Chapter II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
This chapter deals with the review of related concepts found in
previous literature. It pertained to books and articles of theories and ideas
which provide information related to the study. Likewise, this includes a
synthesis of reviewed research literature.
Conceptual Literature
The foregoing concepts are found to be essential with the present
study. These were gathered from books, journals and articles and credible
online sources.
Green Warehousing Practices
According to Talib et al., (2018) Green warehouse plays a crucial role
in shifting from the environmentally-degrading conventional approach to the
more environmentally-friendly way of logistics management. (Luu, 2016)
states that the concept of green warehousing can help reduce greenhouse
effects and global warming for better tomorrow. Green warehousing needs
components such as energy and waste management, alternative energy and
green building.
According to Feng et al. (2018), green warehousing practices
positively influence environmental performance leading to low cost of
operation, low price of goods and increased market size, sales, net profit
margin and return on investment among Chinese automobile manufacturing
firms. As supported by Zelbst et al., (2013) Green warehousing is one of the
concepts from the green logistics knowledge branch. In recent years, as an
effort to minimize logistics ecological impacts, there is a large and growing
body of literature on green logistics practices.Thus, green warehouse plays a
crucial part in shifting from the environmentally-degrading conventional
approach to the more of environmentally-friendly way of logistics management
Warehousing is one of the critical activities of in-house and outbound logistics
and distribution ,warehousing and goods handling contribute to 2–3 percent of
energy-related CO2 emissions worldwide.
Jha (2016) stated that environmental consideration could create value
for the companies and differentiate them from competitors through a good
image of the organizations as eco-friendly companies. Energy and carbon
reduction results in a sustainable supply chain and higher carbon credits.
Moreover, waste reduction through green management can improve
employees’ living conditions and productivity. If environmental protection
concept is applied into warehouse management, it will help reduce carbon
emission and cost leading to economic sustainability .According to
(Abushaikha, 2018) Warehousing activities produce enormous waste in the
supply chain, which require the adoption of practices and policies that reduce
waste to eliminate their adverse impact on the environment and human lives.
Again, warehousing activities especially, where hazardous substances are
kept pose several risks to the safety of The role of supply chain sustainability
the environment and health of the employees in situations where employees’
knowledge is limited and proper labeling practices are not adopted.
Warehousing activities such as movement of vehicles from one warehouse to
the other also increase the carbon dioxide emission in the environment. This
shows that warehousing is an area of logistics that requires serious attention
from firms undertaking supply chain sustainability projects to meet the
requirements of stakeholders and gain competitive advantage
Torabizadeh et al. (2020) suggest that green warehousing has a
positive influence on firm performance. Again, ensuring the safety and welfare
of employees and external stakeholders through social values and ethics
improve social sustainability of firms which reduces labor turnover and
recruitment cost.Green warehousing, unlike traditional warehousing,
advocates that storage facilities can do more than pollute. Evidence from
industrialized economies verified that extensive warehousing and logistics
activities pollute the environment and permeate the atmosphere with harmful
gasses.
Warehouse Operation
According to Richards (2017), A warehouse is one of the most critical
functions in a supply chain as it accounts for 20-30% of total logistics costs. A
warehouse is used for a variety of functions ranging from storage to product
distribution which includes cross-docking. Almost 70% of energy consumption
in a warehouse is due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning . Due to its
nature, warehouse operations are harmfully affecting the environment. The
notion of SWM has assured to reduce carbon emissions (Ries et al., 2016).
Thus, with the integration of both internal and external factors, SWM is
designed towards better process productivity, minimizing environmental effect
and highest social standards without compromising financial productivity.
Likewise, SWM enhances firm cost efficiency, creates a competitive
advantage and increases customer satisfaction. SWM is part of a green
building initiative and it could reduce pollution because it is designed to
reduce, reuse and recycle. Green buildings deliver benefits to the
environment by protecting the ecosystem, reducing water streams and
restoring natural resources. Similarly, SWM can reduce the usage of
electricity by using solar panels to generate electricity (Bartolini et al., 2019).
