Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation

In recent years, customer needs have diversified and companies have been forced to deliver products quickly to their customers. Distribution warehouses play an important role in improving the efficiency of the entire supply chain, and improving the efficiency of the order preparation operation, othe...

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Main Authors: Erika TAJIMA, Masaaki SUZUKI, Aya ISHIGAKI, Masato HAMADA, Wataru KAWAI
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 2020-07-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/14/5/14_2020jamdsm0072/_pdf/-char/en
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author Erika TAJIMA
Masaaki SUZUKI
Aya ISHIGAKI
Masato HAMADA
Wataru KAWAI
author_facet Erika TAJIMA
Masaaki SUZUKI
Aya ISHIGAKI
Masato HAMADA
Wataru KAWAI
author_sort Erika TAJIMA
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, customer needs have diversified and companies have been forced to deliver products quickly to their customers. Distribution warehouses play an important role in improving the efficiency of the entire supply chain, and improving the efficiency of the order preparation operation, otherwise known as order picking, is therefore essential. This research models an order picking operation in which two or more pickers are operating simultaneously, and the optimal design for operation efficiency is analyzed. Here, the picker targets multi-picking, which entails the collection of multiple products in one tour, and the picker always selects the shortest route for collecting the products. In this research, the behavior of the pickers is modeled using a multi-agent system, such that multiple pickers pass one another in the warehouse and a conflict due to excessive congestion is reproduced. The effect prompted by changes to both the layout and the storage assignment using the aforementioned model was clarified. The simulation results show that an optimal warehouse design based on warehouse characteristics (picking area size and differences in the demand frequency of each product) and the number of pickers operating simultaneously significantly affects the efficiency of the order picking operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce picker travel time by using the class storage method. The greater the difference in the demand frequency of each product, the greater the effect.
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spelling doaj.art-738abc85fb9b402d9955bfb7839599182022-12-22T02:59:39ZengThe Japan Society of Mechanical EngineersJournal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing1881-30542020-07-01145JAMDSM0072JAMDSM007210.1299/jamdsm.2020jamdsm0072jamdsmEffect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operationErika TAJIMA0Masaaki SUZUKI1Aya ISHIGAKI2Masato HAMADA3Wataru KAWAI4Tokyo University of ScienceTokyo University of ScienceTokyo University of ScienceData-Chef. Co., Ltd.Data-Chef. Co., Ltd.In recent years, customer needs have diversified and companies have been forced to deliver products quickly to their customers. Distribution warehouses play an important role in improving the efficiency of the entire supply chain, and improving the efficiency of the order preparation operation, otherwise known as order picking, is therefore essential. This research models an order picking operation in which two or more pickers are operating simultaneously, and the optimal design for operation efficiency is analyzed. Here, the picker targets multi-picking, which entails the collection of multiple products in one tour, and the picker always selects the shortest route for collecting the products. In this research, the behavior of the pickers is modeled using a multi-agent system, such that multiple pickers pass one another in the warehouse and a conflict due to excessive congestion is reproduced. The effect prompted by changes to both the layout and the storage assignment using the aforementioned model was clarified. The simulation results show that an optimal warehouse design based on warehouse characteristics (picking area size and differences in the demand frequency of each product) and the number of pickers operating simultaneously significantly affects the efficiency of the order picking operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce picker travel time by using the class storage method. The greater the difference in the demand frequency of each product, the greater the effect.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/14/5/14_2020jamdsm0072/_pdf/-char/enwarehouselayout designstorage assignmentmulti agent systemmulti picking
spellingShingle Erika TAJIMA
Masaaki SUZUKI
Aya ISHIGAKI
Masato HAMADA
Wataru KAWAI
Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
Journal of Advanced Mechanical Design, Systems, and Manufacturing
warehouse
layout design
storage assignment
multi agent system
multi picking
title Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
title_full Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
title_fullStr Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
title_full_unstemmed Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
title_short Effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
title_sort effect of picker congestion on travel time in an order picking operation
topic warehouse
layout design
storage assignment
multi agent system
multi picking
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jamdsm/14/5/14_2020jamdsm0072/_pdf/-char/en
work_keys_str_mv AT erikatajima effectofpickercongestionontraveltimeinanorderpickingoperation
AT masaakisuzuki effectofpickercongestionontraveltimeinanorderpickingoperation
AT ayaishigaki effectofpickercongestionontraveltimeinanorderpickingoperation
AT masatohamada effectofpickercongestionontraveltimeinanorderpickingoperation
AT watarukawai effectofpickercongestionontraveltimeinanorderpickingoperation