A Flexible Evaluative Framework for Order Picking Systems

Abstract

T his paper develops a novel framework to evaluate the integral performance of order picking systems with different combinations of storage and order picking policies. The warehousing literature on order picking mostly considers minimizing either elapsed time or distance as the sole objective, whereas warehouse managers in a supply chain have to look beyond single-dimensional performance and consider trade-offs among different criteria. Thus managers still need a unified and efficient framework to select a portfolio of appropriate order picking policies from a multi-criteria and contextual perspective. Our framework-combining data envelopment analysis, ranking and selection, and multiple comparisons-provides an efficient methodology to simultaneously analyze several interrelated problems in order picking systems with multiple performance attributes, such as service levels and operational costs. We demonstrate our approach through comprehensive evaluations of order picking policies in three low-level, picker-to-parts rectangular warehouses facing demand variations.

Exact route-length formulas and a storage location assignment heuristic for picker-to-parts warehouses

“…Each item uses identical storage space. This is a common configuration that is studied widely in literature (e.g., Chen et al, 2010;Chew and Tang, 1999;Le-Duc and De Koster, 2005;Petersen and Schmenner, 1999;Rao and Adil, 2013b). In this paper, we consider the configuration to be fixed.…”

“…This is the only logical routing method for warehouses that have a single cross aisle. It is used in many articles, including Caron et al (1998), Le-Duc and De Koster (2005), and Chen et al (2010). A method that does use both cross aisles, is the S-shape (or transversal) method.…”

“…Finally, the order picker returns to the depot. Articles that consider S-shape routing include Chen et al (2010), Pan et al (2012), and Rao and Adil (2013a).…”

“…These studies provide valuable insights into the issues of storage location assignment, however, it typically gives no information on the absolute quality of the solutions. Research includes Caron et al (1998), Petersen and Schmenner (1999), Hwang et al (2004) and Chen et al (2010).…”

Design of Order-Picking System and Selecting Picking Strategies in a 3PL Firm for Serving Fashion Retailing Companies

“…This paper uses a G/G/m queuing network approximation model to analyze the impact of batching and zoning on order-picking system performance with online order arrivals. Chen et al (2010) evaluated the performance of order-picking systems with different combinations of storage and order-picking policies with a DEA-based approach. Shen et al (2001) presented a heuristic method based on a genetic algorithm for selection between sequential zoning and simultaneous zoning for the picker-to-part system.…”