Artikelplacering och lagerlayoutens påverkan på interna materialflöden. : En fallstudie av ett färdigvarulager vid ett svenskt industriföretag.

Sammanfattning

Warehouse design plays a crucial role in the functioning of internal material flows and affects the operational efficiency of organizations. Insufficient alignment between item placement, warehouse layout and movement patterns of material flows may result in increased transport distances and inefficient material handling. The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis is to analyze how item placement and warehouse layout influence internal material flows in relation to item picking frequency, as well as to identify improvement opportunities for achieving a more efficient material flow. The study includes a case study of a finished goods warehouse at a Swedish industrial company. Data collection was carried out through an observation, semi-structured interviews and analysis of the company’s internal data. In addition, an ABC classification based on picking frequency was performed to analyze the significance of different items within the material flow. The results indicate that item placement is only to a limited extent adapted to item picking frequency, leading to longer transport distances, congestion and increased internal material handling. The conclusion is that a more flow-oriented approach, including clearer zoning and ABC-based item placement can contribute to a more efficient and stable material flow while also creating improved conditions from sustainability and work environment perspectives. The study contributes theoretically by highlighting the relationship between item picking frequency, item placement and warehouse layout, and how these factors jointly influence the efficiency of internal material flows.