Diseño de una estrategia de reducción de costos logísticos en la cadena de suministro de la empresa Hielos Andes

Abstract

Abstract: The present research aimed to design a logistics cost reduction strategy for the supply chain of Hielos Andes S.A. (HIANDESA), a block ice manufacturing company located in the canton of La Libertad, province of Santa Elena. The study, which used a mixed-methods approach and a descriptive scope, employed documentary analysis, dispatch counting, temperature measurement, time measurement, and a survey of fifteen informants. An annual logistics cost of USD 87,660 was calculated, equivalent to 11.39% of potential revenue, and the system constraint was identified in the stage prior to loading, which represented 34.4% of the cycle. Instrumental measurement showed that the limitation of the storage infrastructure is thermal rather than volumetric, with an average temperature of −4.8 °C compared with the required −10 °C. Based on these results, a proposal was developed involving the thermal rehabilitation of the cold room, route optimization, seasonal demand planning, and dispatch records with indicators. The evaluation determined a payback period of 7.6 months and a positive net present value in all three scenarios.