require the sorting of thousands of items for ultimate packaging and shipping to various downstream customers and other recipients such distribution systems typically interact with a variety of input and output sources fig1 illustrates the process architecture typically found in common distribution systems 100 items are received by the distribution center through a variety of input sources 110 such as shipping yards delivery docks mailrooms and the like the received items are processed in a distribution center 120 typically in an intake processing location 122 the processed items are then transported to a sorting station 124 in its most basic sense such sorting may involve individually selecting items from a large group of items to fulfill an individual order for example in the apparel industry received items may be dumped in a central location such as sorting tables employees then sort through the random piles of garments for example men 39 s and ladies 39 clothing to select individual garments to fulfill a particular order the selected items are then placed into individual bins to await further processing after at least some of the items have been sorted into groups the groups are typically transported to a shipping location 126 shipping locations typically process grouped items for shipment such processes include packaging the groups and placing the groups in appropriate containers for shipping such as envelopes bags boxes drums containers and the like the processed groups are then transported 130 to a distribution center 140 for further sorting the distribution center 140 typically sorts the groups according to shipper designation for example the sorted groups may be placed onto loading docks 150 for pick.