Inventory and Warehouse Management - Haya Wastewater Company - Case Study Example

INVENTORY AND WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT Name: Course: Tutor: University: City and State: Date: Inventory and Warehouse Management Introduction A warehouse is a planned space for handling and storage of material and goods. Warehouses are said to be the focal points for information flow and product between beneficiaries and supply sources. The systems of warehouse are important aspects of supply chain and mainly focus on controlling the movement and storage of goods and the processes associated with transactions within the warehouse. The systems also monitor the progress of products in the warehouse and this involves tracking systems communication between product stations and physical warehouse infrastructure.Warehouse management systems allows an organization to manage the entire storage systems within the warehouse while inventory management systems gives the organization the total amount of stock that it has for one specific storage location. The effective management of inventory control and warehouse management are important to the supply chain of an organization. The capacity to sustain an efficient, constant and smooth flow of goods and services to the society and industry provides an important challenge in terms of cost, organization and processes. Managers repeatedly trying to balance increasing customer satisfaction while reducing costs and inventory levels.The important aspect of a warehouse management is to ensure that the leastamount of stock is apprehended to satisfy the majority of demand at an acceptable cost. This brings about an increase in the number of tradeoffs within the warehouse, which must be balanced to guarantee maximum effectiveness (Saxena, J. 2003, 146). Technology has continued to advance in the area of warehouse and inventory management with sophisticated hardware and software products being introduced in the market. The automation of warehousing is increasing in popularity all across the world. The objective of a warehouse and inventory management system is to deliver a set of technological procedures for the warehouse management inventory, equipment, people and space with the aim of minimizing fulfillment times and costs(Wild, A.2007, 197). The objectives include-; A standard process to handle shipment when it arrives, the receipt of returns and stock in the warehouse facility and enabling a seamless link to order logistic management. Furthermore, processing in order to pack is also included to ship and pick products out of the warehouse, managing and modeling the logical presentation of the storage facilities, and tracking the place where products are stocked. The issue in the warehouses is that the conventional and old approaches, which are outdated, are joined with very heaving conditions. This effect brought about by this is a very deliberate movement of materials and these results in a rise in inventory holding costs and operating payments. The organizations will not stand this rate increase; therefore, there is always an urge for newer and better strategies. Nevertheless, simply introducing the newer methods is not a guarantee of the system’s effectiveness or efficiency. In addition, a requirement of a robust managerial organization of the scheme to make the approaches operative is vital and this entails a lot of managing and training the operators as well.(Saxena, J. 2003, 184). This paper will briefly look into the concept of warehousing according to the theoretical perspective and then look into warehousing in the wastewater company in order to get an understanding of warehouses. It will also focus on the strategies they are using to work efficiently and effectively to reduce overall costs simultaneously, that are important in upholding a warehouse and the inventory therein. Theory and Practice Local warehousing is constantly deteriorating for a decade of the 20th century with the establishment of Just in Time (JIT) systems that are specifically premeditated to augment the benefits of investments of an organization by adjusting in-process stock. Just In Time concept is grounded on supplying products straight from the company to the marketing outlet without the using the warehouse (Wild, A.2007, 201). Warehouses today entail the following; they execute more, smaller transaction, process more return, store and handle more items, ship and receive more international orders, offer value added services, and offer more product/service customization. There has been radical change in the internet world today; the growing technology has altered the warehousing systems so much that logistics are supported to enhance a faster pace and with a small opportunity for mistakes. As many technologies evolve in today’s business world, many problems are also arising thus making warehousing more multifaceted. This in turn affects the entire supply chain management (Wild, A.2007, 201). Role of warehousing in supply chain Since customer service and inventory holding are the significant warehouse functions, which indicates that warehouse has a vital role to play in supply chain. Some of the main functions of warehouses are to break or keep goods in bulk. They also act as returned good depots, centers for cross docking, trans-shipment and merchandise fulfillment centers as well as consolidation centers. In addition, they play roles such as customer care and places for repair services. These functions offer time compression, agility and production services, which are known for accumulative trends in warehousing. Therefore, stock keeping is a vital role for warehouses in modern delivery activities (Saxena, J. 