IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/flsman/v30y2018i4d10.1007_s10696-017-9277-7.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A heuristic based batching and assigning method for online customer orders

Author

Listed:
  • Fangyu Chen

    (Zhongnan University of Economics and Law)

  • Yongchang Wei

    (Zhongnan University of Economics and Law)

  • Hongwei Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

In an online order picking system, customer orders arrive in real time and the picking information is updated dynamically. One challenging problem is how to process customer orders in a timely manner. In this paper, a nonparametric heuristic method, Green Area, is presented to address the real-time online order batching problems. By nonparametric, we mean that our method is independent of the parameters of a warehouse layout and the characteristics of customer orders; these parameters facilitates the implementation in real life. The advantages of this method are verified under different scenarios by simulations. Specifically, the influences of the arrival rate, the number of order pickers and the number of orders in the order service time are discussed. The results demonstrate that the Green Area method leads to shorter order service times than traditional methods for optimal batch sizes. Finally, we demonstrate that the Green Area method can be applied to online order picking systems with variable arrival rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Fangyu Chen & Yongchang Wei & Hongwei Wang, 2018. "A heuristic based batching and assigning method for online customer orders," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 640-685, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:flsman:v:30:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s10696-017-9277-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10696-017-9277-7
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10696-017-9277-7
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10696-017-9277-7?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. G. Clarke & J. W. Wright, 1964. "Scheduling of Vehicles from a Central Depot to a Number of Delivery Points," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 568-581, August.
    2. Grosse, E. H. & Glock, C. H. & Jaber, M. Y. & Neumann, W. P., 2015. "Incorporating human factors in order picking planning models: framework and research opportunities," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 65237, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    3. Paul Berglund & Rajan Batta, 2012. "Optimal placement of warehouse cross-aisles in a picker-to-part warehouse with class-based storage," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 107-120.
    4. Eric H. Grosse & Christoph H. Glock & Mohamad Y. Jaber & W. Patrick Neumann, 2015. "Incorporating human factors in order picking planning models: framework and research opportunities," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(3), pages 695-717, February.
    5. H. Donald Ratliff & Arnon S. Rosenthal, 1983. "Order-Picking in a Rectangular Warehouse: A Solvable Case of the Traveling Salesman Problem," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 507-521, June.
    6. Grosse, E. H. & Glock, C. H. & Ballester-Ripoll, R., 2014. "A simulated annealing approach for the joint order batching and order picker routing problem with weight restrictions," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 65331, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    7. Grosse, E. H., 2015. "Human factors in order picking systems – A framework for integrating human factors in order picking planning models with an in-depth analysis of learning effects," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 74359, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    8. Chen, Tzu-Li & Cheng, Chen-Yang & Chen, Yin-Yann & Chan, Li-Kai, 2015. "An efficient hybrid algorithm for integrated order batching, sequencing and routing problem," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 158-167.
    9. Van Nieuwenhuyse, Inneke & de Koster, René B.M., 2009. "Evaluating order throughput time in 2-block warehouses with time window batching," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 654-664, October.
    10. Yu, Mengfei & de Koster, René B.M., 2009. "The impact of order batching and picking area zoning on order picking system performance," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 198(2), pages 480-490, October.
    11. Petersen, Charles G. & Aase, Gerald, 2004. "A comparison of picking, storage, and routing policies in manual order picking," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1), pages 11-19, November.
    12. Matusiak, Marek & de Koster, René & Kroon, Leo & Saarinen, Jari, 2014. "A fast simulated annealing method for batching precedence-constrained customer orders in a warehouse," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 236(3), pages 968-977.
    13. Cathy H.Y. Lam & K.L. Choy & G.T.S. Ho & C.K.M. Lee, 2014. "An order-picking operations system for managing the batching activities in a warehouse," International Journal of Systems Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(6), pages 1283-1295, June.
    14. Chen, Mu-Chen & Wu, Hsiao-Pin, 2005. "An association-based clustering approach to order batching considering customer demand patterns," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 333-343, August.
    15. 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.
    16. Hsieh, Ling-Feng & Huang, Yi-Chen, 2011. "New batch construction heuristics to optimise the performance of order picking systems," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(2), pages 618-630, June.
    17. Henn, Sebastian & Wäscher, Gerhard, 2012. "Tabu search heuristics for the order batching problem in manual order picking systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(3), pages 484-494.
    18. Le-Duc, Tho & de Koster, Rene M.B.M., 2007. "Travel time estimation and order batching in a 2-block warehouse," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 176(1), pages 374-388, January.
    19. Fangyu Chen & Hongwei Wang & Yong Xie & Chao Qi, 2016. "An ACO-based online routing method for multiple order pickers with congestion consideration in warehouse," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 389-408, April.
    20. 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.
    21. Hong, Soondo & Kim, Youngjoo, 2017. "A route-selecting order batching model with the S-shape routes in a parallel-aisle order picking system," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 257(1), pages 185-196.
    22. Parikh, Pratik J. & Meller, Russell D., 2008. "Selecting between batch and zone order picking strategies in a distribution center," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 696-719, September.
    23. Soondo Hong & Andrew L. Johnson & Brett A. Peters, 2016. "Order batching in a bucket brigade order picking system considering picker blocking," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 425-441, September.
    24. Robert A. Ruben & F. Robert Jacobs, 1999. "Batch Construction Heuristics and Storage Assignment Strategies for Walk/Ride and Pick Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 45(4), pages 575-596, April.
    25. Chew, Ek Peng & Tang, Loon Ching, 1999. "Travel time analysis for general item location assignment in a rectangular warehouse," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(3), pages 582-597, February.
    26. Scholz, André & Henn, Sebastian & Stuhlmann, Meike & Wäscher, Gerhard, 2016. "A new mathematical programming formulation for the Single-Picker Routing Problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 253(1), pages 68-84.
    27. Jianbin Li & Rihuan Huang & James B. Dai, 2017. "Joint optimisation of order batching and picker routing in the online retailer’s warehouse in China," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(2), pages 447-461, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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


