Impact Of Warehouse Layout In Proper Materials Handling

1.0 Introduction
All organizations both private and public need efficient warehouse management for its survival and operational success. Efficient warehouse management is very necessary and especially in this era of fast technological advancement, systems of management and layout should change as well. The manufacturing industry is experiencing fast hardware development which calls for change in all aspects of warehouse layout management.

1.1 Background to the Study
A warehouse is an essential limb of an organization. It is the depository of all materials required by the departments in the organization and supplies materials as and when required.It is important to note that the store is an area of great expenditure in the Health Sector.It is true that store function is a major cost centre which make use of 70-75% annual budget of the firm (Dangana 2005) and thus it can affect saving and therefore contribute significantly and therefore contribute to the profitability of the organization.

However, in today’s highly competitive and globalized business world, store layout is of great importance as a substantial number of instances have show that people charge with the function and responsibility of designing and managing the warehouse are given little or no attention in the organization. This may be as a result of poor understanding of storeslayout or inappropriate application of it.

More so, considering the variety of items sometimes, store is so large that a planned system is necessary to keep them secured and in order. The stored items should be identified and issues with minimum effort and minimum time. This therefore calls for a store structure suitable to carry on various activities efficiently and productivity and developing a system that ensure safety of men and materials.Most often the layout of a warehouse determiners to a large extent, the materials movement pattern and the limited type of handling equipment that can be used. This result in the fact that most customers demand for goods and services within and outside the organization are incremental in nature as they opt for speedy, convenient and reliable delivery of materials and service.

However, the need to curtail the amount of waste and improve the level of customer service within such organization has brought the use of the term stores layout and its impact on proper materials handling. It should also be noted at this point that, any knowledge of how a store should be designed must incorporate the knowledge of how materials would be moved or handled in the storehouse.

Therefore, the research work develops the effective utilization of store design and it prospect in the organization with reference to enhancing and ensuring effective materials handling in the organization.

1.2 Problem of the study
One vital decision that firms make is how to design and where locate their storage facilities. This decision goes a long way in determining the extent to which the firm will achieve its objectives. That is to get products and services to customer faster and at lesser cost to the firm and customers.Neglecting to manage the activities effectively can result in inefficiencies that out weigh gains or benefit in good management of such vital activities as transportation materials handing, inventory management and maintenance and information flow.

However, organizations are faced with various problems to design a warehouse house. Some of these problems may include; construction cost, cost of installation, cost of land, rate levied upon the new building by local authority and cost of survey, planning designing. Other problems may also include cost of materials handling i.e (equipment needed to load and off load materials and also for transporting materials), cost of storage equipment needed, and payment to building contact and for other incidental cost.

As a result, a poor storage design will result in poor performance such as materials damages and obsolescence, theft and pilfering, poor communication network, difficulties in the movement of materials within and outside, amongst others, regardless of the firm’s position in the industry or its product acceptability in other location.

1.3 Purpose and objectives of the Study
1. To find out the type of warehouse layout at Western Regional Medical Stores(WRMS)
2. To identify the type of material handling system adopted at Western Regional Medical Stores
3. To find out how the layout of the warehouse affects the handling of materials at Western Regional Medical Stores
4. To determine the difficulties associated with warehouse layout in relation to material handling

1.4 Research Questions
1. What type of warehouse layout is used at Western Regional Medical Stores?
2. Which type of material handling system is adopted at Western Regional Medical Stores?
3. How does the warehouse layout affect handling of materials at WRMS positively?
4. What are the difficulties associated with warehouse layout in relation to material handling at WRMS?

1.5 Significance of the Study
The findings of the research will be useful to Western Regional Medical Stores(WRMS), as it will enhance or improve the store layout system and techniques effectively and efficiently.
Prospective researchers may find findings of the researcher as a reference point particularly for those who may wish to carry out further research on the related field under study.To the entire populace, that come across this research work, the research work will provide them with the knowledge on the importantce of storeslayout on material handling is to an organization and it will also add value to their knowledge. Also it will serve as pre-requisite for the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) in Purchasing and Supply management.

1.6 Scope of the study
This research work is based on the effects of store design on materials handling with consideration to Western Regional Medical Stores, located at Takoradi harbour areathe research work will be centered on the effect of store design on materials handling in the organization with regard to the management and staff of Western Regional Medical Stores.The findings of this research work will primarily base on the data from the stores, distribution, marketing and production management of Western Regional Medical Stores

1.7 Limitations of the Study
Even though this study has a lot of merit, its preparation was beset with a number of difficulties. Whilst some of these problems could be overlooked others are worth mentioning.First and foremost, time limitation or time constraint. As a final year student, I had the challenge of having to squeeze my time thus foregoing lectures at times. I ignored some meetings, in order to make time for the research and also visit the area.
Cost involved in surfing the internet for information, printing, transportation to the study area, and other miscellaneous expenses. Despite all these diverse challenges and difficulties met, everything I needed for the completion of the project work was attained.

1.8 Research Methodology
This constitutes the procedures used to acquire comprehensive data and information for the project. This research will involve the use of both primary and secondary data collection.

• Primary Data Collection
This is the technique used in collecting data from some selected Member of staffs within Western Regional Medical Stores through personal interviews and designed questionnaires and site visits or observation to obtain data for the study.

• Secondary Data Collection (documentary analysis) which involves the use of recognized textbooks, magazines of the company, the internet and lecture notes.

1.9 Organizationofthe Study
The study is carefully organized into five (5) chapters: The first will focus on the introduction, which will include the background of the study, statement of problem, objectives of the study, purpose of the study, and limitation of the study. Chapter two of the research study will deal with a review of related literature on the subject of study by other writers .Chapter three forms the methodology of the study, as it would give details of how the research would be conducted; it would include issues such research design, purpose of the research, sampling, method of analyzing data, data collection, data collection techniques and problems encountered. Chapter four would be the presentation, analysis and discussion of data collected. Chapter five would deal with summary, conclusion and recommendation on the outcome of the study.

1.10 Conclusion
In conclusion this chapter concentrated on the background of the study, objectives, research questions and Methodology, scope, limitation and organization of study.