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Open Location Management in Automated Warehousing Systems

Author

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  • Yu, Y.
  • de Koster, M.B.M.

Abstract

A warehouse needs to have sufficient open locations to be able to store incoming shipments of various sizes. In combination with ongoing load retrievals open locations gradually spread over the storage area. Unfavorable positions of open locations negatively impact the average load retrieval times. This paper presents a new method to manage these open locations such that the average system travel time for processing a block of storage and retrieval jobs in an automated warehousing system is minimized. We introduce the effective storage area (ESA), a well-defined part of the locations closest to the depot; where only a part of the open locations –the effective open locations-, together with all the products, are stored. We determine the optimal number of effective open locations and the ESA boundary minimizing the average travel time. Using the ESA policy, the travel time of a pair of storage and retrieval jobs can be reduced by more than 10% on average. Its performance depends hardly on the number or the sequence of retrievals. In fact, in case of only one retrieval, applying the policy leads already to beneficial results. Application is also easy; the ESA size can be changed dynamically during storage and retrieval operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yu, Y. & de Koster, M.B.M., 2009. "Open Location Management in Automated Warehousing Systems," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2009-004-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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ems:eureri:14615
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Warren H. Hausman & Leroy B. Schwarz & Stephen C. Graves, 1976. "Optimal Storage Assignment in Automatic Warehousing Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(6), pages 629-638, February.
    2. 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.
    3. Gu, Jinxiang & Goetschalckx, Marc & McGinnis, Leon F., 2007. "Research on warehouse operation: A comprehensive review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(1), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Yavuz A. Bozer & John A. White, 1990. "Design and Performance Models for End-of-Aisle Order Picking Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(7), pages 852-866, July.
    5. Stephen C. Graves & Warren H. Hausman & Leroy B. Schwarz, 1977. "Storage-Retrieval Interleaving in Automatic Warehousing Systems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(9), pages 935-945, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    AS/RS; distribution science; open locations; storage and retrieval; warehousing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
    • M - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics

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