Hence, SWM is important globally because warehouses operations cause
pollution like any other building.
According to Talib et. al. (2018), due to the increasing pressure of
minimizing costs as well as lowering logistics carbon footprints, logistics
service providers (LSP) are more concerned and dedicated to improving
warehousing operations and functions. This is understandable because
warehousing infrastructures and functions are among the critical activities of
the logistics system behind transportation. Hence, the environmental impact
induced by warehousing operations has become more significant than even.
For instance, the World Economic Forum in 2016 emphasized the role of
warehouse operations emission reduction and its importance towards a more
sustainable logistics operation. Furthermore, the 2015-2020 Logistics and
Trade Facilitation Master Plan has identified warehouses as an integral
element in logistics activities. The plan further accentuates raising need to
improve the overall warehousing standards as it could potentially increase the
efficiency of cargo distribution.
Inventory Management
Inventory is one of the important factors in business activities and its
availability cannot be avoided. Inventories arise because these items cannot
be obtained instantly, but a grace period is required to obtain them.
Inventories can also be caused by asynchronous demand with the supply and
time spent to process raw materials. With the inventory, the company can
meet customer demand in a timely manner (Wahyudi, 2015). Proper inventory
system control will make it easier for companies to carry out operational
activities and maintain a smooth operation cycle of the company (Singh,
2015). According to (Wambua et al, 2015) Organizing inventory needs to be
done to avoid inefficient work and create regularity of inventory. In organizing
inventory, it is necessary to have a system of control and recording of
supplies because it will affect the production process and the company's
financial statements . The inventory control and recording system included in
it is related to the type of inventory, the amount of inventory, and the location
of inventory. In connection to Kusuma et al, (2017) Inventory control and
recording systems are part of warehousing management. The implementation
of this management is the process of managing receiving goods the
warehouse and put away goods the warehouse. This process is carried out in
a warehouse with a certain administrative record
According to Madishetti and Kibona (2013) found that a well designed
and executed inventory management contributes positively to a small or
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) profitability. They studied the association
between inventory conversion period and profitability and the impact of
inventory management on SMEs profitability. They took a sample of 26
Tanzanian SMEs, and used the data from financial statements for the period
2006–2011. Regression analysis was adopted to determine the impact of
inventory conversion period over gross operating profit. The results cleared
out that a significant negative linear relationship occurred between inventory
conversion period and profitability. According to Edwin Sitienei and Florence
Memba (2015) conducted a study on Effect of Inventory Management on
profitability of Cement Manufacturing Companies in Kenya. The study
concluded that Gross profit margin is negatively correlated with the inventory
conversion period, Increase in sales, which denotes the firm size enriches the
firm’s inventory levels, which pushes profits upwards due to optimal inventory
levels. It is also noted that firms inventory systems must maintain appropriate
inventory levels to enhance profitability and reduce the inventory costs
associated with holding excessive stock in warehouses.
According to Panigrahi (2013) undertook an in-depth study of inventory
management practices followed by Indian cement companies and its effect on
working capital efficiency. The study also investigated the relationship
between profitability and inventory conversion days. The study, using a
sample of the top five cement companies of India over a period of 10 years
from 2001 to 2010, concluded that a considerable inverse linear relationship
existed between inventory conversion period and profitability.
According to Nyabwanga and Ojera (2012) they highlighted the
association between inventory management practices and business
performance of small scale enterprises (SSEs), in Kisii Municipality, Kisii
County, Kenya. They used a cross-sectional survey study based on a small
sample size of 79 SSEs. The study inferred that inventory comprised the
maximum portion of working capital, and improper management of working
capital was one of the major reasons for SSE failures. The empirical results
disclosed that a positive significant relationship existed between business
performance and inventory management practices with inventory budgeting
having the maximum influence on business performance ensued by shelf-
space management. The study suggested that by following effective inventory
management practices business performance can be enhanced.
