Optimisation de la gestion des stocks physiques et digitalisation des processus de production et de distribution des produits finis chez Eloy Water Préfab

Abstract

Eloy Water Prefab, a manufacturer of water treatment and filtration solutions located in Sprimont in Belgium, has encountered many problems in the management of its inventory. Until recently, the company was producing without taking into account the storage because there was enough space to keep all the tanks in stock. However, the sales’ growth and the project of building a new plant in the area have sealed off many locations.

The challenge of this master thesis is to improve the stock management at Eloy Water Préfab with the sole constraint of remaining on the existing site.

Even though the stock management remained feasible in the short term, it was not optimal in terms of flows, storage, delivery of raw materials and shipment of finished products with the "First-in-First-out" strategy.

To enhance the situation, this thesis aims to redefine Eloy Water's production and inventory management processes based on scientific methods such as the aggregate planning and reorder point in order to produce and maintain the right amount of products in stock.

Once these improvements will have been analyzed, a study on the implementation of a "Warehouse Management System" (WMS) will be carried out. The purpose of this system will be to digitize the logistic processes by making tasks more efficient via the Internet of Things (IoT). This analysis will be concluded with a "Proof of concept" of the method on the field.

Some factors within the company suggest a change in the production and distribution of tanks. Therefore, the final part of this work will consist of a prospective vision of solutions that could respond to this issue if these changes occur.

To conclude, a study will be carried out in order to determine how the chosen solutions have responded to the problem and what are the direct and indirect impacts for the company.