance + energy adds $1.5M / yr. Ramp curve is 12 months to full throughput. Walk through simple payback, year-1 NPV impact, and the IRR view. Show your numbers.
  • A retail customer runs 8 regional DCs across North America serving 2,500 stores. They're asking whether to consolidate to 4 mega-DCs to save fixed cost + invest in automation. They have a 2-day standard service spec. How would you approach the study and what's your initial hypothesis?
  • An e-com pure-play with a single 1M sq ft FC in the Midwest is exploring forward-deployed FCs to offer same-day delivery in top metros. They have $200M capex envelope over 3 years. Walk me through how you'd scope the study and what your initial network framework would be.

Smart-question anchors

  • Network design team org - centralized strategic vs embedded with operations or customer teams
  • Tool stack maturity - in-house solver vs commercial, simulation tools, AI / ML investments
  • Automation strategy - AS/RS, AMRs, GTP, named vendor partnerships, capital deployment cadence
  • Site footprint + growth - mega-DC strategy, forward-deployed FCs, geographic expansion
  • Sustainability + scope-3 - public commitments, building certifications, mode-shift programs

Sourced from

Coupa Supply Chain Guru + OptiLogic Cosmic Frog + AnyLogistix documentation + community · MHI (Material Handling Institute) + MODEX + ProMat industry shows · Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supply Chain Planning + WMS + Supply Chain research · Smart Freight Centre + GLEC framework + ISO 14083 · Supply Chain Dive + DC Velocity + Modern Materials Handling + Logistics Management trade press

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