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Human factors in order picking: a content analysis of the literature

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  • Eric H. Grosse
  • Christoph H. Glock
  • W. Patrick Neumann

Abstract

Order picking (OP) is one of the most labour- and time-intensive processes in internal logistics. Over the last decades, researchers have developed various mathematical planning models that help to increase the efficiency of OP systems, for example, by optimising storage assignments or by specifying routes for the order pickers that minimise travel distance in the warehouse. Human characteristics that are often a major determinant of OP system performance have, however, widely been ignored in this stream of research. This paper systematically evaluates the literature on manual OP systems and conducts a content analysis to gain insights into how human factors (HF) have been considered and discussed in the scientific literature. The results of the analysis indicate that management-oriented efficiency criteria dominated prior research on OP, and that there is a clear lack of attention to HF in the design and management of OP systems. This poses an opportunity for research and design of manual OP systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric H. Grosse & Christoph H. Glock & W. Patrick Neumann, 2017. "Human factors in order picking: a content analysis of the literature," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(5), pages 1260-1276, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tprsxx:v:55:y:2017:i:5:p:1260-1276
    DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2016.1186296
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    Cited by:

    1. Diefenbach, Heiko & Emde, Simon & Glock, Christoph H., 2020. "Loading tow trains ergonomically for just-in-time part supply," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(1), pages 325-344.
    2. 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.
    3. XiaoLi Zhang & Jelle de Vries & René de Koster & ChenGuang Liu, 2022. "Fast and Faultless? Quantity and Quality Feedback in Order Picking," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(4), pages 1536-1559, April.
    4. Onal, Sevilay & Zhu, Wen & Das, Sanchoy, 2023. "Order picking heuristics for online order fulfillment warehouses with explosive storage," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    5. I. Kudelska & G. Pawłowski, 2020. "Influence of assortment allocation management in the warehouse on the human workload," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 28(2), pages 779-795, June.
    6. Nikolaos Chondromatidis & Anastasios Gialos & Vasileios Zeimpekis, 2022. "Investigating the Performance of the Order-Picking Process by Using Smart Glasses: A Laboratory Experimental Approach," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-26, December.
    7. Loske, Dominic & Klumpp, Matthias & Grosse, Eric H. & Modica, Tiziana & Glock, Christoph H., 2023. "Storage systems’ impact on order picking time: An empirical economic analysis of flow-rack storage systems," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    8. Zhong, Shuya & Giannikas, Vaggelis & Merino, Jorge & McFarlane, Duncan & Cheng, Jun & Shao, Wei, 2022. "Evaluating the benefits of picking and packing planning integration in e-commerce warehouses," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(1), pages 67-81.
    9. Anderson Rogério Faia Pinto & Marcelo Seido Nagano, 2020. "Genetic algorithms applied to integration and optimization of billing and picking processes," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 641-659, March.
    10. Diefenbach, Heiko & Grosse, Eric H. & Glock, Christoph H., 2024. "Human-and-cost-centric storage assignment optimization in picker-to-parts warehouses," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(3), pages 1049-1068.
    11. Jiuh‐Biing Sheu & Tsan‐Ming Choi, 2023. "Can we work more safely and healthily with robot partners? A human‐friendly robot–human‐coordinated order fulfillment scheme," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(3), pages 794-812, March.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. Vasiliki Kapou & Stavros T. Ponis & George Plakas & Eleni Aretoulaki, 2022. "An Innovative Layout Design and Storage Assignment Method for Manual Order Picking with Respect to Ergonomic Criteria," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Barbara Kowal & Daria Włodarz & Edyta Brzychczy & Andrzej Klepka, 2022. "Analysis of Employees’ Competencies in the Context of Industry 4.0," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    18. Hofbauer, Florian & Putz, Lisa-Maria, 2019. "Can gamification reduce the shortage of skilled logistics personnel?," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation in Supply Chain Management: Innovative Approaches for Supply Chains. Proceedings of the Hamburg Int, volume 27, pages 331-354, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.
    19. Zhang, Jun & Liu, Feng & Tang, Jiafu & Li, Yanhui, 2019. "The online integrated order picking and delivery considering Pickers’ learning effects for an O2O community supermarket," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 180-199.
    20. Kumar, Suryakant & Sheu, Jiuh-Biing & Kundu, Tanmoy, 2023. "Planning a parts-to-picker order picking system with consideration of the impact of perceived workload," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    21. 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.
    22. Mahroof, Kamran, 2019. "A human-centric perspective exploring the readiness towards smart warehousing: The case of a large retail distribution warehouse," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 176-190.
    23. Izabela Kudelska & Rafal Niedbal, 2021. "The Impact of Organizational Change on the Improvement of the Picking Process in a Logistics Center – A Case Study," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2B), pages 882-892.
    24. Jose Alejandro Cano & Pablo Cortés & Jesús Muñuzuri & Alexander Correa-Espinal, 2023. "Solving the picker routing problem in multi-block high-level storage systems using metaheuristics," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 376-415, June.
    25. Bitterling, Cristian & Koreis, Jonas & Loske, Dominik & Klumpp, Matthias, 2022. "Comparing manual and automated production and picking systems," Chapters from the Proceedings of the Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL), in: Kersten, Wolfgang & Jahn, Carlos & Blecker, Thorsten & Ringle, Christian M. (ed.), Changing Tides: The New Role of Resilience and Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management – Innovative Approaches for the Shift to a New , volume 33, pages 327-350, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute of Business Logistics and General Management.

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