Improvement of the Logistics Flows in the Receiving Process of a Warehouse

Afonso Vaz De Oliveira,Susana M Palavra Garrido,Radu Godina,João Carlos De Oliveira Matias,Carina M Oliveira Pimentel

doi:10.3390/logistics6010022

Afonso Vaz De Oliveira, Susana M Palavra Garrido + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics6010022

Copy DOI

Abstract

Background: The present work is related to a project developed in a company dealing with the security and communication systems, fire alarms, and electronic displays sector, located in the district of Aveiro. This work aims to improve the logistics flow of material reception in the warehouse of a company by using case study research methodology. Methods: Initially, there were too many queues at reception and high throughput times. The approach used to solve these problems was balancing the workstations, with the help of industrial simulation software (Arena®) and changing the existing layout, making the queues residual in order to reduce the throughput times. Results: Considerable savings were achieved with this approach in terms of operational costs. A reduction of the throughput time by 28% is reached and a reduced number of workstations is achieved, as well as a greater capacity to receive more material without the need for further investment. Conclusions: The changes in the layout allowed improvements at the ergonomic level and greater organization (5 S’s) at the workstations, thus having a positive impact on the employees’ working conditions.

Highlights

As we move further into an economy driven by service systems, a company’s logistics and transportation come to the fore as they are among the key drivers of the supply chain [1].Warehousing is an important part of a supply chain or any production facility that allows the company to manage fluctuations in market demand [2] and to match product demand with supply [3]
As in Ref. [16], this study reports a case study developed in the logistics department of a company in the area of security and communication systems, fire alarms, and electronic displays
Regarding the mapping of the material reception logistic flow, unlike what happened at the beginning of the study, when there was no mapping, the whole team was able to understand the process, as well as make any necessary changes more evident

Summary

Introduction

As we move further into an economy driven by service systems, a company’s logistics and transportation come to the fore as they are among the key drivers of the supply chain [1].Warehousing is an important part of a supply chain or any production facility that allows the company to manage fluctuations in market demand [2] and to match product demand with supply [3]. Warehouses can be used for a number of other activities [4] Such as recovering products, materials, and product carriers from customers in order to redistribute them to other customers, recyclers, and original-equipment manufacturers [5]. The main function is that goods arrive at a warehouse in a carrier and are unloaded at the receiving docs They are put away into storage and later picked and shipped through shipping docks [6]. Any underperformance in warehouse processes can lead to high costs, low reaction time, and service level and result in losses of all supply chains. A reduction of the throughput time by 28% is reached and a reduced number of workstations is achieved, as well as a greater capacity to receive more material without the need for further investment. Conclusions: The changes in the layout allowed improvements at the ergonomic level and greater organization (5 S’s) at the workstations, having a positive impact on the employees’ working conditions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion