Warehouse Role in Supply Chain Storage has always been an important aspect of economic development. In the pre-industrial era, storage was performed by individual households forced to function as self-sufficient economic units. Consumers performed warehousing and accepted the attendant risksStorage has always been an important aspect of economic development. In the pre-industrial era, storage was performed by individual households forced to function as self-sufficient economic units. Consumers performed warehousing and accepted the attendant risks. Warehouse Role in Supply Chain