Warehouse Management System
Warehouse Management System (WMS) can be defined as an activity
that includes a series of measures including organizational, technical, and
economic operations related to the storage of stock. In a narrow view, a
Warehouse Management System is a software solution that provides visibility
into a company’s entire inventory and manages supply chain fulfillment
operations from the distribution center to the store shelf (Indriyani 2020).
According to Dulebenets et al., (2022) A modern warehouse is managed by
software systems, intended to organize the work and control and administer a
set of policies and processes. Nowadays, the most advanced WMSs
automate processes by delegating labor-intensive and manual or dangerous
tasks to robots, including goods inventory and heavy cargo transfer and loads.
Economies around the world have driven various sectors such as agriculture,
construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail to achieve highly efficient
operations in order to increase output and meet consumer demand. To meet
these growing demands, logistics companies are constantly evolving to meet
the challenges posed by fluctuating product markets and shipping schedules.
Warehouse Management systems are used in many environments
such as products distribution centers, storage of work-in-process materials (in
manufacturing), and testing for electronic equipment. All warehouse systems
share the basics of warehousing functions such as receiving, storage, and
retrieval of the productions. Even though the philosophies behind these
applications are similar, the characteristics for each system could be varied
greatly. Warehouse Management System (WMS) will provide an increase in
accuracy, reduction in operation costs (paperwork cost, labor & supervision
cost), and a greater ability to service the customer by reducing cycle times.
WMS will not only lead in inventory reduction but also in greater storage
capacity. An increase in accuracy and efficiency of the receiving process
might lead to reduction in the level of safety stock required. WMS allows
warehouses to quickly and efficiently retrieve products right when they are
needed. Using WMS assists organizations to identify the products easily. This
will help organizations to fulfill a particular order and then direct the workflow
needed to fulfill the order in on time, which is called just in time (JIT)
(Williams, 2016).
The use of information systems for warehouse management is studied
extensively in literature. Complexity of warehouse management is indicated
among others by amount and heterogeneity of handled products, the extent of
overlap between them, amount and type of technology as well as
characteristics of associated processes. As the complexity increases it
becomes necessary to use Warehouse management systems for handling
warehouse resources and to monitor warehouse operations. The warehouses
with a high amount of processed order lines and amount of stock keeping
units will be best supported by customized software. It is difficult to update
daily operations of inventory level, locations of forklifts and stock keeping units
(SKUs) in realtime by using the bar-code-based or manual-based warehouse
management systems (Rene et al., 2014). In addition by Ramaa et al., (2015)
Warehouse Management System (WMS) is a database-based computer
application system, which is used to improve warehouse efficiency in
maintaining the accuracy of inventory data by recording every transaction in a
warehouse and acts as a system that regulates warehousing activities in the
supply chain, such as receiving stock, storing stock and managing order take
out of stock .The purpose of this system is to control the movement and
storage of inventory in a warehouse and process transactions related to
receiving, selecting, taking and shipping inventory in a warehouse.
Mechanical Handling Equipment
According to Folley (2021), the mechanical handling equipment helps
you store, move, load, and ship out your material. The choice of equipment
speeds up this process and adds to the staff’s convenience. From unloading
trucks, storing to shipping out, you must follow material\ mechanical handling
protocol. And the MHE helps you facilitate all these operations efficiently
within the warehouse.
According to Saputro, (2015), Warehouse operations are closely related
to material\mechanical handling activities. Loading, unloading, transporting
and picking material constitute a huge part of the activities. In order to handle
material properly as well as to contribute value to the material, the operator
and the environment, utilizing Mechanical Handling Equipment (MHE) is
required. The selection of proper MHEs requires great focus since its
consideration is linked to multi-criteria and multi-objective decision making
problems.
