IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orinte/v24y1994i5p95-106.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Model Decomposition Speeds Distribution Center Design

Author

Listed:
  • M. Eric Johnson

    (Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37220)

  • Tom Lofgren

    (North American Distribution Operation, Hewlett-Packard Company, 915 Story Road, San Jose, California 95122)

Abstract

Recently, in designing Hewlett-Packard's new North American distribution center, we decomposed the modeling (and design) process into loosely independent pieces that could be developed in a parallel or concurrent fashion, rather than trying to model the entire system at once. Using this approach, we developed simulation models of four different facets of the distribution center, with each model providing useful results in time to aid in system design decisions. While not all systems can be easily decomposed, we believe many simulation modeling projects could benefit from such an approach. The new distribution facility is now operating with a 60 percent improvement in order-picking efficiency and an 80 percent increase in shipment-preparation efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Eric Johnson & Tom Lofgren, 1994. "Model Decomposition Speeds Distribution Center Design," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 24(5), pages 95-106, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:24:y:1994:i:5:p:95-106
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.24.5.95
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/inte.24.5.95
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/inte.24.5.95?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
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Boysen, Nils & Fedtke, Stefan & Weidinger, Felix, 2018. "Optimizing automated sorting in warehouses: The minimum order spread sequencing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 270(1), pages 386-400.
    2. Dirk Briskorn & Simon Emde & Nils Boysen, 2017. "Scheduling shipments in closed-loop sortation conveyors," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 25-42, February.
    3. Jérémie Gallien & Théophane Weber, 2010. "To Wave or Not to Wave? Order Release Policies for Warehouses with an Automated Sorter," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 642-662, September.
    4. Gu, Jinxiang & Goetschalckx, Marc & McGinnis, Leon F., 2010. "Research on warehouse design and performance evaluation: A comprehensive review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 203(3), pages 539-549, June.
    5. Boysen, Nils & Stephan, Konrad & Schwerdfeger, Stefan, 2024. "Order consolidation in warehouses: The loop sorter scheduling problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 316(2), pages 459-472.
    6. de Koster, Rene & Le-Duc, Tho & Roodbergen, Kees Jan, 2007. "Design and control of warehouse order picking: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(2), pages 481-501, October.
    7. Douglas Dean & Richard Orwig & Douglas Vogel, 2000. "Facilitation Methods for Collaborative Modeling Tools," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 9(2), pages 109-128, March.
    8. Boysen, Nils & Briskorn, Dirk & Fedtke, Stefan & Schmickerath, Marcel, 2019. "Automated sortation conveyors: A survey from an operational research perspective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(3), pages 796-815.
    9. Boysen, Nils & de Koster, René & Füßler, David, 2021. "The forgotten sons: Warehousing systems for brick-and-mortar retail chains," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 288(2), pages 361-381.
    10. de Koster, M.B.M. & Le-Duc, T. & Roodbergen, K.J., 2006. "Design and Control of Warehouse Order Picking: a literature review," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2006-005-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.

    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:inm:orinte:v:24:y:1994:i:5:p:95-106. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    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.