CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

The word "warehouse" is believed to have originated from the Old English words "wer,"
meaning "goods" or "commodities," and "hūs," meaning "house" or "dwelling." Over time,
the two words were combined to form "werhūs," which eventually evolved into "warehouse."
(Gu et al, 2007)

Therefore, A warehouse is a large space used for storing goods and products, most commonly
used in manufacturing, retail, or logistics industries(Baker, 2007). It serves as a central
location where businesses store their inventory before it is distributed or sold.

Warehouses are commonly used by manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and logistics

companies. The primary purpose of a warehouse is to provide a secure and organized space
for storing goods. It allows businesses to hold large quantities of products in anticipation of
future demand, enabling them to manage inventory levels, reduce stockouts, and fulfill
customer orders efficiently. The items stored within a warehouse may include raw materials,
finished goods, or supplies needed for production or distribution(Higginson, 2005).
Warehouses can range in size from small storage facilities to large distribution centers
spanning multiple acres. They typically have loading and unloading areas for trucks and other
vehicles, as well as equipment such as forklifts and conveyors for moving and organizing
products.

Moreover, Warehousing as a concept has been around for centuries. The exact origins of
warehousing are difficult to determine, as the need for storage and organization of goods
dates back to ancient civilizations(Hompel et al, 2006). However, the modern warehousing
industry began to take shape during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. During this
time, advancements in transportation, manufacturing, and trade led to larger quantities of
goods being produced and transported. Warehouses became essential for storing and
distributing these goods. They provided secure storage facilities, inventory management
systems, and logistical support to facilitate the movement of products.

Since then, warehousing has continued to evolve and adapt to changing technologies and
business practices. Today, warehouses play a crucial role in supply chain management and
logistics, supporting various industries and sectors around the world

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In today's fast-paced business environment, efficient management of warehouse operations is
crucial for companies to meet customer demands and optimize their supply chain. To achieve
this, organizations often rely on Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). A WMS is a
software application that facilitates the management and control of various warehouse
activities, including inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and logistics coordination.

A warehouse management system (WMS) is a software solution that can help organizations
effectively manage and optimize their warehouse operations. A WMS can provide real-time
visibility into inventory levels, locations, and movement, allowing businesses to better plan
and execute warehouse activities such as inbound and outbound shipments, order picking,
and inventory control(Andiyappillai, 2019). One of the primary benefits of a WMS is the
ability to improve order accuracy and speed. With a WMS, companies can use scanning and
RF technology to automate data collection and ensure that the correct items are picked and
shipped in a timely manner. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and reduced
labor costs associated with rework or order errors. A WMS can provide operational efficiency
improvements(Ramaa,2012). The software can help optimize warehouse layouts and storage
locations, ensuring that items are stored in the most efficient manner to reduce the time
required for picking and replenishment. Additionally, a WMS can provide visibility into
order volumes and velocity, allowing businesses to better plan staffing and inventory
replenishment to meet customer demand. WMS also plays a vital role in inventory
management. A WMS can provide real-time inventory counts, including location and status
of all items, reducing the likelihood of stockouts or overstocks(Mhaddolkar, 2023). The
software can help businesses accurately track inventory levels, expiration dates, and batch/lot
numbers, enabling businesses to manage their inventory levels more effectively. it also has
the ability to increase safety and reduce accidents in the warehouse by enforcing safety
guidelines, tracking inventory levels and movements, and providing real-time visibility. A
well-implemented WMS can help organizations meet or exceed regulatory compliance
requirements, reducing the risk of fines or penalties.