According to Melacini et. al. (2021), recently, warehouses have increased
their energy consumption figures—and consequently their share of supply
chain GHG emission—due to the real-time fulfillment requirements which calls
for a 24 h a day running and the growing power needs associated with the
extended use of information technology. The longer operating times require a
higher-intensity use of mechanical handling equipment (MHE), which has
been appointed as one of the main energy consumption areas in warehouses,
strongly contributing to the increase in GHG emissions. Mechanical handling
systems have been targeted with various initiatives aiming at achieving higher
energy efficiency for both labor-intensive warehouses and Automated Storage
and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). Although AS/RS involve most of the energy
consumed for material handling, labor-intensive warehouses equipped with
forklift trucks still represent the majority of logistics buildings. Thus, focusing
on forklift trucks energy optimisation could represent a meaningful direction
for reducing the GHG emissions of warehousing operations. The GHG
emissions generated by forklift trucks depend on the unitary energy
consumption and on the time required to complete a process.
Lyson (2016) states that material handling should always be taken seriously.
This state ment is more evident when large amounts of material are being
moved, this is because accidents can happen when large material is being
moved. This results into organisations paying compensation lawsuits.
According to Johnson (2017), stated that material handling improves the
profitability of an organisation when accidents are eliminated and/or reduced
in that, the organisation does not need to spend on the costs of accidents and
the same time attain optimum output. In the same tone, Okpara (2013) stated
that proper material handling reduces stress and effort. This is to say that,
when a proper functioning material handling system is in place, negative
factors that affect material handling would be eliminated.
Warehouse Facility Design
According to the study of Berkovic et al. (2022), the warehouse facility's
energy audit is a crucial phase in the analysis of energy efficiency. Where
continuous enhancement of energy efficiency is considered as one of the
most crucial pillars of modern energy policy and is the most effective and
efficient way to achieve sustainable development goals. Moreover, warehouse
operators can control expenses and lower energy use in their logistics system
by conducting an energy audit. As a result of the energy audit,
recommendations have been made for modifications to the way that people
work or behave as well as for the implementation of interventions and
investments that increase energy efficiency without negatively affecting
working conditions in the warehouse facility. The warehouse system operator
would be a great illustration of how investing in energy efficiency measures
has very positive benefits on budgets and the environment by implementing
and enhancing them in facilities under its jurisdiction. Enhancing the
effectiveness of energy use in warehouse facilities lowers costs, enhancing
the sector's competitiveness.
According to Khan (2023), A warehouse facility is a large complex
designed to store and distribute goods. It may be owned by third-party logistic
providers and tailored to cater to small-scale storage needs or large-scale
distribution centers. The primary purpose of a warehouse facility is to provide
ample space for businesses to store inventory, pack, label, and ship goods.
For growing eCommerce businesses, the leading warehousing facilities in
India present a cost-effective solution for managing their inventory. By
delegating inventory management to these facilities, businesses can focus on
their core operations and remain productive and efficient.
According to Pranata (2022), Warehouse facility design involves the
process of creating an efficient layout for storing and distributing products. It is
important to consider factors such as storage capacity, product retrieval time,
and allocation of products. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods,
such as the weighted product method, can be used to determine the priority of
products for placement near inbound/outbound areas.
New warehouse facility concepts and applications have been derived in
recent years. These concepts may be similar to smart warehouses we
characterize. Boysen et al. (2019) survey relevant literature about warehouse
facility systems for e-commerce warehouses. Warehouse facility systems
need to cope with the requirements of e-commerce, including small orders,
large assortment, tight delivery schedules, and varying workloads. The
warehouse facility systems adopted e-commerce warehouses are
investigated in their review.
Warehouse Layout
Warehouse is a location used for the accumulation or storage of
products where warehouse activity has an important role to increase the
production. A significant issue can arise when raw materials are stored in
warehouses thus, planning the layout of the warehouse is necessary to
address the issue. As stated by Sudiarta et al. (2020), every business wants
to raise demands, production time efficiency, and profit margins. Because of
this, both the present systems must be improved and a new system must be
developed for the benefit of the business. A business must improve
warehouse operations in order to improve the systems. Warehouse refers to
all product and data movement inside of warehouses and distribution facilities.