2003, 184). Inventory management The main function of managing inventory is to offer suitable reports to reduce errors and advance operations. However, it is mostly limited to stock assessment processes instead of the carriage of heavy machinery (Wild, A.2007, 203). Warehouse inventory can be categorized as below: There are raw materials and appliances in which goods are purchased by the company for resale to consumers or retailers. In addition, there exist assembly lines that have items still in production. Similarly, they contain packaged merchandise that is on standby for shipment to customers Total quality management in Warehouse and Inventory Management The main concept of TQM is to eradicate wastage and reduce the production of erratic items in the course of manufacturing. The connection between wholesalers, retailers and the eventual customers must be well coordinated to avert the delivery of poor quality goods. Therefore, Total Quality Management is often practiced by setting suitable and safe standards for the handling of goods acquired in the warehouses. All products need to be aligned to the stipulations outlined in the firm’s vision. Whereupon items do not fulfill these stipulations, they are regarded as rejects and discarded. (Saxena, J. 2003, 189). Water is an important aspect in any industrial operation. Wastewater treatment facilities are firms that manage and operate wastewater treatment services for private and public customers alike. Proper management of the process can provide effective cost saving when the limits of environmental consent are not breached. For the operation and project management of such industry, a team of specialist with a strong sectorial experience should be uniquely positioned to develop and advise the best solutions for the organization`s problems.wastewater companies area staffed by recognized plant operators who basically carry out laboratory analysis, field sampling, pre-treatment monitoring of programs and routine maintenance. The wastewater collection system is a crucial element of infrastructure in Oman. Sanitary sewer overflows discharges are prohibited by the ministry of environment in Oman (Al Baz, Otterpohl, & Wendland, C. 2008, 25). Haya Wastewater Company works collaboratively with other organization to engage an extensive group of industry stakeholders to develop good engineering practices and key aspects of operating and managing sewer systems as well as other waste collection points. Therefore, the key aspects should be used in conjunction with other company regulations which help in enhancing various engineering techniques (Paracher, M. 2008, 67). These aspects are-; maintenance and implementation of an information and inventory management system, adaption and implementation of training and safety programs, timely performance and adequate maintenance and system operation, maintaining and implementing a records management system, conducting a system hydraulic evaluation, inspection and design attributes among others. It is important that these aspects be implemented as part of an extensive program due to their significant interdependence, which provides a well operated and managed system (Water Environment Research Foundation, 2001, 5). In Oman, the wastewater sector operates within an intricate regulatory, environmental, political and statutory landscape. Working under a 30-years concession, Haya water Company has initiated development programs to justify that it is a pioneer example of the collaboration between the government and private finance organizations (Al Baz, Otterpohl, & Wendland, C. 2008, 31). It is a Demonstration that Haya Water is dedicated towards the growth and prosperity of Omani commerce. Similarly, is focused on initiating practical waste management, water reuse projects. Thus, it is beneficial to the environment by providing Kala Compost and Treated Wastewater (Al Baz, Otterpohl, & Wendland, C. 2008, 38). Kala Compost- Haya Water Haya Water has established its Composting Plan (Kala) which is located at Al Multaqa in Amerat. By so doing, it allows the effective recycling of bio solids and green waste allowing their operation to convert such waste into a compost product that can be recycled for use in individual gardens, landscaping and agriculture. The water reuse system benefits were recognized in 2011 when Haya was conferred the Green Footprint honor for its Kala compositing plant. Their vision is to empower Muscat to become one of the leading cities in the world by operating and building an excellent water reuse system that joins at least 80% of the suburban properties across the city. Likewise, it is focused on bringing a recognizable environment benefits to the Muscat governorate area by the year 2018 (Clini, Musu, & Gullino, L. 2008, 125). The company is known to have experts in operation, design and water maintenance as well as wastewater treatment capabilities. It often works in collaboration with project managers, skilled designers, project engineers and civil engineering contractors who offer a variety of turnkey packages for all types of applications. The knowledge and skills of the company`s expertise means that they deliver a comprehensive service that entails the feasibility and concept right through to implementation, design, support, operations and maintenance (Kerri, & Brady, J.2005, 54). Haya water reusable treatment project is today focused on treating and converting all sewage bio-solids generated by the company to manure instead of dumping it to a landfill site as it was done during the past years. In particular, it is reaping the benefits of finding a concrete way to recycle water and green waste that will be of great aid to