Finally, a WMS can offer detailed analytics and reporting capabilities. This can help
businesses gain insights into their warehouse operations, such as order cycle times, inventory
levels, and labor costs, enabling businesses to optimize operations and make data-driven
decisions and can also provide significant benefits to organizations looking to optimize their
warehouse operations(Awwad et al, 2018). With features such as improved accuracy and
speed, operational efficiency, better inventory management, increased safety and compliance,

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and detailed analytics and reporting, a WMS is an essential tool for any organization looking
to improve the functionality and efficiency of its warehouse management processes.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The existing manual warehouse management processes are prone to errors, inefficient, and
lack real-time visibility into inventory levels. This often results in delayed order fulfillment,
excess inventory costs, and increased operational complexities. To overcome these
limitations, this project aims to design and implement a comprehensive Warehouse
Management System that automates key processes and provides accurate, up-to-date
information for effective decision-making.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the study

The aim of this project is to design and implement a warehouse management system a case
study of Uncle Joe Plaza, Osogbo, Osun State. The objectives of the project are follows:

 To conduct a thorough study about warehouse management and the issues related.
 To develop a warehouse management system that automates warehouse operations,
provides inventory tracking, and improves supply chain efficiency.
 To implement the designed system using Uncle Joe Plaza, Osogbo as case study.
 To evaluate the system and provide corrective measures where necessary.

1.4 Research Methodology

There are various ways of carrying out a research work. The methods to be employed will be
completely and selectively based on the fitness, workability and suitability of the system to
be designed and ability to provide means of determining the level at which the system could
be accepted by the users. The different activities to be performed to satisfy the objectives of
this project include:

1.4.1 Information gathering: this will be achieved by;

 Reading of relevant literatures to have knowledge and accurate approach to the

design system.

 Browsing the internet for solved materials based on the topic by various intellectual
individuals.

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  Conducting physical interview with the staff and management of Uncle Joe plaza,
Osogbo, Osun State

1.4.2 Analysis of the existing system: this will be done by browsing the internet, to know
some of the problems of the previous existing warehouse management system. By analyzing
the existing system, one can formulate and propose a prototype or model to minimize the
bottlenecks being experienced.

1.4.3 Design of the new system: After the analysis of the existing system, the lapses and
bottlenecks of the existing system would be observed, and a new automated system would /be
designed. The new system would be designed as a website, and implemented which will be
used by any organization across the world. The following tools will be included for the
successful implementation of the new system:

 A web browser.

 Local Server e.g Wamp Server, XAMP

 Text Editor for writing of code.

 Flowchart design of how the system work, which will be interpret in to code using the
text editor.

Methodology 1: For objective One; To conduct a thorough study about warehouse

management and the issues related.

Step One: Reading of relevant literatures to have knowledge and accurate approach to the
design system.

Step Two: Browsing the internet for solved materials based on the topic by various
intellectual individuals.

Methodology 2: For objective Two; To develop a warehouse management system that

automates warehouse operations, provides inventory tracking, and improves supply chain
efficiency.

 Design a website using HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT and PHP technology that will be
used to eliminate the bottleneck in the management of warehouse.
 The designed system will be able access by two users; admin and the sales boys/girls.

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Methodology 3: For objective Three; To implement the designed system using Uncle Joe
Plaza, Osogbo as case study.

 Test the design system with sample data from uncle Joe plaza to generate report.

Methodology 4: For objective Four; To evaluate the system and provide corrective
measures where necessary.

 Evaluate the website if the design system meet the purpose and fix bug or any
amendment to suit the design model.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The significance of studying and addressing warehouse management challenges cannot be

overstated. Improving operational efficiency, enhancing customer’s satisfaction, reducing
costs, gaining a competitive advantage, ensuring compliance, and enabling future growth are
the key benefits of overcoming these challenges. By recognizing the importance of efficient
warehouse management, businesses can optimize their operations, deliver exceptional
customer experiences, and achieve sustainable success in today’s competitive businesses
landscape.

1.5 Scope of the Study

The scope of the study encompasses a comprehensive exploration of warehouse management

challenges and potential solutions. By examining specific areas such as inventory
management, order fulfillment, warehouse layout, technology integration, scalability, and
compliance, the study aims to provide insights and recommendations for optimizing
warehouse operations and improving overall efficiency.