It involves tasks like order selecting, receiving, storing, accumulating, sorting,
and shipping. Moreover, an efficient warehouse plan is required to maximize
warehouse operations. The primary goal of layout planning is to shorten the
distance that raw materials must travel from the warehouse to the production
area.
As per the study of Frazelle E. (2014) , creating a storage facility is
comparable to presenting a mystery, with the method involving stereotyping,
optimization, rationalization, computerization, as well as automation of
material handling. Some well strategic planning could indeed markedly
reduction, effort, counterproductive occasions, this same lot of barriers, or
even the time it takes to manage materials.
The best warehouse layout is one that makes the most of the space
while reducing the amount of time spent traveling and the number of points of
contact. During the design phase, all of the warehouse's working areas and
the space each need should be taken into account (Richard,2015.) According
to Hassan M. (2013) revealed that setting up the layout of a warehouse
framework is difficult for a number of reasons. These include big decisions
about the building's structure and a lot of problems that are hard to solve all at
once. This extra factor looks at a number of operations (picking, double
direction, cross docking, and value-added services) and factors (request,
physical properties of things and unit loads, serving international markets,
material care, and Just-in-Time (JIT), travel time, material care cost, and
warehouse throughput). Such parts and processes should be shown in a clear
warehouse layout so that they can adapt to any changes in operations without
having to change the design.
As stated by Faber et al, (2018), that the layout of warehouses should
be standardized to get around administrative spending limits. Other related
things that need to be thought about include security, labor, offices,
framework, correspondence, stock, and control. There should be enough
flexibility to be able to meet any requests or needs that clients or providers
have for their stock. So, the layout of a warehouse is the most important factor
in how well it works as a supply chain warehouse. By selecting the best
warehouse layout is difficult because there are so many factors that influence
the success of warehouse activities, such as dock area, rack types, rack
access, and others.
Warehouse Staff
Warehouse staff are in charge of keeping products stored in the
warehouse in a manufacturing or production environment. As stated by
Rumadhani et al. (2022), since numerous applicants do not fit the
requirements, the hiring procedure for warehouse employees might be
difficult. The issue with this is that employers still choose employees based on
their willingness to work, even when the job also demands skill sets,
education, work experience, a positive attitude toward one's job, and effective
communication.The process of choosing warehouse employees can be aided
by the use of decision support systems, such as the MOORA and ROC
techniques. The two suggested techniques by Rumadhani include helping the
business make it easier for businesses to employ warehouse staff as input
when making judgments utilizing decision support systems and obtaining a
more objective assessment as a consequence.
One of the ways an employee's performance can be improved is by the
use of tool called training, but before training is initiated it is crucial that a
training needs assessment be done. Contrary to many beliefs training can't fix
everything, and unfortunately training is sometimes done just for the sake of
training. Needs assessments are critical, they identify the potential causes of
problems, determine whether the problem can or cannot be solved with
training and if it can be solved with training it will be significant in determining
the training objectives. (Lee & Nelson, 2015).
Training for warehouse staff enhances the efficiency at work of
workers, teams, and organizations by investing to increase their knowledge,
hone their skills and characteristics, and develop the right frame of mind
(Aguinis & Kraiger, 2017). It is generally agreed that investing in training is
crucial for building solid human capital where the warehouse staff are capable
of adapting to the new emerging technologies or newly implemented systems
within an organization (Conley & Kadrlik, 2013). Lacking training offers can
cause career-minded people to look somewhere else for possibilities to
advance and develop. Training can be divided into the following two types of
training: on-the-job training, off-the-job training (Sambrook, 2015).
