2017 Final Year Project Definition Template

Project Title:

Optimising the outbound stream of a wholesaler’s warehouse

Name of the company:

InSync Solutions

Background about the industry and/or company:

InSync Solutions is a logistical solutions provider. InSync specialises in designing,

implementing and managing supply chain solutions (mostly revolving around

warehousing) for customers in various industries. The name InSync is derived from

Integrated and Synchronised Logistical Solutions, which is the two key components in

InSync’s solution driven approach.

InSync has recently taken over operations of a customer’s warehouse in Kempton Park. It is

a wholesaler warehouse which has an inbound and outbound stream. The warehouse

receives orders from customers all over the world, and complete orders need to be picked,

packed and shipped to customers before the promised cut-off time. From a practical point

of view, a lot of work has been done to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the 3

outbound processes (picking, packing and shipping), but orders are not yet leaving 100%

on time and in full. InSync’s promise to its customer is 100% on time delivery of complete

orders. This promise is not yet kept 100%.

InSync has implemented its own in-house developed warehouse management computer

system on which all process transactions are done. This system has comprehensive tools

that allows the user to allocate resources to each picking zone, hence manipulating how

many order lines gets allocated in each zone per 30 min cycle.

Optimisation opportunities needs to be identified within the system framework, tried and

implemented to achieve the customer promise of 100% on time and complete order

delivery.

Project Description, Problem Statement, or Opportunity for Improvement and Scope:

The selected student need to study the outbound stream from order placement to shipment

with specific emphasis on the system based management of the order lines. The following

topics may be included:

1. prioritisation of orders

2. cyclic scheduling of order lines

3. order distribution throughout the various pick zones in the warehouse

4. cyclic resource management

5. bottleneck identification

6. bottleneck management

7. picking process

8. packing process

9. shipping process

The selected student will have to clearly define and quantify the following:

1. Customer promise

2. Target condition with regards to the customer promise

3. Current condition based on current performance

4. Gap between current condition and target condition

Theoretical studies will have to be done with regards to the necessary Industrial

Engineering tools to overcome such a gap.

Based on this theory, measurements will have to be taken in the current outbound stream

and optimisation opportunities identified.

Optimisation opportunities may include current system tools, but if absolutely necessary,

may suggest system configuration changes to support optimal operating pattern.

The selected student will get the opportunity to, along with the operation’s engineers and

supervisors, test such optimisation suggestions and measure the impact on the outcome.

The success of this project will be measured by the margin by which the gap between

current condition and target condition were bridged.

Mentorship:

Strong guidance will be provided by the engineering manager at head office as well as the

resident engineer at the warehouse and the involved supervisors, who will be responsible

to provide necessary information and access to the relevant required information and

processes. Support from UP will also be provided.

Project application process and contact details:

Students must apply for this project before 3/02/2017. Feedback will be given by

10/02/2017.

Contact details:

Stephan Blom

Contact nr: 041 364 0002

E-mail: stephan@insyncsolutions.co.za