Swedish retail industry is facing a challenging future in terms of creating positive customer experiences due to an increasingly digitized world. The market and shopping patterns have changed drastically, and customers expect a higher level of customer service while retail staff spend a lot of time receiving deliveries and handling goods. Successful work with Lean has long helped other industries to streamline their tasks. The question remains whether Lean can help create enabling conditions for the retailer to streamline product and inventory management and be able to allocate time to customer experiences instead. The purpose of this work is therefore to identify opportunities with methods such as ABC-analysis and 5S for improvement in goods and inventory management in retail in favour of increased customer satisfaction. The study was conducted as a case study at a retail store with an internal warehouse. To respond to the purpose, the delivery of goods was examined through observations as well as interviews were conducted with the store manager and two employees. The study was further supplemented by an interview with the logistics department at the company headquarters. The result shows that a frequency placement according to the picking frequency at the warehouse saves both time when delivering goods but also when picking out, this as the A-products are closest to the entrance. Improvement opportunities such as standardization of work tasks, visualization in store warehouses, focus on inventory turnover and structure in warehousing according to 5S were significant for the efficiency of the warehousing. The study is expected to contribute with understanding that methods developed for other industries can also be applied within the retail. Lean in retail is a recently explored area and our study gives an indication that warehouse efficiency is important for improved customer service. To make the study possible it is limited to streamlining storage of goods and handling of goods in the store warehouse.

For numerous companies today, one of the key elements for successful competing in the market is an optimized inventory management. Inventory management is about satisfying the customer need, while keeping the inventory costs as low as possible. This report discusses the functionality assessment of inventory management software for small to medium sized enterprises (SME). It is an investigation motivated by the fact that high-end inventory management solutions are becoming financially available for SME via the SaaS technology. The main question that this study aims to answer is therefore what functionalities and functionality characteristics in external high-end inventory management solutions enable competitive advantage for SME’s. A survey complimented by a number of interviews was conducted in order to gain a broad picture of what the SME’s need from these solutions. The answers obtained from the SME respondents were compared to relevant literature, and from that the conclusions were drawn. Furthermore, a QFD analysis was made to evaluate how well an existing high-end-solution matches the SME requests. The result of the study shows that there are many similarities between what the SME need and what the large companies need in terms of functionalities in these systems. However, the study also shows that, for optimal use, these functionalities must be delivered by the system developers in a way that is better suited for SME’s. / För många företag idag är en av nyckelkomponenterna för framgångsrik konkurrens på marknaden en optimerad lagerstyrning. Lagerstyrning handlar om att tillfredsställa kundernas behov samtidigt som lagerkostnaderna hålls så låga som möjligt. Den här studien utvärderar funktionaliteter i lagerstyrningsmjukvaror för små till medelstora företag. Det är en undersökning som är motiverad av det faktum att avancerade lagerstyrningssystem blir mer och mer finansiellt tillgängliga för små till medelstora företag via den så kallade molnteknologin. Huvudfrågan som detta examensarbete ämnar besvara är därför vilka funktionaliteter och funktionaliteters egenskaper i avancerade externa lagerstyrningssystem som möjliggör konkurrenskraft för små till medelstora företag. En enkät kompletterad av ett antal intervjuer genomfördes för att skapa en bred bild av vad de små till medelstora företagen behöver från dessa system. Svaren som erhölls från de undersökta företagen jämfördes med relevant litteratur och från detta har slutsatser dragits. Dessutom har en så kallad QFD-analys gjorts för att utvärdera hur bra en existerande system stämmer överens med vad de små och medelstora företagen efterfrågar. Resultatet av detta examensarbete är att det finns många likheter mellan vad de små till medelstora företagen behöver och vad de stora företagen behöver angående funktionaliteter i dessa system. Emellertid visar denna undersökning att, för optimal nytta av dessa system, måste dessa funktionaliteter anpassas för de små och medelstora företagen.

