Procurement Management and Inventory Optimization of Packaging. The Lowara Case Study

This thesis presents an improvement project aimed at the management and optimization of the space occupied by packaging materials, considered ancillary yet essential raw materials for the production process. The work stems from an internship experience at Lowara S.r.l., a leading company in the field of pumps and water treatment and control systems, part of the Xylem Group. The project fits within a broader framework of supplier management. The first part highlights the role and current relevance of procurement management, then applies its principles to the company under study, succinctly describing the methods and processes adopted in collaboration with supply partners. The criteria for data collection, the analyses conducted to identify improvement opportunities, and the main actions for implementing the project are then illustrated. The results show both economic and managerial benefits, with particular reference to a more efficient use of space, improved organization of materials, greater regularity of supply flows, and tighter control of inventory levels both in physical and, naturally, economic terms.