Optimization of Warehouse Layout for the Minimization of Operation Times

Abstract

Warehousing management is essential for many companies involved in the supply chain. The optimal arrangement and operation of warehouses play important role in companies, allowing them to maintain and increase their competitiveness. One of the main goals of warehousing is the reduction of costs and improvement of efficiency. Determination of the ideal warehouse layout is a special optimization case. In the article, a procedure is applied to the optimization of the allocation of bins in an automated warehouse with special characteristics. The initial layout of the warehouse, as well as the automated platforms constraints the search, as well as define the time needed to move goods inside the warehouse. The definition of time needed to move goods, with the analysis of historical data, allows the definition of a mathematical model of the operation of the warehouse. Using that model, an optimization procedure based on the well-known hill-climbing algorithm is defined. Experimental results show increments in the efficiency of the warehousing operations.