Title: Inventory management as prerequisite for an efficient warehousing managementstrategy during expansive growth Authors: Oskar Siggesson, Mattias Hedendahl, Anton Olsson & Max Sandstedt Examinator: Hana HulthénTutor: Petra Andersson Background: The company is in a period of strong growth and is suffering from growingpains. The company is moving to a new location with a larger storage space in 2024 butsomething has to be done before the move. Because of high storage levels there is a lack offree storage space and the warehouse is soon reaching its breaking point. Objective: The report investigates how a change in warehousing strategies can helpMicropower cope with the growth in production until 2024. A forecast is created for thefuture need for storage space on a selection of products in a portion of the warehouse. Methods: This study is a case study of Micropower Group. The study uses secondary data inthe form of quantitative data from the company's business system, but to some extent also theauthor’s own observations. The data is used to perform an ABC/XYZ-analysis on thecompany's incoming inventory that forms the basis for segmentation of the articles. The studyalso conducts a sensitivity analysis of the company's storage space needs. Conclusions: By segmenting articles based on the ABC/XYZ-analysis, appropriateinstruments can be presented for the company's articles. The analysis forms a framework forMicropower's inventory management strategy but also for companies in similar situations.Based on the segmentation, information about the article's characteristics and appropriateinstruments. The study's sensitivity analysis of the forecast for storage space requirementsgives the company an indication of what increase in inventory turnover rate is required tomanage production growth. The study finds that in order to manage production growth therewill need to be an equally large increase in inventory turnover rate. Key words: ABC/XYZ-analysis, item management, inventory management strategy,differentiation, classification, forecast, sensitivity analysis, storage space

Firms today maintain complex supply chains containing many dependent stages to manufacture a product to the end customer. Here lies a dilemma, keeping extensive inventory generate higher customer satisfaction by enabling quick deliveries. This increase in inventory, however, comes at an increase in costs. Finding the balance between minimizing costs and increasing customer satisfaction is difficult. The search to solve this dilemma has led to the development of research in the area of inventory control. For long, optimization models have been developed to improve the supply chain holistically, from raw material-to-customer. Those approaches, however, have not been possible to apply in practice by being too computationally demanding. Also, they imply organizational adjustments that create issues beyond the optimization flow of materials. It explains why, despite significant technolog- ical advancements, many firms prefer to use non-holistic approaches. This thesis evaluates the tangible effect of using holistic optimization. The objective of this thesis’ is to determine optimal stock levels between dif- ferent stages of production. The method used is an optimization of inventory, stemming from Inventory Control Theories. Inventory optimization is at the cross- roads between logistics, economics, and management. The thesis builds on a case of inventory optimization identified at a large manufacturing firm. The literature in inventory optimization has indicated that inventory and customer services is a domain of continuous development. This thesis focuses on the adequation between total inventory cost and the customer service level. The method used to answer this question is the Multi-Echelon optimization model. This model seeks to optimize reorder points and reorder quantities. A comparison to the Single-Echelon model and a Base-Case allows for evaluation of the performance, discrete event simulation based on a company’s supply chain measures the effect. The result shows that the Multi-Echelon optimization model outperforms the two non-holistic models. This thesis shows the triple advantages of the Multi-Echelon optimization allowing for leaner manufacturing system by 1- reduction of waste, 2- less unproductive capi- tal tied up in inventory, and 3- adding value by increasing customer satisfaction. Other areas of inventory optimization in manufacturing should be able to take ad- vantage of the Multi-Echelon optimization model to manage materials stock-levels, delivery flows, and customer satisfaction. / Idag bedriver företag komplexa försörjningskedjor med många relaterade produk- tionssteg för att försörja sin efterfrågan. Dilemmat är att antingen ha stora lager för att säkerställa både snabb kundleverans och hög kundnöjdhet vilket kräver mycket bundet kapital. Alternativet är att spara pengar genom mindre lager men riskerar då att inte kunna leverera inom önskad tid och minska kundnöjdheten. Att hitta en balans är svårt. För att lösa problemet har forskning inom området lager- styrning ökat. Optimeringsmodeller har länge utvecklats för att förbättra försör- jningskedjor. De har inte kunnat appliceras i många företag p.g.a. avsaknaden av beräkningskraft och behovet att förändra organisationen utöver optimeringen. Det förklarar varför många företag, trots teknisk utveckling, fortfarande inte an- vänder ett helhetsperspektiv. Denna uppsats utvärderar de påtagliga effekterna vid holistisk optimering av produktion, lagerhållning, och kundleverans. Målet med uppsatsen är att fastställa optimala lagernivåer mellan de olika stegen inom en produktionskedja. Metoden som används är ”Multi-Echelon” op- timering och härstammar från området ”Inventory