Parameters\u27 analysis of 3D random stacking palletization

Palletization is a very important element of production, distribution and warehousing activities. The 3D random stacking palletization method is based on volume utilization instead of surface area optimization. Random stacking provides interlocking among the boxes and hence it improves the stability of the pallet load. Volumetric Pallet Utilization is normally the prime concern of any palletization process, with Work in Process and Palletization time being also important. This research uses data generated from a previous heuristic to establish mathematical relationships between the three mentioned performance indices and also three additional indirect variables, namely: Total Number of Sub Volumes, Partitioned Remaining Volume Load Capacity and Total Zero Count. An Estimation method for Volumetric Pallet Utilization is also developed by using the established mathematical relationships

Depth Camera와 증강현실(Augmented Reality)를 이용한 3D박스 패킹 및 적재 작업 시스템 개발에 관한 연구

학위논문 (석사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 공과대학 산업공학과, 2017. 8. Park, Jinwoo.Packing and loading operations are very frequent and important activities in logistic services. Not only that, the data input process is also another challenge to overcome for efficient loading. Such input data is used in the planning of packing and loading operation when several objects are packaged into a larger box. Currently, companies utilize certain software package to generate the solution. However, they consumed a lot of time in preparing and inserting the data. Furthermore, even if the software has generated the optimized solution, the delivery and representation of the solution may cause another difficulty for workers at the loading field to understand the paper-based solution blueprint. This research proposes a new approach to solve both data collection and solution representation problem occurred in the current situation. Real-time approach has been proposed by utilizing depth camera and Augmented Reality (AR) technology in the system. The new approach leverages a wide possibility in developing the system into smart agent that is able to pack and load the boxes automatically into the container.1. Introduction 1 1.1. Current Situation 2 1.1.1. Indonesia Situation 2 1.1.2. Other Situation 3 1.1.3. DHL Germany Freight Loading Operation 7 1.2. Motivation 9 1.3. Problem Description 9 1.4. Research Objective and Scope 12 1.5. Structure of the Thesis 13 2. Related Work 14 2.1. Three-dimensional Box Loading Problem 14 2.2. Automatic Measurement of Dimension 17 2.3. Augmented Reality Visualization 19 2.4. End-to-end System Integration 22 3. System Design 23 3.1. Design of Operations 23 3.1.1. User Models 23 3.1.2. User Scenario 24 3.2. System Design Framework 26 3.2.1. Gap Analysis 26 3.2.2. System Design 26 3.3. Integration Model Architecture 28 3.4. System Flowchart 30 3.5. Database Design 33 3.6. Output Module: AR Visualization 34 3.6.1. Packing Algorithm 34 3.6.2. AR Visualization Process 37 3.6.3. Interaction Features of AR 39 3.7. Input Module: Data Collection 42 4. Experiment 45 4.1. Experiment Setup 45 4.2. Experiment Result 47 4.2.1. Input Data 47 4.2.2. Visualization Output 51 5. Conclusion and Future Development 57 5.1. Conclusion 57 5.2. Future Development 60 5.2.1. Data Collection Improvement 60 5.2.2. Packing Algorithm Improvement 60 5.2.3. AR Visualization Improvement 61 APPENDIX A MEASUREMENT 63 A.1 Depth Camera Specification 63 A.2 Measure Distance 64 A.3 Database Connector 64 APPENDIX B PACKING 66 A.1 Packing Algorithm Flowchart 66 A.2 Packing Pseudo Code 66 A.3 Marshalling Code 67 APPENDIX C VISUALIZATION 69 C.1 Connection PHP Script 69 C.2 Data Conversion (DBHandler.cs) 70 C.3 Box Rendering (ManageBox.cs) 72 C.4 Manage AR Object Behaviour (ARHandler.cs) 74 C.5 Interaction Code 75 C.5.1 Translate 75 C.5.2 Scale 75 C.5.3 Rotate 76 C.5.4 Select 77 Bibliography 78 초록 82Maste

Effects of Alternative Performance Criteria upon Composition of Air Transportable Spare Parts Kits

