Unlocking DC throughput capacity through improved flow
Author(s)
Morrison, Ryan Cannon
DownloadFull printable version (5.879Mb)
Alternative title
Unlocking distribution center throughput capacity through improved flow
Other Contributors
Leaders for Global Operations Program.
Advisor
Stephen Graves and David Simchi-Levi.
Terms of use
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The large multi-channel apparel distribution center was built as a purely wholesale building in the 1900s. With distribution becoming more complex due to e-commerce and smaller orders for more frequent replenishment, the requirements for the distribution center have changed significantly. The manner in which work flows through the building is influenced by batch size and release logic, which have not evolved to keep up with changing demand. Under the current flow of work, associates cannot stay busy working at the same processing (packing) station. Unstaffed processing stations are used as buffers, and associates move to unstaffed processing stations when they run out of work. The current flow prevents staffing all of the processing stations which significantly reduces the long-term throughput capacity. This thesis lays out a methodology to improve flow and unlock throughput capacity by changing batch size and control logic to meet future demand. The key enablers of this thesis were: 1) The collection of data to evaluate progress at key steps in the process 2) A holistic understanding of how the system functions, as well as the implications on the longterm throughput capacity
Description
Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2018. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (page 57).
Date issued
2018Department
Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering; Sloan School of ManagementPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Sloan School of Management., Mechanical Engineering., Leaders for Global Operations Program.