Improvement of Warehouses of Distribution Companies through Lean Warehouse and an Allocation Algorithm

Abstract

The wholesale trading companies are facing new challenges in terms of the level of service, which is an important factor which determines the level of sales and profitability of companies. Thus, currently, companies are aimed to deliver orders to their respective customers on time, in good condition and complete. This file focuses on the importance of warehouse management for mass consumption distributors, since it's the warehouses that determine the operation and productivity costs of these. Thus, some innovative techniques such as the lean warehouse and allocation tools improve working conditions with the aim of reducing downtime and distances. A pilot programme of implementation of the tools mentioned in the warehouse of a wholesale distributor was carried out. As a result of the research, the distance traveled in the warehouse was reduced by 22%, the reduction of times in the picking process, achieving the optimal delivery time and generating an increase in the sales made of 215,720.22 soles. These results prove to be decisive in the performance of the supply chain (inventory, cost, delay and risk), since the key to success for this industry is to satisfy the needs of customers in the shortest possible time.