Enhancing Inventory Counting Process with Drone Technology
Vuong, Phuong (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024052716274
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024052716274
Tiivistelmä
Inventory counting process is a vital part of inventory management in the warehousing industry. The process can take from a weekend to a few months and engage from a few to a few dozen employees depending on the size of the company and the condition of its inventory. Devoting this amount of time and resources is not always possible for multiple reasons.
This thesis focused on identifying the challenges of the current inventory counting process at the case unit and looking for possible solutions to the process to benefit the case company. In this study, action research was selected as a research approach and qualitative research methods were used, with the data primarily gathered through interviews with key stakeholders, participant observations and analysis of internal document from the case company. Interviews and discussions were conducted with the key stakeholders, while observation also played a big part.
After the problems were identified through the CSA process, existing knowledge and best industry practice pointed to the use of drones as a possible solution to the problems in the Inventory counting process. For addressing the flaws in conventional physical counting process, the instances of using drone technology were explored, which then, together with the suggestion from stakeholders, were used to formulate the proposal. The proposal suggested, first, to establish the drawbacks of the current process. Second, to introduce automation to the existing steps of the inventory counting at the company. Third, to explore the potential solutions with automated devices like drones for future integration and implementation.
The outcome of this study is the improvement proposal to the current Inventory counting process, including suggestions for possible innovations that can - potentially - be applied into the operations at the case company so that the counting process could be faster and less resource intensive. The proposal served to help the decision makers to consider using warehousing drones; it was approved as a very initial step before a more detailed investigation and planning at the case company.
This thesis focused on identifying the challenges of the current inventory counting process at the case unit and looking for possible solutions to the process to benefit the case company. In this study, action research was selected as a research approach and qualitative research methods were used, with the data primarily gathered through interviews with key stakeholders, participant observations and analysis of internal document from the case company. Interviews and discussions were conducted with the key stakeholders, while observation also played a big part.
After the problems were identified through the CSA process, existing knowledge and best industry practice pointed to the use of drones as a possible solution to the problems in the Inventory counting process. For addressing the flaws in conventional physical counting process, the instances of using drone technology were explored, which then, together with the suggestion from stakeholders, were used to formulate the proposal. The proposal suggested, first, to establish the drawbacks of the current process. Second, to introduce automation to the existing steps of the inventory counting at the company. Third, to explore the potential solutions with automated devices like drones for future integration and implementation.
The outcome of this study is the improvement proposal to the current Inventory counting process, including suggestions for possible innovations that can - potentially - be applied into the operations at the case company so that the counting process could be faster and less resource intensive. The proposal served to help the decision makers to consider using warehousing drones; it was approved as a very initial step before a more detailed investigation and planning at the case company.