Onsite Facilities
On-site facilities are currently one of the most sought-after features in
any warehouse property. These give warehouse owners a desirable area for
their staff to work, thereby raising the value of any warehouse space. An
excellent illustration of a highly desired facility is an on-site dining area. A
commercial kitchen and areas for eating could be found in this space, which
serves as a break room. Similar to pleasing break rooms, clean restrooms,
and sufficient parking, desirable facilities to have on the site include. These
amenities raise the standard of living for people and their employees in a
warehouse. It was revealed in the study of Amjed and Harisson (2013) that a
variety of amenities are necessary on the warehouse site to support worker
wellness and address any medical crises. It is not a necessary component of
a warehouse, but under specific circumstances, it may help to reduce
expenses. Finally, content analysis revealed that sustainability literature views
on-site recycling as a necessary component of a warehouse facility. The
warehouse on-site amenities include the welfare facility, emergency room,
cross-docking facility, and recycling facility.
Research Literature
The present study draws upon several relevant studies that have been
previously conducted. All of these studies were taken into consideration
during the composition of this paper. The researchers conducted a literature
review to support the objectives of their study, which focused on the green
warehousing practices.
In the most advanced stage of green implementation, a sustainable
warehouse exceeds environmental requirements and performs beyond
existing standards. The warehouse managers focus on total lifetime
emissions concerning macro level for environment and ecology. The
warehouse can self-produce energy from renewable sources such as solar
panels, winds turbines, and biomass. At this stage, the warehouse becomes a
truly green component of the sustainable supply chain. (Baker & Marchant
2015). According to Fichtinger (2015), Green warehousing practices is an
important element in the overall logistics system after transportation
services.Furthermore, scholars agreed that the practice of green warehousing
is employee centric as it regards the safety and wellbeing of workers in
warehouse environments.
As stated by Roy (2014), the function of warehouse is integral in
logistics and supply chain management (SCM), the number of warehouse
infrastructures have steadily increased over the years and such circumstance
has tremendously impacted the environment. Moreover, similar with
commercial and residential buildings, warehouse infrastructures must also
embrace a sustainability concept. The parallel approach to implement
sustainable concept is required because, like other infrastructures, warehouse
infrastructures generate pollutions too.
According to Mckinnin et al, (2016), Green warehousing practices are
essential in transitioning from the traditional, harmful to the environment
method to the most environmentally responsible method of managing
logistics.One of the ideas from the green logistics knowledge stream is green
warehousing. There has been a significant and expanding body of literature
on green logistics methods in recent years in an effort to reduce the ecological
implications of logistics. As stated by Mulder (2013), empirically explored
warehouse of Unilever in five dimensions (lighting, water, energy, waste and
heat) for sustainable warehousing, through interview. Recently, Torabizadeh
et al. (2020) proposed 33 main performance indicators for sustainable
warehouse management divided into six dimensions: operational
performance, economy, resource, waste management,
environment/product/social agreement and appropriate use of labor. Luu
(2016) defined 6 concepts for green warehouse development in IKEA,
Finland. The concepts of green warehouse consisted of green supply chain
management, green warehouse, energy efficiency, waste management,
alternative energy source and sustainable design. Green warehousing needs
components such as energy and waste management, alternative energy and
green building
Jha (2018) stated that environmental consideration could create value
for the companies and differentiate them from competitors through a good
image of the organizations as eco-friendly companies. Energy and carbon
reduction results in sustainable supply chain and higher carbon credits.
Moreover, wastes reduction through green management can improve
employees’ living conditions and productivity. If environmental protection
concept is applied into warehouse management, it will help reduce carbon
emission and cost leading to economic sustainability. According to Wahab et
al, (2018), Green warehouse plays a crucial role in shifting from the
environmentally-degrading conventional approach to the more of
environmentally-friendly way of logistics management.
According to Coyle et al. (2013) and Amemba et al. (2013), green
warehousing involves using minimum energy and maximizing space usage to
reduce cost and ensure efficiency to enhance economic performance.
