Optimization of materials handling in a manufacturing warehouse facility

Abstract

Customer satisfaction and organization competitiveness are contingent upon implementing and improving existing logistics strategies. Thus, warehousing has become an integral part of a comprehensive logistics strategy for organizations. Organizations are continuing to streamline material movement in order to reduce customer shipment lead times and minimize inventory storage requirements. Technological advances in enterprise resource planning and warehouse management systems have made these efforts easier to achieve. However, the implementation of technology into warehousing represents a beginning from which current performance and improvement opportunities must be constantly evaluated. The following study will analyze the current utilization of a warehouse management system by a company in mid-western Wisconsin. The origins of logistics and warehousing will be examined along with the impact of an automated system in warehousing and its relation to enterprise resource planning. The research methodology and subsequent results will be revealed with a discussion and recommendations based on the findings.