Warehousing is becoming increasingly more complex, sophisticated, and vital. It seems that something new, from improved bar codes to handheld computers, comes along every day to redefine warehousing operations. For example, warehouse management software, which is more affordable now than ever, is streamlining operations, and the development of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags promises to greatly improve order and shipment visibility.

If you need more proof of how the industry is changing, you need only consider that the International Warehouse Logistics Association is renaming itself the Strategic Outsourcing Logistics Association, which its members feel more accurately categorizes the role they now play in their customers' supply chains.

With all that's happening in the warehousing industry, it only seemed fair to add this new category to the Quest for Quality. In our initial survey of warehousing service providers, readers picked six companies as being tops at stashing their stuff away and rolling it back out on demand.

Ozburn-Hessey Logistics is our first warehouse services winner, topping the list with an overall customer-satisfaction score of 38.77, well above the average score of 32.71. United Facilities and WOW Logistics took the second and third spots with weighted scores of 37.77 and 35.18, respectively.

Scoring for all of the winners was very close when it came to value—with the exception of National Distribution Centers at 8.50—and information technology. But there was more variation in customer service, where United Facilities came out on top with a score of 9.90, and in equipment and operations, where scores were on the low side. In that category, Ozburn-Hessey once again took first place at 5.33. Next, WOW Logistics wowed the crowd with a score of 5.14. The remaining four winners earned scores ranging between 4.00 and 4.67.

Compare that to the scores for performance, which averaged 9.60 for all companies on the ballot. Ozburn-Hessey hit the top tier for that attribute with a score of 12.90. Although that was significantly higher than the numbers for the other winners, all of them achieved performance scores that soared above the category average.

It's certain that as the Quest for Quality goes on, the warehouse services category will grow and become more competitive. It will be interesting to see how the scores fluctuate in response to continued change and innovation. For now, though, these six winners have set the standard on a high rack that others will strive to meet.