Besides, green warehousing involves the use of pollution-free energy, which
may save firms the cost of environmental fines. Moreover, warehouses built
with high-energy performance certificates consume less energy to reduce
energy cost and advance profitability (Indrawati et al., 2018). Further, green
warehousing may eliminate the cost of pollution control through zero
production waste and emission,which may translate into improved economic
performance. Again, green activities that deal with lighting, air tightness and
thermal insulation in the warehouses ensure a reduction energy
consumption.According to Cox Graham(2010), green warehousing provides
optimal use of capacity to increase profitability. Green warehousing activities
like any other green supply chain practices are acknowledged as an efficient
and broad approach to achieving higher operational performance. As stated
by Wong et al., (2015), The use of green technologies in warehouses may
result in less waste management and improve process quality, which creates
ability for firms to respond to changes in customers’ demand leading to
improved sales and profitability.
Theoretical Framework
To provide the theoretically guided research, the researchers used a
model of sustainable warehousing practices constructive by Amjed, T. W., &
Harrison N. J (2013). The researchers used this frame work as it is necessary
for the study’s variables to ensure that the research study is well guided by
existing theories.
Warehousing is a crucial function in supply chains, accounting for 24%
of logistical costs. It involves the storage of materials at various stages of the
supply chain, including packaging, finished goods, and raw materials.
Warehouses play a wide range of functions, including product distribution,
cross-docking, and composite storage. Green warehouses, which prioritize
sustainability, are a departure from conventional methods, focusing on
environmental sustainability. These techniques can lower carbon emissions,
conserve energy, and contribute to the sustainability movement. A sustainable
warehouse benefits customers, staff, and the environment.
This theoretical framework from the study of Amjed, T. W., & Harrison
N. J. (2013), provides green warehousing practices as it aims is to assess
warehouse operations and their impact on the environment. The framework
provides green warehousing practices which includes eight (8) practices
which are warehouse operations, inventory management, warehouse
management system, mechanical handling equipment, warehouse facility
design, warehouse layout, warehouse staff and onsite facilities which can be
helpful to Batangas Province warehouses to reduce costs and become more
environmentally friendly.
Warehouse processes involve daily physical activities like unloading,
receiving, storage, handling, and inventory counting. These operations are
divided into four categories: inbound, storage, picking, and outbound, to
analyze their impact on sustainability. In addition, Amjed, T. W., & Harrison
N. J. (2013), suggest that warehouses are essential for businesses as they
store inventory and generate waste. Implementing sustainable inventory
management techniques can benefit both the company and the environment.
Furthermore, by providing better energy efficiency and/or operational
performances. To minimize environmental impact in warehousing activities,
adopt a material handling strategy that reduces inbound logistic activities,
such as order-picking, which is the most laborious and costly activity in a
typical warehouse, accounting for up to 55% of total operating costs.
Moreover, for managing a best-in-class warehouse, a warehouse
management system (WMS) is essential. WMS manages not only the
oversees not only internal procedures but also the entire warehouse complex.
Thus, it might play a evaluating the facility social and environmental
performance is crucial. In addition, performance measurement and
warehouse strategy and roadmap could play important role in WHS.
In addition, sustainability in warehouse facility design, focusing on
energy usage and daylight usage. Energy costs make up 5-10% of operating
costs, and it directly affects the environment and running expenses. The
placement of windows, doors, and roof openings must be carefully
considered, considering local geography and weather. As stated by De Koster
et al, (2014), which has been cited in the study of Amjed et al,.(2013) The
layout construct has strong impact on warehousing costs. Layout decisions
are mainly divided into two broad categories – first is related to the placement
of departments (receiving, storage, picking, shipping etc.) and second
concerns the design of layout, paths, storage etc. Designing the layout of the
warehouse is a tactical choice.
The warehouse staff construct focuses work/life balance, shift
management, staff training and occupational health and safety. Simply put,
work-life balance is striking a balance between a person's personal and
professional lives.
