Lean Warehousing for Manufacturing

For any manufacturing or production operation, one of the most important points is to have the raw material needed to produce the finished products on time. This can only be achieved by having a robust process of storage and assortment of these materials, with defined times and quantities and delivery quality. Keep in mind that when a line stops or delays its production it can result in additional cost overruns and lost time that affects the results of the operation. To achieve an efficient operation that complies with the production plan, the warehouse processes and the assortment of components and raw materials in the plant must take into account some important factors:

The distribution of the product on time when the client requests it is becoming an increasingly important part of the logistics chain

Times

Based on the pace that production takes, it is necessary that the delivery of material to the work stations be before their need on the line. Many efficient operations use the Kanban method, a visual signal when more material is required. Having a minimum and maximum per workstation can ensure a cushion so that the delivery route is completed in its times and the operator has what it needs to produce. The distribution of the product on time when the client requests it is becoming an increasingly important part of the logistics chain.

Quantity

Having an excess or shortage of material is a problem for an operation. Having more valuable material occupies valuable space, which prohibits the use of the M2 from the floor of the plant, and having less can cost even more. When a line stops and can not continue to produce, labor and machines are not adding value and result in an increase in the cost of finished products. Getting the right balance is a challenge that involves many variables and must be accurate so that the supply chain is perfect.

The management of these factors contributes a large part of the success of the operation, and helps to ensure that the storage strategy and distribution are aligned with the production results.