Title: Picking improvement of an FMCG warehouse: a lean perspective

Authors: Ankit Dixit; Bhavin Shah; Vandana Sonwaney

Addresses: Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM), Nashik, A Constituent under Symbiosis International University, Pune, India ' Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, India ' Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM), Nashik, A Constituent under Symbiosis International University, Pune, India

Abstract: The study has been conducted at a third-party logistics service provider (LSP) consisting of FMCG product families. The picking issue is solved by designing an optimal storage layout using a blend of ABC-FSN categorisation and assessing leanness by identifying non-value added (NVA) activities to reduce the picking wastage. Proposed model is implemented using excel and aided with Routifik tool that classifies retailers. The proposed assignment framework found to have increased picking productivity and reduced error detection. The results of the study are functional and deployable in similar practicing warehouses. Unlike common inventory classification techniques, this study provides strong insights that shall help managers to design layout with efficient flow, especially in the FMCG domain. Mapping of picking performance measures with wastage and its assessment is the uniqueness of this study which can be extended for other warehouses in future.

Keywords: picking productivity; ABC-FSN categorisation; lean warehousing; layout design; storage assignment policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLEG.2020.109613

International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation, 2020 Vol.8 No.3, pp.243 - 271

Received: 23 Apr 2020
Accepted: 15 May 2020

Published online: 16 Sep 2020 *

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