IMPROVEMENT OF WAREHOUSING PROCESSES BY APPLYING LEAN TOOLS: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS

Abstract

The article discusses the improvement of warehousing processes by applying lean tools. A brief history shows how people like Fredric Taylor, Henry Ford and Taiichi Ohno contributed towards the lean concept known today. The seven types of wastes (Muda): overproduction, defects, waiting, unnecessary motion, inventory, transportation and over processing identified by Ohno point areas to investigate and determine the presence or absence of waste. The five lean principles: identify value, value stream, flow, establish pull, and seek perfection, act as a guide when implementing lean tools to any warehousing processes. The lean tools discussed in the article are Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5s, Kanban and Kaizen. The research was conducted by analysing published literature sources. As per the researchers’ results, applying lean tools in warehousing processes improves productivity, creates safer working environments, motivates employees, reduces lead time and improves customer service.