Analysis of Operational Efficiency in Picking Activity on a Pipes and Fittings Company

Faced with the need to reduce costs to remain competitive in the market, several companies are seeking internal process improvements, focusing on process optimization coupled with the importance of speed in logistics activities. The present work, characterized as a case study, aims to evaluate the operational efficiency of the picking activity in the Distribution Center of a multinational company located in Joinville, Brazil, presenting proposals for improvements in the processes and layout of the warehouse. Using Operational Research tools, it was possible to simulate different approaches for the picking sector in order to compare them identifying the most productive one. The results showed that it was possible to reduce the total picking time of the company up to 25%, reducing the company's costs in this activity by approximately R$ 120.000,00 per year, in the best scenario found in the development of the work.