farmers, municipal authorities and individual gardeners. Furthermore, it discovered a way to process waste that prevents the build-up of greenhouse gases (Kerri, & Brady, J. 2005, 55) .The Company is providing a double benefit for Oman farmers and the agricultural sector through its capability to supply treated waste for irrigation and providing them with its environment friendly Kala manure. Kala compost is an end product of the reusable water treatment process and is today used and marketed by a high number of agriculturists looking for environmentally friendly and cheap compost. The capability of the plant to handle an extensive variety of other wastes means that other organizations send their unwanted materials to the composite plant instead of dumping it into landfill sites an action that can lead to the creation of greenhouse gases more so methane to the environment(Clini, Musu, & Gullino, L. 2008, 128). Haya manages its business operations by carrying out the following functions, asset management, corporate planning, commercial, finance, human resource management, contracts, corporate communications, procurement and inventory, projects, information technology, telecom and quality, health, safety and environment. For continued achievement of goals, the company wishes to improve and expand its Information Technology landscape. Due to the available business processes, the operation department at Haya operates under certain business objectives and different IT solutions positioned across the company. The company also wishes to upgrade, enhance and replace the existing systems according to the restructured business function. The production capacity of Kala organic fertilizer plant is expected to produce 40,000 tonnes of fertilizer annually, which upon its sale would increase its production. Inventory and warehouse management in Haya To check the viability of the recycling system, Haya Company needs to equip staff with the required resources to perform storage activities, forecasting, collection and communication of data. production, maintenance and design information should be conveniently located closer to meet the system maintenance requirements and performance goals of the company. Haya Wastewater Company should design, plan and implement data and information processes and systems just as it would do to a capital movement project (Water Environment Federation, 2004, 15). The information management system of the company should be able to locate and identify relevant attributes, reporting documents and performance records of the company`s employees. The company uses its geographic information system for conducting analysis, managing, locating and storing referenced information of the collection system (Resch, M. 2011,32). The benefits of effective inventory and warehouse management programs are that it allows efficient maintenance and operation system wide, it generates reliable and consistent forecasting and planning information to better the decisions made by the management, helps in reducing unpredicted service interferences and risks and improves knowledge of system connectivity and components. Other benefits are that it offers important information to efficiently respond to service request forms the justification of customer preferences and requirements within a investment Improvement Plan(CIP) and supports continual improvement of systems (Water Environment Federation, 2009,4). Kala plant has the capacity to produce 160 tons of compost in a day and has the capability to treat 290 tonnes of sewage sludge approximately and 250 tonnes of green waste. The sewage sludge is then composted using the windrow method, which involves the mixing of raw materials whereby the park and garden wastes are cut into smaller pieces using the shredding machine. The sewage sludge is then mixed (Webb & Webb, A. 2004, 136). The other steps are piling, turning and curing stages. Haya Company has launched an android application, which helps users to can register their complaints services, which include sewage blocks, leaks and help them in calculating their sewage charges. This can be done through calling a toll free number or through email(Marques, & Simões, P. 2010, 14). The company has put into consideration the use of Open agitated Windrow system, which allows the use of different effluents as raw materials. Kala therefore utilizes green waste, sewage sludge, horse bedding and wood waste to make it compost. Therefore, the Kala compositing project has motivated others to consider the delivery of their wastes to Haya Water in order to keep the environment conducive for all people (Mahadevan, B. 2010, 103). With an expertise group of Human Resource managers, the company is committed to serving Muscat by providing an excellent water distillation source and ensures that soil fertility is boosted and that the land is protected from soil erosion. Other than the company`s commitment to support Kala composite plant as the only method for disposing sludge, the company is committed to sell the end-product and generate profits that will generate income for the sustainability of the plant. For its continued existence and growth, Kala compost conforms to the Ministry of Environment and any other environmental organization standards(Paracher, M.2008, 73). Haya Water Laboratory Haya Water operates and constructs water reuse systems for businesses, individuals and families, in Muscat. The company laboratory was established in 2006. It is an ISO17025 endorsed laboratory with an objective of providing a quality in analytical solutions intended to meet the needs of our customers (Paracher, M.2008, 76). The company has a laboratory that provides a variety