Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to design the work process and area for exporting spare parts in an agriculture-machinery warehouse. Because of different requirements, this exporting spare-part must be separated from existing domestic ones and requires a new packaging line in terms of spaces and dedicated work process. To facility the packaging-line design, we analyzed current warehousing activities using Warehouse Activity Profile (WPA), a data mining technique that explores patterns from operational data and using them to improve efficiency of warehousing management. Results of WAP suggest that additional spaces can be acquired from (1) removing non-moving items that have no transaction in the past five years and (2) adjusting storage spaces in pallet racks of medium-size spare parts. The former suggestion has potential to increase 563.9 square meters, whereas the later suggestion can increase 1,120 pallet positions or 16% of storage space for medium-size spare parts. Having acquired sufficient spaces, we proposed a design of work station and work procedure for workers who operate in the packing line using standard time. The proposed design yields cycle time of 25.33 minutes with throughput of 17 outer boxes per day. Compared to its actual throughput during March May 2012, the packaging line was underutilized due to insufficient export orders. Furthermore, 41% cubical space of exported containers was empty as weight of space parts becomes a major factor in packing. This leads to a suggestion to implement multi-size exported containers and to use an appropriate container for each shipment.