Control Theories”. Det är en blandning av logistik, ekonomi, och administration. Lageroptimering är ett ämne i konstant utveckling där kundnöjdhet blivit allt viktigare. Modellen optimerar när en ny beställning av material ska ske, samt dess storlek. Modellen utvärderas genom att jämföra prestationen med en ”Single-Echelon” modell och en grund- modell genom diskret händelsesimulering som är baserad på ett företags försör- jningskedja. Resultaten visar att ”Multi-Echelon” optimeringsmodellen presterar bättre än de två icke-holistiska modellerna vad gäller totalkostnad och kundser- vicenivå. Uppsatsen visar att ”Multi-Echelon” optimeringsmodellen har fördelar inom alla tre områdena: smidigare produktion genom mindre spill, mindre bun- det kapital krävs, och den ger en ökad kundnöjdhet genom säkrare leveranser inom ”rätt” tid. Andra områden inom tillverkningsindustrin borde kunna ap- plicera ”Multi-Echelon” optimering för att hantera sina lagernivåer, produktion, leveransflöden, och kundnöjdhet.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge of how the inventory can becontrolled and managed when purchasing in conjunction with an ABC-classification. To fulfilthe purpose, two research questions have been formulated: [1] How can the ABC classification be used to manage the purchasing process? [2] How can the ABC classification contribute to improved warehouse service? Method – The study was initiated with a feasibility study in order to shed light on the problemarea and its context which the study intends to investigate further. The feasibility study incombination with a literature review contributed to the formulation of the purpose and researchquestions. The study is designed in accordance with a case study with a singular analysis unit, in this case the purchasing unit in a business system. Furthermore, data collection wasgenerated via literature study, interview, and questionnaire. The interviews and thequestionnaires contributed to qualitative primary data which were intended to illustrate theusers’ knowledge and use of the studied phenomenon. Findings – It was found in the study that ABC classification is an effective method fordifferentiating purchasing and inventory management. This study demonstrates that aninterconnection of ABC classification and inventory service level is the most effective approachin order to control and minimize the occurrence of shortages, resulting in improved warehouseservice. Implications – The subject areas, which first and foremost are ABC classification andinventory management, are thoroughly researched as proven by existing literature, hencegenerating new knowledge to the fields are considered to be challenging. Despite the givencircumstances, this study adds knowledge to a certain extent, as the study presents andstrengthens existing research regarding how a combination of an ABC classification and acertain degree of service level has been shown to streamline the purchasing process andimprove the warehouse service as well as the inventory management. Limitations – This study only includes the users of the business system and the purchasingmodule provided by the case company, which can be considered to affect the generalizability ofthe study. The fact remains, however, that generalizability should also apply in other systemsin connection with purchasing, since the starting point of the theory and its area of applicationis so well known and generally accepted. Keywords – ABC analysis, ABC classification, inventory management, inventory control,safety stock, service level, warehouse service. / Syfte – Syftet med studien är att öka kunskapen om hur olika artikelklassificeringar bör styrasvid inköp. För att besvara syftet har det brutits ner i två frågeställningar: [1] Hur kan ABC-klassificering användas för att styra inköp? [2] Hur kan ABC-klassificering bidra till förbättrad lagerservice? Metod – Studien initierades med en förstudie för att belysa det problemområde och desskontext, vilken studien ämnar undersöka. Förstudien i kombination med litteraturstudie bidrogtill formulering av studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Studien är av enfallsdesign med enanalysenhet, i det här fallet inköpsmodulen i ett affärssystem. Vidare genereradesdatainsamling via litteraturstudie, intervju samt enkät. I samband med intervju och enkäterhölls kvalitativa primärdata som avsåg åskådliggöra användarnas kunskap och användningav det studerade fenomenet. Resultat – ABC-klassificering visar sig vara en effektiv metod för differentiering av inköp ochlagerstyrning. Den här studien påvisar att en sammankoppling av artikelklassificering ochlagerservicenivå är det mest effektiva tillvägagångssättet i syfte att kontrollera och minimerauppkomsten av bristtillfällen som ger upphov till förbättrad lagerservice. Implikationer – Ämnesområdet kring ABC-klassificering och servicenivå är väl utforskatinom befintlig litteratur, vilket bidrar till mindre utrymme att generera ny kunskap till området.Trots given omständighet tillför studien i viss utsträckning kunskap, då genomförd studieframlägger och stärker befintlig forskning då en kombination av ABC-klassificering ochservicenivå har visat sig effektivisera inköpsarbetet. En sådan kombination visar sig i empirinha minimerat antal bristtillfällen och på så vis förbättrat lagerservicen. Begränsningar – Studien inkluderar enbart användare av inköpsmodulen som fallföretagettillhandahåller, vilket kan påverka studiens generaliserbarhet. Faktum kvarstår dock attgeneraliserbarhet även bör gälla i andra fall då inköp görs eftersom utgångspunkten för teorinoch dess användningsområde är så pass känt och allmänt godtaget. Nyckelord – ABC-analys, ABC-klassificering, lagerhantering, lagerservice, lagerstyrning,servicenivå, säkerhetslager.

