Stock management influence on manual materials handling in two warehouse superstores

The objective of this study was to better understand the impact of stock management practices on manual materials handling activities of warehouse superstore employees. An ergonomic study was carried out in two warehouse superstores of a leading company in the retail sector which specializes in office supplies. In this study close attention was paid to the interaction between stock volume, its movements on the sales floor, and the available storage space. Results indicate that an imbalance between the amount of stock and the available storage space results in three types of consequences: (1) risk factors related to the development of musculoskeletal disorders such as extra manual materials handling operations, awkward postures and an increased physical workload; (2) increased risks of accidents, particularly related to loss of balance and falls from heights; and (3) impacts on productivity and quality of service offered to customers in the form of time wasted, stock losses and customer dissatisfaction. The solutions proposed relate to the implementation of strategies that maximize the use of storage space, a more appropriate management of this storage space, and recognition for team work among employees involved in the manual handling activities of the various products and goods. Although important parameters to consider were identified at the time of an intervention on stock management, the importance of doing a store by store analysis of the impact of the company's policies on stock management is emphasized.Relevance to industryStock management is at the core of warehouse superstores’ common activities, but very little is known about its impacts on daily manual materials handling activities of employees. This study describes some of the factors that must be considered to prevent negative impacts related to dysfunctions in stock management in the emerging sector of warehouse superstores.