Identifying new ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness in warehouse operations within Time International Sports Ltd.

Abstract

The focal points of this study was "Warehousing‟. The research main objective was to enhance Time International Sports Limited (TISL) warehouse operations effectiveness and efficiency. As a company TISL is looking at expanding its operations, which will result in an increase in Warehouse activities and inventory levels. Warehousing is costly in terms of labor, equipment, software and facilities required. Its performance affects directly the supply chain overall performance. Poor Layout and management of operations can threaten the achievement of the required service levels and the maintenance of stock integrity. It can also result in unnecessarily high costs. Warehousing is a large and growing sector in today‟s business operations. This research was initiated with recognition of the problem - efficiency. Warehousing related literature was reviewed to build a theoretical framework which served as a base for the empirical part of this long essay. In this research the concept of Warehousing was briefly outlined. All current Warehouse operations of Time International Sports Limited were analyzed to understand the strategies deployed by the company. This was done by observing the operations for a period of time. Sections of the operations with room for improvement were identified with the help of the interviews carried out with management and warehouse personnel. Recommendations with different scenarios were outlined to increase efficiency and effectiveness. To propose the solutions for improvement, several meetings and brainstorming sessions were held. At the end of this research, the current trends of Retail Warehouses were highlighted. This includes local/foreign, latest strategies and technologies. This will enable Time International Sports Limited to understanding the market it operates in more. It will also serve as knowledge on technologies and infrastructures being used and invested in by organizations in similar markets. These trends inevitably changed the structure of supply chains and the ways and means of operating warehouses within supply chains networks.