1.6 Choice of Programming Language

The programming language refers to the necessary tools required for the successful design
and development of the new system. The system is web based and therefore it will be of a
great necessity to use the following languages;

 HTML: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for
documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. HTML describes the structure of
a web page semantically and originally included cues for the appearance of the document.

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 It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and scripting
languages such as JavaScript. HTML is needed in this project to describe the structure of
information on the various web pages in the system.
 CSS: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for describing
the presentation of a document written in a markup language like HTML. CSS is
designed to enable the separation of presentation and content, including layout, colors,
and fonts. This separation can improve content accessibility, provide more flexibility and
control in the specification of presentation characteristics, enable multiple web pages to
share formatting, and reduce complexity and repetition in the structural content.
CSS will be needed to such as the ability to:

 Specify fonts other than the default for the browser

 Specify color and size of text and links

 Apply colors to backgrounds

 Contain webpage elements in boxes and float those boxes to specific positions on the
page

 Javascript: JavaScript often abbreviated as JS, is a programming language that is high-

level, often just-in-time compiled, and multi-paradigm. JavaScript is one of the core
technologies of the World Wide Web. JavaScript enables interactive web pages and is an
essential part of web applications. The vast majority of websites use it for client-side page
behavior, and all major web browsers have a dedicated JavaScript engine to execute it.
JavaScript is important to improve the user experience of the web pages by converting it
from a static page into an interactive one (i.e. to add behavior to the web pages).
 PHP: PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited
to web development. PHP originally stood for Personal Home Page, but it now stands for
PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. PHP code is usually processed on a web server by a
PHP interpreter implemented as a module, a daemon or as a Common Gateway
Interface (CGI) executable. PHP is important to connect the web pages to the database, as
it will transport the various data to and fro the database.

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1.7 Definition of Terms

Warehouse: A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by

manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc.

Warehouse management system (WMS): A warehouse management system (WMS) is a

software solution that can help organizations effectively manage and optimize their
warehouse operations.

Internet: A global Network of computers that can access each other and share information.
System: A system is a group of interrelated component working together toward a common
goal by accepting input and producing output in an organized transformation process.

Website: A website can be a collection of web pages that can be linked to other website on
the internet.

Management: Management is the coordination and administration of tasks to achieve a goal.

Such administration activities include setting the organization's strategy and coordinating the
efforts of staff to accomplish these objectives through the application of available resources.

Management information systems (MIS): Refers to the use of technology, people and
processes to support the collection, processing, storage, and dissemination of information in
an organization, MIS provides managers with timely and relevant information to make
informed decision

Enterprise resource planning (ERP):is a software system that integrate all aspects of business,
including finance, human resources, manufacturing, supply chain management, and customer
relationship management, ERP systems are designed to streamline business processes and
improve efficiency.

Customer relationship management (CRM):is a strategy that companies use to manage

interactions with customers and potential customers. CRM software system typically include
tools for managing sales, marketing, customer service, and support.

Supply chain management (SCM):it refers to the management of the flow of goods and
services, including raw material, work in progress, and finished products, from the point of
origin to the point of consumption.

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 REFERENCES
Andiyappillai, N. (2019). Data analytics in warehouse management systems (WMS)
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Awwad, M., Kulkarni, P., Bapna, R., & Marathe, A. (2018, September). Big data analytics in
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engineering and operations management (Vol. 2018, pp. 418-25).
Baker, P. (2007). An exploratory framework of the role of inventory and warehousing in
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Gu, J., Goetschalckx, M., & McGinnis, L. F. (2007). Research on warehouse operation: A
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Higginson, J. K., & Bookbinder, J. H. (2005). Distribution centres in supply chain operations.
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MHADDOLKAR, A. V. (2023). OPTIMIZATION OF WAREHOUSE INVENTORY SPACE
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