For the purpose of timely response to requests of any participant in the supply chain, as an integral part of every logistics system, warehouse can be found at any place in the supply chain, between suppliers and customers. In that sense, warehouse management involves the control and optimisation of the complex warehouse and distribution system. It might be said that warehousing and inventory management represent support to the production process and strive to complete coordination in relations with all functions, such as marketing, finance, human resources etc. Therefore, any disruption in coordination can cause serious problems throughout the whole business process. When there is a need for achieving operational efficiency and cost savings, warehouse management and warehouse operations are appropriate areas, in terms of achieving savings which will not jeopardize the quality of products and services. Especially, order-picking, as part of the warehousing process, is one of the most important activities when it is about providing savings. Order-picking process involves taking raw materials/products from a specific location in the warehouse, so as to respond to requirements of production and/or customers. It is estimated that the costs of order-picking participate with 55% in the total cost of warehousing. However, elimination of this activity can increase the level of dissatisfaction of partners in the supply chain, and, in that way, increase the cost of lost sales. In this regard, one should not consider elimination of orderpicking from the warehousing process as an option, but rather find a way to increase its efficiency. Due to their flexibility in the order-picking process, people cannot be fully replaced by machines and technologies. However, equipment of order-picking process by the adequate technology could increase efficiency of process and productivity of employees in the warehouse. In that sense, warehouse management system (WMS) is an information technology whose implementation has the aim to increase efficiency of processes performed in warehouse. Therefore, the aim of the paper is to emphasize the importance of implementing a warehouse management system for improving the order-picking process, as warehouse activity. In order to accomplish this aim, empirical research has been conducted. A random sample of companies specialized for performing distribution activities has been chosen. The authors of the paper have analysed which segment of order-picking process can achieve maximum benefits from implementation of this technology, but also whether there are any limitations in terms of implementation of WMS. Based on the statistical methods (descriptive statistics and cluster analyses), through the SPSS software package, the results presented in the paper indicate the segments of order-picking process which are mostly improved by implementing the WMS, as information technology.

The aim of this paper is to highlight the fact that there is a significant relationship between design quality and process quality, and then the quality of the finished products (internal quality) and the later use of the products by the consumers (external quality). The paper outlines the model of the synergy between design management and process management. Since design quality is the first link in this chain of creating quality, it is necessary to adequately carry out the design process, or provide high-quality design. High-quality design includes connectivity and collaboration between functions that can contribute to the design process, such as: research and development, production, marketing and supply. In order to achieve this, it is important to continuously work on education and training of employees. In addition, it is necessary to apply the tools characteristic for providing quality design, but also the common tools important for quality management. Accordingly, the subject of the paper is examining the impact of employee training, the implementation of quality management tools and application tools for quality design as a factor in establishing links between business functions that should be included in the design process. Based on the application of tools such as regression analysis, cluster analysis and correlation analysis, the results of empirical research suggest that these factors affect the establishment of links between the observed business functions, and facilitate providing the quality of the design process.

Distribution network is a system of activities that provide transfer of products between producers and final users. It is also known as distribution channel, marketing channel, distribution chain, distribution pipeline, market chain and trade chain. This network has two or more partners, so it has to be coordinated in the direction of order fulfilment and satisfied demand. As a partnership business network, distribution channels are very important, due to their role in responding to customers' requests. Distribution channels could provide competitive advantage for all partners along the network, through shorter delivery lead time and higher product availability. Although the main purpose of distribution channels is providing continuous flows of products to customers, they should be designed to fill customer's demand with minimum total cost. Determining the right number of facilities and proper locations for distribution network is an essential issue for companies involved in the channel. The issue of distribution channel's length has become more interesting due to the parallel existence of two different trends. On one hand, there is tendency for reducing number of partners, facilities or stages of distribution channels, with the purpose of avoiding extra expenses, but on the other hand there is a necessity to involve more partners in distribution channel, because that is a way for providing greater market share. Configuration of distribution channels depends on many factors. These factors have internal or external character. Therefore, the fact that the distribution of the same products in different countries can be performed completely differently is not surprising at all. In this regard, the aim of this papers is to classify the factors that affect the length of the distribution channel. In addition, the paper will also indicate advantages as well disadvantages of both long and short distribution channels. The goal of the analysis of the factors and the way of designing distribution channels, in terms of its length, is to make an adequate decision for increasing efficiency of the distribution network.

Abstract:The acceptance of lean philosophy in the company means not only respecting the lean principles in the manufacturing but in all the processes that are performed inside the company. All processes in the company that are a potential places for making losses and waste and thus require the application of lean principles. Among others, warehouse and warehouse operations, as a centre of costs and waste, must be supported through the implementation of lean philosophy in the company by respecting lean principles. The implementation of lean principles in the warehouse is a certain step of improvement warehouse process and performance, but also of the whole company. In that sense, the paper presents the analysis of the warehousing process and its performances before and after implementation of the lean tools in a selected Serbian company as a practical example. In addition, research shows which parts of warehousing need to be improved, in analysed company, as well as correlation between the individual parts of warehousing, according to employees' opinion from next sectors: purchasing, production and logistics.

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