Structuring warehouse management

This dissertation studies the management processes that plan, control, and optimize warehouse operations. The inventory in warehouses decouples supply from demand. As such, economies of scale can be achieved in production, purchasing, and transport. As warehouses become more and more vital for the success of many companies, they are facing increasing demands with respect to costs, productivity, and customer service. At the same time, warehouse operations have become more complex due to developments such as value added services, e-fulfillment, and up-scaling warehouses. Consequently, planning, controlling, and optimizing warehouse operations, defined as warehouse management in this dissertation, have become a distinguishing factor for supply chain performance.

This dissertation explores warehouse management by studying the effects of the characteristics of a warehouse (i.e., context) on the structure (i.e., design) of warehouse management. In addition, the match (i.e., fit) between characteristics and structure is researched as an important driver of warehouse performance. By conducting empirical research using a multiple case study and a survey study, an overall theoretical model on structuring high performance warehouse management has been developed.