IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ejores/v256y2017i3p976-990.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Estimating performance in a Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System

Author

Listed:
  • Lamballais, T.
  • Roy, D.
  • De Koster, M.B.M.

Abstract

This paper models Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems and analyzes their performance. A Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System is an automated, parts-to-picker storage system where robots bring pods with products to a workstation. It is especially suited for e-commerce distribution centers with large assortments of small products, and with strong demand fluctuations. Its most important feature is the ability to automatically sort inventory and to adapt the warehouse layout in a short period of time. Queueing network models are developed for both single-line and multi-line orders, to analytically estimate maximum order throughput, average order cycle time, and robot utilization. These models can be used to quickly evaluate different warehouse layouts, or robot zoning strategies. Two main contributions are that the models include accurate driving behavior of robots and multi-line orders. The results show that: (1) the analytical models accurately estimate robot utilization, workstation utilization, and order cycle time, (2) maximum order throughput is quite insensitive to the length-to-width ratio of the storage area and (3) maximum order throughput is affected by the location of the workstations around the storage area.

Suggested Citation

  • Lamballais, T. & Roy, D. & De Koster, M.B.M., 2017. "Estimating performance in a Robotic Mobile Fulfillment System," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 256(3), pages 976-990.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:256:y:2017:i:3:p:976-990
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.06.063
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0377221716305227
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ejor.2016.06.063?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ronald Buitenhek & Geert‐Jan van Houtum & Henk Zijm, 2000. "AMVA‐based solution procedures for open queueing networks with population constraints," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 93(1), pages 15-40, January.
    2. Debjit Roy & Ananth Krishnamurthy & Sunderesh Heragu & Charles Malmborg, 2015. "Stochastic models for unit-load operations in warehouse systems with autonomous vehicles," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 231(1), pages 129-155, August.
    3. Debjit Roy & Ananth Krishnamurthy & Sunderesh S. Heragu & Charles J. Malmborg, 2016. "A simulation framework for studying blocking effects in warehouse systems with autonomous vehicles," European Journal of Industrial Engineering, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1), pages 51-80.
    4. Debjit Roy & Ananth Krishnamurthy & Sunderesh Heragu & Charles Malmborg, 2012. "Performance analysis and design trade-offs in warehouses with autonomous vehicle technology," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(12), pages 1045-1060.
    5. Roy, Debjit & Krishnamurthy, Ananth & Heragu, Sunderesh & Malmborg, Charles, 2015. "Queuing models to analyze dwell-point and cross-aisle location in autonomous vehicle-based warehouse systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(1), pages 72-87.
    6. Fukunari, Miki & Malmborg, Charles J., 2009. "A network queuing approach for evaluation of performance measures in autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 193(1), pages 152-167, February.
    7. Lu, Wenrong & McFarlane, Duncan & Giannikas, Vaggelis & Zhang, Quan, 2016. "An algorithm for dynamic order-picking in warehouse operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 248(1), pages 107-122.
    8. Schleyer, Marc & Gue, Kevin, 2012. "Throughput time distribution analysis for a one-block warehouse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 652-666.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lamballais, T. & Roy, D. & de Koster, M.B.M., 2017. "Inventory Allocation in Robotic Mobile Fulfillment Systems," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2017-001-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    2. Tappia, Elena & Roy, Debjit & Melacini, Marco & De Koster, René, 2019. "Integrated storage-order picking systems: Technology, performance models, and design insights," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(3), pages 947-965.
    3. Bipan Zou & René De Koster & Xianhao Xu, 2018. "Operating Policies in Robotic Compact Storage and Retrieval Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(4), pages 788-811, August.
    4. Roy, Debjit & Nigam, Shobhit & de Koster, René & Adan, Ivo & Resing, Jacques, 2019. "Robot-storage zone assignment strategies in mobile fulfillment systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 119-142.
    5. Wu, Guangmei & Xu, Xianhao & Gong, Yeming (Yale) & De Koster, René & Zou, Bipan, 2019. "Optimal design and planning for compact automated parking systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 273(3), pages 948-967.
    6. Azadeh, K. & Roy, D. & de Koster, M.B.M., 2016. "Vertical or Horizontal Transport? - Comparison of robotic storage and retrieval systems," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2016-009-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    7. Kaveh Azadeh & Debjit Roy & René De Koster, 2019. "Design, Modeling, and Analysis of Vertical Robotic Storage and Retrieval Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(5), pages 1213-1234, September.
    8. Amjath, Mohamed & Kerbache, Laoucine & Smith, James MacGregor & Elomri, Adel, 2022. "Fleet sizing of trucks for an inter-facility material handling system using closed queueing networks," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 9(C).
    9. Azadeh, K. & de Koster, M.B.M. & Roy, D., 2017. "Robotized Warehouse Systems: Developments and Research Opportunities," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2017-009-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    10. Martin Epp & Simon Wiedemann & Kai Furmans, 2017. "A discrete-time queueing network approach to performance evaluation of autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 960-978, February.
    11. Mohamed Amjath & Laoucine Kerbache & James MacGregor Smith, 2024. "A Closed Queueing Networks Approach for an Optimal Heterogeneous Fleet Size of an Inter-Facility Bulk Material Transfer System," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-38, March.
    12. Zou, Bipan & Xu, Xianhao & Gong, Yeming (Yale) & De Koster, René, 2018. "Evaluating battery charging and swapping strategies in a robotic mobile fulfillment system," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(2), pages 733-753.
    13. Dong, Wenquan & Jin, Mingzhou, 2021. "Travel time models for tier-to-tier SBS/RS with different storage assignment policies and shuttle dispatching rules," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    14. Kaveh Azadeh & René De Koster & Debjit Roy, 2019. "Robotized and Automated Warehouse Systems: Review and Recent Developments," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(4), pages 917-945, July.
    15. Bipan Zou & Xianhao Xu & Yeming Gong & René de Koster, 2016. "Modeling parallel movement of lifts and vehicles in tier-captive vehicle-based warehousing systems," Post-Print hal-01892897, HAL.
    16. Bipan Zou & Yeming (Yale) Gong & Xianhao Xu & Zhe Yuan, 2017. "Assignment rules in robotic mobile fulfilment systems for online retailers," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(20), pages 6175-6192, October.
    17. Claeys, Dieter & Adan, Ivo & Boxma, Onno, 2016. "Stochastic bounds for order flow times in parts-to-picker warehouses with remotely located order-picking workstations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 254(3), pages 895-906.
    18. Dhingra, Vibhuti & Kumawat, Govind Lal & Roy, Debjit & Koster, René de, 2018. "Solving semi-open queuing networks with time-varying arrivals: An application in container terminal landside operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 855-876.
    19. Fragapane, Giuseppe & de Koster, René & Sgarbossa, Fabio & Strandhagen, Jan Ola, 2021. "Planning and control of autonomous mobile robots for intralogistics: Literature review and research agenda," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(2), pages 405-426.
    20. Roy, Debjit & Krishnamurthy, Ananth & Heragu, Sunderesh & Malmborg, Charles, 2015. "Queuing models to analyze dwell-point and cross-aisle location in autonomous vehicle-based warehouse systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 242(1), pages 72-87.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:256:y:2017:i:3:p:976-990. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/eor .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.