- Title
- Barriers to picking and packing in pharmaceutical warehousing and distribution in South Africa
- Creator
- Kemp, Nicholas
- Subject
- Pharmaceutical industry -- Materials management
- Subject
- Warehouses -- Management Pharmaceutical industry -- South Africa Physical distribution of goods -- Management
- Date Issued
- 2018
- Date
- 2018
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MPharm
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30627
- Identifier
- vital:30994
- Description
- Barriers within the supply chain play an evident role in decreasing its efficiency. The supply chain system is not well documented in the pharmaceutical sector. The aim of this study was to identify any barriers to the movement of picking and packing operators within 6 distribution facilities throughout South Africa using a time and motion analysis. A pilot study was initially conducted to choose the stopwatch application for Android® devices and to ensure reliability of the tools utilised. The motions during the processes of fulfilling an order were identified during the case picking, bulk picking and packing processes by direct observation of operators. The direct observation was performed using a stopwatch application for Android® devices and a tool on Microsoft Excel®. The data was analysed using Microsoft Excel®, using a student’s T-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach to identify similarities and differences between the facilities. The data was further analysed using a descriptive statistics approach to identify the common barriers amongst the distribution centres. Thereafter, the data was analysed by identifying a value-quotient. The value-quotient was used to identify how much time was spent on value-adding activities with each facility. The observation of the operators was done randomly at each facility to avoid subjectivity and bias. Results: The pilot study identified which stopwatch application was to be utilised. The pilot study aided to improve upon the design of the data collection tool used for the transcribing of the timing operation. The student’s T-test and ANOVA revealed that there were statistically significant differences in case picking amongst facilities, namely using the radio frequency identification devices (RFID), picking and transfer of stock. In the bulk picking process, there was a statistically significant difference amongst the facilities, namely using the RFID, pick and transfer of stock. In the packing process there was a statistically significant difference amongst the facilities in the packing process. The analysis of barriers within the distribution centres revealed that the 16 common barriers amongst the picking processes at the facilities included raising the platform, waiting for colleagues to depart an aisle, RFID malfunctions and answering their phones. No common barriers during the packing process was identified. The value-quotient revealed that most of the facilities spent more than 50 percent of their time on value-adding activities during the case picking, bulk picking and packing processes. A time and motion analysis proved to be an effective method to identify similarities and barriers between the six facilities. It was recommended to investigate a few of the basic operations to improve upon, as well as the possibility of implementing a barcoded system to the stock.
- Format
- 127 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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NMU School of Medicinal Sciences
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Nicholas Mark Kemp.pdf | 2 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |