Application of Lean Technique in Warehouse Operations for Waste Reduction

The role of warehouse is very crucial in proper functioning of supply chain management system. It provides temporary storage for the goods before delivered to the end customer. In the past, it was used for storage purpose only, due to which it is considered as a cost center. But, nowadays various value-added activities like labeling, packaging, cross-docking, etc., are performed by the companies inside the warehouse. This helps in achieving better efficiency and improved customer service level within the supply chain. In this research paper, problems at various level of warehouse operations are identified at first stage. Then, at second stage, appropriate lean tools and techniques are identified and applied to eliminate them. This leads to waste reduction, enhanced productivity, and improved efficiency in the warehouse operations. Further, this research may provide insight to the companies about how to adopt and implement lean techniques into their warehouse management system effectively.