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The design of merchandise distribution in warehouses is a topic there are not many studies about, despite the fact it is one fourth of the storing costs and the base for designing the place in which the capital of companies will be stored. This paper aims to introduce some guidelines, developed from proposals by several authors concerning the design of stores in general, but they are synthesized particularly for the design of the distribution in warehouses in order to guide companies in their search for lower logistic costs and productivity increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Loading in dispatching operations is a critical process to make the deliveries efficiently and to contribute to the satisfaction of the clients´ needs. Objective. To use the technique of experimental design optimization called response surface methodology, in order to reduce the time required to load in the dispatching operation, thus contributing to make the Distribution Center (CEDI) more efficient. Materials and methods. A four stages methodology focus is used, including aspects such as description of the company, the logistics system, the CEDI and the adaptation of the response surfaces methodology, supported by the use of the Minitab 15® statistical software in the dispatching operation. Results. A methodology based on that of the response surface is obtained, not only contributing to the state of the art through the improvement of CEDI, but also creating a tool applicable in companies because in the case developed in a meat production company, it reduced the time from 10 to 6.5 minutes, approximately, guaranteeing optimal working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]