<P> A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods . Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc . They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities, towns and villages . </P> <P> They usually have loading docks to load and unload goods from trucks . Sometimes warehouses are designed for the loading and unloading of goods directly from railways, airports, or seaports . They often have cranes and forklifts for moving goods, which are usually placed on ISO standard pallets loaded into pallet racks . Stored goods can include any raw materials, packing materials, spare parts, components, or finished goods associated with agriculture, manufacturing and production . In Indian a warehouse may be referred to as a godown . </P>

What are the aims and functions of warehouses