Shipping Operations deals with the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of use in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Shipping Operation involves the integration of information, inventory, transport, warehousing, material handling, packaging, and security.  Shipping Operations forms a channel of the supply chain which adds the value of time and place utility. Shipping Operations can involve anything from consumer goods such as food, to IT materials, to aerospace and defense equipment.