Assessment of the implementation of a Warehouse Management System in a multinational company of industrial gears and drives

Abstract The companies may gain competitive advantage when they have an efficient logistics. In this aspect, the use of tools for the management and control of material handling and storage are essential for a fast and efficient logistics. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) is one available alternative for the automation of the logistic operations. In this context, this study has the central objective of analyzing the results of the implementation of a WMS system in a manufacturer of mechanical parts, in terms of operational efficiency and quality. The results of this study are focused on the satisfaction of the workers involved with the logistic operations, evaluated by means of interviews, and on the operational results, evaluated by means of a comparative analysis of the logistic performance indicators at two different times, the time before and the time after the implementation of the WMS. The analysis of the performance indicators demonstrated that the logistic operations have become more agile, what has reflected on financial gains. In addition, the workers involved with the change have reported a decrease in the functional conflicts and an increase in the reliability and credibility of information available to internal and external customers.