Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy
Warehouse efficiency is now used by organizations as a strategic weapon or as a center of knowledge. An efficient warehouse can help a business succeed by promptly meeting consumer needs. Thus, this study aims to investigate the relationship between warehouse features and warehouse efficiency. This study examines two aspects of warehouses: their design and how they are used. This article addresses the vital need to preserve data integrity, accuracy, and dependability in contemporary organizational environments by providing a thorough framework for data quality assurance in data warehousing. While providing recommended practices for preventing and resolving typical data quality problems such duplication, inconsistencies, missing values, and data drift, it also examines these concerns.In addition to the deployment of strong data governance structures and automated monitoring systems, the framework covers a broad variety of data quality management topics, such as data validation, reconciliation, cleansing, and enrichment procedures. First, a review of the literature was done to determine how warehouse features (operation and layout) affect warehouse efficiency so that lessons could be learned. Additionally, a warehouse that is organized to facilitate prompt customer service is more efficient. A major component of increasing the warehouse's efficiency is its operations, in addition to its layout. Together, operations and layout increase a warehouse's overall efficiency.
According to World health organization (WHO): Good warehousing practices is a set of principles and guidelines for the storage, handling and distribution of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and other health care products, to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy. Warehouses are essential to the efficient and successful handling, distribution, and storage of commodities in the ever-evolving and fast-paced global supply chain of today [15]. Driving corporate growth, cutting expenses, and preserving high levels of customer satisfaction all depend on a well-managed warehouse. Pharmaceutical products' quality, safety, and integrity are the main goals of WHO standards for good warehousing procedures, also known as Good Storage and Distribution procedures (GSDP). Distribution and storage are crucial steps in the management of the medical product supply chain. The handling, distribution, and storage of medical items may fall under the purview of several individuals and organizations. Throughout the supply chain, medical items can be exposed to a number of hazards, including those related to acquisition, storage, repackaging, relabeling, transportation, and distribution. [2]
SCOPE:
1.Pharmaceutical items for human and veterinary use, as well as other medical products, where relevant, may be equally subject to these rules, depending on national and regional laws. [1]
2. The GMP components of packaging, label distribution, and completed products in bulk are not particularly included in the paper because these topics are thought to be covered by other rules. Additionally, not discussed here are the guidelines for the distribution of excipients and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are the beginning components. Good trading and distribution practices for pharmaceutical starting materials is a WHO document that lays out these guidelines. [1]
Goals of GWP:
Primary Goals:
1. Ensure Product Quality: Maintain the quality of stored products by controlling temperature, humidity, and exposure to light.
2. Prevent Damage and Loss: Minimize damage and loss of products during storage, handling, and transportation.
3. Maintain Product Safety: Ensure the safety of products by preventing contamination, spoilage, and exposure to hazardous materials.
Secondary Goals:
1. Improve Efficiency: Optimize warehouse operations to reduce costs, increase productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction.
2. Ensure Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements and industry standards for warehousing and storage.
3. Reduce cost: Minimize cost associated with storage and transportation.
4. Improve Customer Satisfaction: Ensure timely and accurate delivery of products to customers.
Additional Considerations:
1. Sustainability: Implement environmentally friendly practices in warehousing operations.
2. Technology Integration: Leverage technology, such as warehouse management systems, to improve efficiency and accuracy.
3. Training and Development: Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for warehouse personnel. [3]
Warehouse Layout and Design:
The initial stage of designing an installation is creating the layout of a warehouse. Three scenarios could require a different allocation of space when choosing a warehouse's internal and external layout: the construction of new warehouses, the expansion of existing facilities, and the reorganization of those that are already in operation (although the latter does not require making crucial decisions that will impact the medium- to long-term growth of the company). However, regardless of the particular situation, a facility's overall design must address each of these requirements: Making the most of the space that is available minimizing the amount of time spent handling products Making the product that is being stored easily accessible Possessing the maximum rotation ratio feasible allowing for the greatest amount of flexibility in product placement Regulating the quantities kept. The first step in achieving these goals is to build a warehouse layout, which is a plan that represents the warehouse's design. [4]
Selection Criteria for Warehouse Location
Methodology of Good Warehousing Practice
1.Receiving Area: where manufacturers or suppliers deliver their items. It includes ports and staging areas where products are examined before being put on the market. Activities include inspection, unloading, damage assessment, and system update. [12,13]
2. Storage Area: This is the area where items are kept after being received; usually, it is arranged according to product demand. Crucial Tasks inventory organization, palletization, racking, and shelving for effective retrieval. [12,13]
3. Picking Area: Used for the purpose of selecting products in response to internal or client orders. Usually, it is set up to make it simple to access things that are in high demand. Crucial Tasks Sorting orders, assembling things for shipping, and order picking (automatic or manual).
4. Packing Area: After the items are selected, they are taken to the packing area to be labeled, packaged, and prepared for shipping. Packing, labelling, and final inspection are important tasks. [12,13]
5.The shipping area includes docks where items are loaded into transportation vehicles and is where things are staged before to shipment. Key Tasks: Final shipping and truck loading.
Fig: Warehousing in the supply chain [12]
Warehouse Material Flow:
One of its fundamental features, given that goods are kept in a warehouse for a limited time and that everything entering the facility has to leave. Depending on the company, the level of automated systems, the internal processes performed with the items, the number of the goods, and the manner of movement, this warehouse flow can be either simple or complex. The units' movements as they enter the warehouse, circle it, and then leave are known as flows. [4]
1. Simple flows: Without breaking things down, we can look at the most basic flow that occurs when the supplier's units are used to get a sense of how these motions operate.