    Cited by:

    1. Pardo, Eduardo G. & Gil-Borrás, Sergio & Alonso-Ayuso, Antonio & Duarte, Abraham, 2024. "Order batching problems: Taxonomy and literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 313(1), pages 1-24.
    2. Fangyu Chen & Gangyan Xu & Yongchang Wei, 2019. "An Integrated Metaheuristic Routing Method for Multiple-Block Warehouses with Ultranarrow Aisles and Access Restriction," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-14, June.
    3. Maria A. M. Trindade & Paulo S. A. Sousa & Maria R. A. Moreira, 2022. "Ramping up a heuristic procedure for storage location assignment problem with precedence constraints," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 646-669, September.
    4. Sergio Gil-Borrás & Eduardo G. Pardo & Antonio Alonso-Ayuso & Abraham Duarte, 2020. "GRASP with Variable Neighborhood Descent for the online order batching problem," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 295-325, October.

    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. Boysen, Nils & de Koster, René & Weidinger, Felix, 2019. "Warehousing in the e-commerce era: A survey," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 277(2), pages 396-411.
    2. Çağla Cergibozan & A. Serdar Tasan, 2019. "Order batching operations: an overview of classification, solution techniques, and future research," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 335-349, January.
    3. Pardo, Eduardo G. & Gil-Borrás, Sergio & Alonso-Ayuso, Antonio & Duarte, Abraham, 2024. "Order batching problems: Taxonomy and literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 313(1), pages 1-24.
    4. van Gils, Teun & Ramaekers, Katrien & Caris, An & de Koster, René B.M., 2018. "Designing efficient order picking systems by combining planning problems: State-of-the-art classification and review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 1-15.
    5. Giannikas, Vaggelis & Lu, Wenrong & Robertson, Brian & McFarlane, Duncan, 2017. "An interventionist strategy for warehouse order picking: Evidence from two case studies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 63-76.
    6. Masae, Makusee & Glock, Christoph H. & Vichitkunakorn, Panupong, 2021. "A method for efficiently routing order pickers in the leaf warehouse," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    7. Heiko Diefenbach & Simon Emde & Christoph H. Glock & Eric H. Grosse, 2022. "New solution procedures for the order picker routing problem in U-shaped pick areas with a movable depot," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 44(2), pages 535-573, June.
    8. Glock, Christoph H. & Grosse, Eric H. & Abedinnia, Hamid & Emde, Simon, 2019. "An integrated model to improve ergonomic and economic performance in order picking by rotating pallets," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 273(2), pages 516-534.
    9. De Santis, Roberta & Montanari, Roberto & Vignali, Giuseppe & Bottani, Eleonora, 2018. "An adapted ant colony optimization algorithm for the minimization of the travel distance of pickers in manual warehouses," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 120-137.
    10. Pan, Jason Chao-Hsien & Shih, Po-Hsun & Wu, Ming-Hung, 2015. "Order batching in a pick-and-pass warehousing system with group genetic algorithm," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 57(PB), pages 238-248.
    11. Ardjmand, Ehsan & Shakeri, Heman & Singh, Manjeet & Sanei Bajgiran, Omid, 2018. "Minimizing order picking makespan with multiple pickers in a wave picking warehouse," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 169-183.
    12. Arbex Valle, Cristiano & Beasley, John E, 2020. "Order batching using an approximation for the distance travelled by pickers," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(2), pages 460-484.
    13. Zhang, Jun & Wang, Xuping & Huang, Kai, 2018. "On-line scheduling of order picking and delivery with multiple zones and limited vehicle capacity," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 104-115.
    14. Žulj, Ivan & Kramer, Sergej & Schneider, Michael, 2018. "A hybrid of adaptive large neighborhood search and tabu search for the order-batching problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 264(2), pages 653-664.
    15. van Gils, Teun & Ramaekers, Katrien & Braekers, Kris & Depaire, Benoît & Caris, An, 2018. "Increasing order picking efficiency by integrating storage, batching, zone picking, and routing policy decisions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 243-261.
    16. Sören Koch & Gerhard Wäscher, 2016. "A grouping genetic algorithm for the Order Batching Problem in distribution warehouses," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 131-153, January.
    17. Sandra Hahn & André Scholz, 2017. "Order Picking in Narrow-Aisle Warehouses: A Fast Approach to Minimize Waiting Times," FEMM Working Papers 170006, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    18. Valle, Cristiano Arbex & Beasley, John E. & da Cunha, Alexandre Salles, 2017. "Optimally solving the joint order batching and picker routing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(3), pages 817-834.
    19. Hsieh, Ling-Feng & Huang, Yi-Chen, 2011. "New batch construction heuristics to optimise the performance of order picking systems," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(2), pages 618-630, June.
    20. 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.

    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:spr:flsman:v:30:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s10696-017-9277-7. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.