microbiological and physicochemical analytical testing for treated effluent, seawater, wastewater, leachate, drinking water and bio-solids/composite samples and Kala composts that are used for home gardens for large scale agricultural use (Mahadevan, B.2010, 126). The laboratory is well equipped with innovative scientific tools that are designed to analyze multiple samples. In addition, it has a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), which is entirely incorporated to the instrument for a quicker and efficient turnaround of reports. Haya laboratory is maintained and operated with highly proficient staff precisely trained at the premises of instrument manufacturer. Situated in an environment with multifaceted cultures, Haya Water Central Laboratory is devoted to convey fast, reliable, affordable and accurate, analytical testing services. The laboratory works hand-in-hand with credited laboratories in London for highly intricate testing requirements(Marques, & Simões, P. 2010, 18). Treated Effluents Haya water provides treated effluents to minimize the pressure to use desalinated or scares groundwater for irrigation and other uses and for backfilling on construction sites, for dust control, manufacturing purposes and for cooling towers (Marques, & Simões, P. 2010,21). The Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology ensures that there is increased quality production and pollutant-free water to homes and businesses by guaranteeing that they acquire a plentiful and a cost effective supply of recycled products for all of their requirements. The company also anticipates using treated waste for agricultural and other purposes, which is miles away from the present primary use for golf course irrigation, public recreational areas and public parks. This recycled water isdirectly available through a treated seepage network to community parks and other public areas or through our Green Tankers that convey it togreen public areas and other locations (Roy, R.2005, 13). According to a research done carried by Water Environment Research Foundation (2001) The recycled water project that Haya Water reuse facility is growing is the biggest and most expensive to be launched in the Gulf region. . The company uses state-of-the-art technology including what is said to be the biggest treatment plant in the world known as Submerged Membrane Bioreactor .The company already has 54,000 cubic meters of waste daily and it is predicted to multiply to over 110,000 cubic meters as the project continues to grow and operate in many businesses and homes in Muscat. It is a well-structured and planned development and in fact, almost 50 per cent of the population today is linked to the grid (Laboy, E. 2009, 39). Tankers service Haya water tankers service is mainly offered to diminish fraud and minimize queues. The company also offers tankers services, which aim at serving the society. They also take care of public health by preventing water overflow and protecting the image of the company. Vacuum tankers services on the other hand are used in saving the water table and eliminating its overflow (Laboy, E. 2009,44).The company has laid thousands of miles of pipes to ensure it connects the six major projects which incorporates the Muscat water recycle project. They comprise of six main developments that include Bousher, Seeb, Muttrah, Muscat, Quriyat and , Amerat where other water recycling plants are being built. The pipeline connects to the Al Ansab treatment, which is over 280 kilometers and where the final procedures are carried out using the casing bioreactor facility (Rofe, B. 2004, 43). Conclusion Although there are large amounts of available technologies for sale, organizations remain undetermined to renovate their warehouses because of the anxiety of high preliminary costs that are sustained because of the up gradation. Large factory facilities today are improvising better ways by employing new methodologies but note fully embracing new and creative applications , which is also referred to as the paperless system. They are continuing with the customary concepts of warehousing. However, adapting new technologies is needed to improving some areas in order to succeed in today’s competitive market. . References Al Baez, I., Otterpohl, R., & Wendland, C., 2008. Efficient management of wastewater its treatment and reuse in water-scarce countries. Berlin :Springer. Clini, C., Musu, I., & Gullino, L. ,2008. Sustainable Development and Environmental Management experiences and case studies. Dordrecht,the Netherlands: Springer. Kerri, K. D., & Brady, J.,2005. Operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems: a field study training program. Sacramento:the University. Laboy, E., 2009. Environmental management, sustainable development and human health. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Marques, R. C., &Simões, P., 2010. Regulation of water and wastewater services: an international comparison. London: IWA Pub. Mahadevan, B.,2010. Operations management: theory and practice. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Paracher, M.,2008.Wastewater Collection System Maintenance; Technomic Publishing Co: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Resch, M.,2011. Strategic project management transformation delivering maximum ROI & sustainable business value. Ft. Lauderdale: Fla, J. Ross Pub Rofe, B., 2004. Wastewater treatment: evaluation and implementation. London, Thomas Telford. Roy, R., 2005. A Modern Approach to Operations Management. New Delhi: New Age International Saxena, J. P., 2003. Warehouse Management and Inventory Control. New Delhi:Vikas Pub. House. 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