In a series of three articles, the author presents a methodology he developed for selecting a standard information system to support material flow in a warehouse. The methodology was created based on research conducted at the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing and was the subject of a doctoral dissertation written under the scientific supervision of
dr. hab. inż. Marek Fertsch at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Management of the Poznan University of Technology.
Among the changes occurring in warehouse technology and organization in Poland over the last 15 years, the widespread use of information systems should be considered one of the most important. The diversity of software used and its functionality indicate that it is often chosen randomly, without taking into account the needs resulting from the specifics of individual warehouses. At the same time, managing a modern warehouse is currently impossible without support from an information system.
Subsequent changes in the area of warehousing in terms of organization
and technology will be forced by the following factors:
– cost reduction
– process acceleration
– error elimination (especially in picking)
– increasing the level of customer service.
Among the observed directions of change, the following should be mentioned:
– increasing the number of assortments
– introducing several types of packaging for one assortment
– an increase in the number of orders from customers
– decreasing the quantity of ordered assortment within individual order items
– requirements for shorter lead times
– shifting logistics costs to the supplier
– increasing the level of customer service.
The requirements described above cannot be met without IT support. The functions necessary for managing warehousing processes should be reflected in the information system.
The most important management elements that can be introduced thanks to the implementation of a warehouse information system include:
– using the free location method when placing goods in the storage area
– arranging goods taking into account their rotation
– using automatic identification based on barcodes
– limiting human errors
– collecting data necessary for effective inventory management
– streamlining the picking process
– elimination of paper documents
– process monitoring
– conducting continuous inventory.
Therefore, it is justified to pay attention to the functionality of information systems that support the processes and activities actually taking place in the warehouse. The functionality of an information system is understood here as the effective fulfillment of the role of IT support for individual warehouse processes and the support of the management of these processes in accordance with needs.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 3/2004.