Las organizaciones son conscientes de que el mundo del retail deportivo está perfilado por situaciones y variables que lo convierten en un escenario complejo y competitivo por naturaleza. Esto ha hecho que sea muy común escuchar, que uno de los principales problemas que deben enfrentar es la administración de los inventarios, debido a que los niveles de stock que manejan no son los adecuados respecto al comportamiento del mercado, originando significativas pérdidas de ventas e incrementos en los costos, reduciendo el margen de la empresa. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo diseñar un modelo de optimización de inventarios que integre herramientas como análisis ABC multicriterio, Holt-Winters y la metodología 5’s para la mejora de los niveles de stock en las pymes del sector retail deportivo. El modelo propuesto permite encontrar un método eficiente para la optimización buscada, lo cual facilita la planeación de ventas y compras de existencias conforme a las necesidades de la empresa. El principal resultado de la validación en el caso de estudio fue la reducción de los sobrecostos en un 10% y 26% el espacio excesivo utilizado en productos con poca rotación. / Organizations are aware that the world of sports retail is shaped by situations and variables that make it a complex and competitive scenario in nature. This leads to a very common problem of inventory management, be-cause the stock levels are not suitable for market behavior, generating significant loss of sale and increase in cost and reducing margins of companies. This research seeks to design an inventory optimization model that integrates tools such as multi-criteria ABC analysis, Holt-Winters, and 5S methodology for improving stock levels in SMEs within the sports retail sector. The pro-posed model helps find an efficient method for the optimization sought, which enables the planning of sales and stock purchases according to the needs of the company. The main result of the validation in the case study was the reduction of additional costs by 10% and 26% the excessive space used in products with low rotation. / Tesis

At the end of the 2019 year, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic changes human life. People have to change their way to be more safer for working and producing. For most industries, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is huge. The number of active labor and the order is decreased, moreover, the inventory management issues appeared in this time. Hence, The related company must find a new inventory management solution for surviving in the Covid-19 pandemic.  The subject of this research paper is about inventory management in Chinese food supply chains. And the purpose of this study is aim to dealing with the inventory management dilemma for the most company which related to the food industry during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study uses multi cases study to help readers understand the challenges and solutions of inventory management in the Chinese food industry during the Covid-19 pandemic deeply. Furthermore, this study uses qualitative research to analyze the interview data.  The analysis illustrates that the resilience supply chain and the inventory costs are important for strengthening the ability of inventory management to face the risks. And this study is significant, and it can help many Chinese enterprises find a direction for the inventory management risk during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, this study can also provide a foundation for the further study of risk management for inventory.

El presente proyecto consiste y tiene el propósito de brindar una propuesta de mejora a la gestión de almacén para un operador logístico de la ciudad, con el objetivo de aumentar la productividad. Para ello, se analizaron los procesos de recepción, gestión de inventarios y el picking; en los cuales nos permitió investigar la herramienta y metodología más asertiva para el sector. Dentro de la información relevante estudiada previamente por otros autores se identificó la metodología 5s, flujo de inventarios y Kanban como herramientas con potenciales beneficios sobre la gestión de almacenes. Sin embargo, no se encontró información específica sobre el sector logístico. Motivo por el cual, se llevó a cabo una simulación de las actividades de las herramientas mencionadas y como resultado de la investigación se logró aumentar la exactitud de inventarios a un 95% y la reducción de los costos operativos en un 18%. De esta manera, el margen bruto de la empresa incremento en 317,250.57 soles aproximadamente de los cuales en su mayoría eran de penalidades por incumplimiento o perdida de la mercadería. En efecto se comprueba que el manejo de los inventarios dentro de un operador logístico es sumamente importante y es el que mayor impacto tiene, ya que es la base para mantener la estabilidad de la empresa y los clientes satisfechos en cuanto a confianza del operador. Cabe recalcar que la necesidad de incrementar la productividad va enfocada a poder disminuir toda actividad innecesario dentro del proceso de la empresa. / This project aims to provide a proposal for improvement to warehouse management for a logistics operator in the city, with the aim of increasing productivity. To do this, the receiving, inventory management and picking processes were analyzed; which allowed us to investigate the most assertive tool and methodology for the sector. Within the relevant information previously studied by other authors, the 5s methodology, inventory flow and Kanban were identified as tools with potential benefits on warehouse management. However, no specific information was found on the logistics sector. Because of which, a simulation of the activities of the mentioned tools was carried out and as a result of the investigation it was possible to increase inventory accuracy to 95% and reduce operating costs by 18%.In this way, the company's gross margin increased by approximately 317,250.57 soles, most of which were penalties for non-compliance or loss of merchandise. In fact, it is found that inventory management within a logistics operator is extremely important and is the one that has the greatest impact, since it is the basis for maintaining the stability of the company and satisfied customers in terms of operator confidence. It should be noted that the need to increase productivity is focused on being able to reduce all unnecessary activity within the company process. / Trabajo de investigación