Lastly, onsite facilities must support employee welfare and handle
medical emergencies. These include canteens, dining rooms, washrooms,
showers, restrooms, and personal storage. Medical supplies should be on
site, with a day-staffed emergency room and CPR training. Cross-docking
facilities involve direct product transfer and reconfiguration, avoiding
expensive selection, storing, and put-away procedures.
The following framework will guide this study to ensure the concrete
assumption will be given. This theory is concrete and powerful guidelines to
be use as the basis and would help attain the study objectives.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework provides the viewpoint of the study. The
people who have knowledge about the green warehousing practices being
observe in Batangas Province.
To present the concept of the study and the interplay of variables, an Input
Process-Output (IPO) model was used. IPO is used because this model was
one of the dominant approaches to understanding research today. The
researchers believed this would apply to the current research because it
avoids complications and simplifies the study’s flow.
The paradigm shows three boxes presenting the input, process and output.
In the first box, the inputs represent the profile of the respondents and the
green warehousing practices and significance of the two. The second box
represents the process of the data gathering. It includes the recommended
possible output, recommendation and strategies to enhance the Green
Warehousing Practices
Figure 2
Conceptual Paradigm
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
Company Profile:
Location
Size
Years in Operation
Nature in Service
Green warehousing
practices in Batangas
Province Date Gathering
Proposed strategies
Warehouse through Questionnaire
operation to enhance the
Inventory Green Warehousing
Management Data Analysis
Warehouse Practices in
Management and
Batangas Province
system Interpretation
Mechanical
Handling
Equipment
Warehouse Facility
Design
Warehouse Layout
Warehouse Staff
Onsite Facilities
Definition of Terms
The following terminologies were defined conceptually and operationally
to facilitate a more comprehensive comprehension of the research, thereby
enhancing understanding of the objectives of this paper.
Green Warehousing Practices. This means making updates that reduce the
amount of energy used, tap into sustainable energy sources and materials,
and reduce the amounts of non-recyclable waste created during warehouse
operations (Amsc-usa, 2023).
Warehouse Operation. This means the process of managing the activities
associated with receiving, storing, packing and distributing goods in a
warehouse (Extensiv, 2023).
Inventory Management. This refers to the process of ordering, storing,
using, and selling a company's inventory. This includes the management of
raw materials, components, and finished products, as well as warehousing
and processing of such items (Hayes, 2023).
Warehouse Management System. Warehouse Management System (WMS)
is a database-based computer application system, which is used to improve
warehouse efficiency in maintaining the accuracy of inventory data by
recording every transaction in a warehouse (Ramaa et al, 2012).
Mechanical Handling Equipment. This refers to machines, equipment and
other mechanical aids used to facilitate this process, such as pallet trucks,
conveyor belts and bucket elevators, which reduce the risk of injury to workers
(Axiom,2023).
Warehouse Facility Design.Warehouse design is the process of defining the
optimal warehouse size, layout and technology for a facility or operation. It
looks at the processes to determine the requirements of a new facility (i.e.
footprint, clear height, floor strength, power, yard size etc.) based on the
preferred handling technology (Boxlogic, 2018).
Warehouse Layout. This means the planned design of a warehouse to
streamline overall operations. The right layout should help to improve the flow
of production and distribution (Vasquez, 2021).
Warehouse Staff. Warehouse Staff or Worker is a professional who is an
integral part of any business that stores and processes orders or products.
They oversee receiving and processing of incoming stock, picking orders from
the warehouse stock and managing them. Their duties and responsibilities are
receiving, checking, recording, organising and storing stock as it is received.
Taking inventories of stock and products, ensuring that they are safely and
properly stored. Dispatching and loading goods out of the warehouse for
delivery (Natsir,2022).
Onsite Facilities.A number of facilities emerge from content analysis that
must be present on the warehouse site to support employee welfare and
handle any medical emergencies (Amjed & Harisson,2013).