2.Medium flows: With this kind of flow, movements begin to get increasingly intricate. It is typically seen in warehouses that have either a single or mixed picking process and typically have whole pallets available.
3.Complex flows: Depending on the kinds of products and how they are used, different warehouses have distinct work areas. They typically have places for intermediate handling and may necessitate a variety of activities, which in turn call for flows that are somewhat (and occasionally extremely) complex. An illustration of this kind of facility and the loading movements that take place there is provided in this diagram.
When determining the total cost of the warehousing process, each flow that is introduced to the operational system entails an additional expense. The influence on expenses increases when the unit loads are divided further. Up to more than 60% of the overall warehouse expenses are related to picking operations. This explains why these spaces' design is so crucial. The handling equipment and workers must also go farther in a larger warehouse, which raises the overall cost of the operation. [12,15]
Challenges in Good Warehousing Practices:
1.Inventory Management & Accuracy: Inaccurate Inventory Records: It's important to keep accurate records of stock levels, but doing so might be challenging because of human error, data entry errors, or antiquated systems. Inventory errors can result in overstocking and stockouts, which can eventually impact profitability and customer happiness. Inventory Optimization: Careful planning and data analysis are needed to strike a balance between the dangers of stockouts, which can impede sales, and overstocking, which can tie up cash.
2.Space Utilization & Layout: Ineffective Space Utilization: Wasted space and decreased operating efficiency can result from ineffective warehouse layouts and storage techniques.
Cluttered Space: Delays, bottlenecks, and increased fulfillment expenses might result from cluttered warehouse. Inadequate Warehouse Layout: An inadequately planned layout can impede productivity, lengthen transit times, and make finding products more difficult.
3. Staff & Operations:
•High Staff Turnover: Due to the physical demands and specialized skills needed for warehouse employment, it can be challenging to retain employees, which can cause operational disruptions and raise training expenses.
Absence of Visibility: Inadequate real-time visibility into order status, inventory levels, and warehouse operations can impede decision-making and result in inefficiencies.
•Security Issues: Providing strong security measures and procedures is necessary to guarantee the safety of workers and the security of commodities, which is a top priority.
Growing Demand: Variations in demand, particularly during busy times of the year, can put a strain on warehouse capacity and necessitate quick adjustments.
Demand Seasonality: Companies with seasonal demand must be ready for both high and low activity times, which can be difficult to handle.
•Batch picking: Although it can make picking easier, batch picking can also result in clogged aisles and ineffective order picking techniques.
4. Other Challenges:
•Quality Control: To prevent damage, spoiling, or defective products being delivered, it is crucial to maintain the quality of the goods during the warehousing process.
•Outsourced Logistics: Using outside logistics companies might present extra difficulties, such controlling communication and guaranteeing uniformity across many sites.
APPLICATIONS:
1. Inventory management: GWP minimizes stockouts and overstocking by emphasizing precise inventory tracking, effective storage, and prompt product retrieval.
2. Optimizing Space: In order to maximize space usage and save handling time, GWP entails optimizing warehouse layout and storage techniques.
3. Material Handling: GWP places a strong emphasis on the safe and effective use of the right tools and processes for the receiving, storing, and shipping of items.
4. Storage Conditions: To avoid damage or deterioration, GWP makes sure that products are kept in the right environment (temperature, humidity, etc.).
5. Quality Control: To guarantee quality and avoid contamination, GWP includes protocols for examining products both during storage and upon reception.
6. Safety: By putting policies in place to stop mishaps, injuries, and fires, GWP places a high priority on warehouse safety.
7. Record-keeping and Documentation: GWP entails keeping thorough records of every warehouse operation, including receiving, storing, and shipping.
8. Supply Chain Integration: To ensure a smooth flow of goods from suppliers to clients, GWP makes it easier to integrate with other components of the supply chain. [15]
Future Trends in Warehousing:
Key stakeholders, including suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, logistics service providers, and consumers (who originate the demand signal, either from home or from a store), will share information with one another through a multi-partner model in the future. Products will be sent to cooperative warehouses, which house the goods of several businesses, after they are made. Collaborative transportation from the collaborative warehouse will deliver to regional consolidation centers and city hubs.
? Warehouses located on the outskirts of cities will serve as hubs where final distribution cross-docking will occur. Regional consolidation centers in non-urban areas will be used to cross-dock items for final distribution.
? Consolidated deliveries employing effective assets will be used for final distribution to stores, pick-up locations, and houses in urban and non-urban areas. [2,13,15]
CONCLUSION:
The approach ensured that they are handled, shipped, and stored without sacrificing quality by integrating QA into all warehousing procedures and activities. A company can achieve compliance (GMP GDP), cut waste, and gain the trust of its clients by integrating strong SOPs, technology, employee training, and protective risk management. Operational excellence over the long term is maintained through ongoing improvement via audits and data-driven insights.
REFERENCES
Vaibhavi Chide, Rajashree Dange*, Gauri Darandale, Chaitali Dhokane, Soham Dhokte, Dr. S. D. Mankar, A Review on Good Warehousing Practices, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 4, 3014-3022. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15277548
10.5281/zenodo.15277548