La investigación tiene como objetivo general determinar en qué medida el diseño de gestión de inventarios basado en las metodologías 5S y Demand Driven Material Requirement Planning (DDMRP) optimizará la planificación de inventarios de la empresa Negociaciones Corporativas Tauro’s S.A.C. El tipo de investigación se adaptó a los alcances del estudio descriptivo, basándose en la investigación de artículos relacionados a la comercialización de productos perecibles para así desarrollar una propuesta que se adapte de la mejor manera a la situación de la empresa. Con el fin de mitigar los problemas de sobreabastecimiento de inventarios e ineficiencia en el proceso de almacenamiento de estos. Por un lado, la filosofía de las 5 “S” está orientada a gestionar el estado físico del almacén, garantizando una estandarización del orden y control del inventario, de manera que su ejecución previa pueda mitigar los problemas que presenta la empresa a la vez que maximice los resultados de la aplicación de la siguiente herramienta, DDMRP. Esta última permite gestionar los inventarios estratégicamente de acuerdo con la demanda sin generar un sobre abastecimiento ni mucho menos un desabastecimiento de inventarios. Dichas técnicas fueron propuestas en un modelo de 5 fases para su correcta implementación. Cabe resaltar que el presente proyecto de investigación se desarrolla desde el análisis numérico para diagnosticar correctamente la situación de la empresa y presentar una solución viable a su realidad. / The purpose of this research is to determine how much the inventory management design based on the 5S and Demand-Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP) methodologies will optimize the inventory planning of the company Negociaciones Corporativas Tauro S.A.C. The type of research will be adapted to the scope of the descriptive study, specify in the research of articles related to the publications of perishable products in order to develop a proposal that best suits the situation of the company. In order to mitigate the problems of inventory oversupply and inefficiency in the storage process of these. The philosophy of the 5 "S" is oriented to the management of the physical state of the warehouse, guaranteeing a standardization of the order and control of the inventory, so that its previous execution can mitigate the company’s problems at the same time that maximizes the results of the application of the following tool, DDMRP. The last one allows inventories to be managed strategically according to demand without generating an oversupply, much less an inventory shortage. These techniques were proposed in a 5-phase model for their correct implementation. It should be noted that this research project is developed from numerical analysis to correctly diagnose the company's situation and present a viable solution to its reality. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

El presente trabajo de investigación identifico que el uso de las practicas Lean para mejorar la rotación de inventario y proceso de despacho en una empresa distribuidora de pinturas en polvo permitirán mejorar los indicadores clave de gestión en una MYPE distribuidora de pinturas en polvo y por consiguiente permitirá disminuir el impacto económico que las malas prácticas generan. El trabajo contiene 4 capítulos. El primero revisa el estado del arte y Marco teórico. El segundo capítulo ejecuta el diagnóstico para lo cual describimos la organización estudiada para identificar el problema, analizar sus causas y alternativas de solución. El tercer capítulo contempla la propuesta de mejora mediante el análisis y pronóstico de la demanda, usos de herramientas como el EOQ y el MRP para una correcta gestión de inventarios, además usa la estandarización de procesos y 5S. El cuarto capitulo corresponde a la validación de ingeniería y económica. Finalmente, la conclusión sostiene que gracias a la implementación de las herramientas mencionadas se logra disminuir significativamente el impacto económico que tiene como consecuencia el exceso de costos, asimismo se logran valores adecuados en los indicadores claves de control. / The present research work identified that the use of Lean practices to improve the inventory rotation and dispatch process in a powder coating distribution company will improve the key management indicators in a MYPE distributor of powder paints and therefore will reduce the economic impact that bad practices generate. The work contains 4 chapters. The first reviews the state of the art and theoretical framework. The second chapter executes the diagnosis for which we describe the organization studied to identify the problem, analyze its causes and alternative solutions. The third chapter contemplates the proposal for improvement through the analysis and forecasting of demand, uses of tools such as EOQ and MRP for a proper inventory management, also uses process standardization and 5S. The fourth chapter corresponds to engineering and economic validation. Finally, the conclusion holds that thanks to the implementation of the aforementioned tools, it is possible to significantly reduce the economic impact that excess costs have as a consequence, as well as adequate values in the key control indicators. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional