Lean Manufanturing in warehouse management to reduce costs in a testing laboratory (#973)

Authors

Lopez Damian, Henry Mariano

Flores Luna, Edinson Edu

Pinedo-Palacios, Patricia

Abstract

Using an applied approach, a pre-experimental study was designed that focused on warehouse management as the independent variable and costs as the dependent variable. The population covered all data related to the warehouse area, while the sample was limited to management and cost records from 2021 and 2022, using non-probability sampling. The methodology included tools such as calculation matrices, Ishikawa diagrams and improvement proposals. The implementation of Lean principles, such as 5S, ABC Analysis and Kanban, doubled the warehouse efficiency from 40% to 80% with respect to the 5S methodology, and also showed notable improvements in occupancy, inventory management and speed in operations. Handling, possession and administration costs also experienced significant reductions, indicating efficiencies in materials handling, inventory levels and administrative processes. Overall, the adoption of Lean Manufacturing proved to be successful in optimizing logistics management and substantially reducing costs associated with laboratory storage.