Airlift capacity is a definitive factor in the success of large-scale military operations. History proves that the demand for airlift soon exceeds its capacity during simultaneous deployment of forces. Therefore good solutions to the airlift capacity problem are important. This thesis contributes to the resolution of this problem by seeking ways to reduce readiness spare parts packages (RSPs) deployed for Air Force squadrons through addition of airlift criteria into the RSP selection process. We find that item cost, weight, and volume are three important criteria for RSP computations. We then offer a method for implementing these three criteria in the RSP selection process. We evaluate our method using an experimental design based on the USAF Aircraft Sustainability Model. The experiment results show that RSP sizes can be reduced, but typically at a high increase in cost. However in some cases the three criteria used together can achieve smaller cheaper RSPs than the current USAF approach (using only cost-based analysis) can produce. These results suggest that this method should be adopted for the RSP selection process, to enable cost vs. airlift requirement tradeoffs and to achieve cost reductions on selected RSPs

Modeling the value to retailers due to redesigning the grocery supply chain

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (p. 89).ES3, a wholly owned subsidiary of C&S Holdings, is a third party grocery and consumer goods distribution company operating a large distribution facility in York, PA. Under the traditional model for grocery distribution, manufacturers ship products to their manufacturing distribution centers (MDCs), where several products from the same manufacturers are combined in shipments and sent to retail distribution centers (RDCs). The distributors operating the RDCs combine product from several manufacturers to be shipped to individual retail outlets. Currently, in Phase I of its operations, ES3 improves on this model by replacing MDCs from several manufacturers with a single facility, consolidating orders from several manufacturers and reducing lead time and optimal lot sizes for distributors. Eventually, ES3 will reach Phase II of its operations, where certain products will bypass RDCs completely and be delivered directly to individual retail outlets. This thesis is concerned with efforts to build a model to quantify the benefit distributors receive from using ES3 in both Phase I and Phase II of its operations. The model was built using shipping, receiving, operations, and transportation data from C&S under the assumption that C&S was a good proxy for other distributors which are potential customers for ES3. The purpose of building the model was two-fold. First, ES3 would like to recruit distributors as customers and charge them for its services. The model will help demonstrate the savings these distributors can achieve. Second, distributors' savings increase as the number of manufacturers stored at ES3 increases. ES3 hopes to demonstrate this effect through the model and momentum for growth. The model quantifies savings in inventory costs,(cont.) transportation costs, and operations costs as a function of the number and types of products the user chooses to source from ES3. These savings vary dramatically depending on the size of the distributor using the model, but can be very significant, especially for large distributors.by Michael Martin Amati.S.M

Modeling and analysis of three-dimensional robotic palletizing systems for mixed carton sizes

Currently, robot applications in warehousing are limited to very simple pallet loading where only one type of carton is palletized at any one time. This research investigates the situation where many cartons of various sizes must be placed on one pallet. This arises in retail businesses such as grocery or merchandise distributions;A mixed 0/1 integer programming model has been developed to solve for three-dimensional optimal pallet patterns. Since the pallet packing problem has been classified as NP-hard, a heuristic dynamic programming algorithm has also been developed. Only good solution may be obtained; however, less computation time is required when compared with the mixed 0/1 model. The determined pallet pattern which maximizes the utilization of the pallet cube is then used as the input data to a robot control program for automatic palletizing;A rhino XR-2 robot is employed to investigate automatic palletizing operations. A coordinate transformation program which allows the conversion of the Cartesian coordinate to the robot\u27s joint coordinate has been completed. Therefore, only the x, y, z coordinate values of box\u27s placement location are required to the robot control program. Two efficient palletizing methods are developed. One is dynamic pallet pattern, which will dynamically select a best match pattern according to incoming box sizes. The second is multi-pallet packing with turntables, which allows robot to simultaneously load two or more pallets. Two major simulation results are presented in this research. One is the simulation statistic for multi-pallet packing. Simultaneous loading of 1, 2, 3 and 4 pallets is investigated. The other simulation is to determine the length of look-ahead box queue on the conveyor in order to dynamically select a best match pallet pattern. A miniature robotic palletizing cell is employed to collect the palletizing statistics for evaluating the performance of the developed system and determining design alternatives

Inbound process design and improvement of after sales parts from local suppliers and import freight

Toyota South Africa was established in 1961 and has sold more vehicles than any other car manufacturer in South Africa. Due to the rising sales figures of Toyota the need for parts also increased which means that Toyota’s parts distribution warehouse was outdated and limited in space. Toyota designed and built a new parts distribution warehouse which is situated in Kempton Park. Production started on 2nd April 2012 in the new 42 000 square meters warehouse. This new warehouse was brilliantly designed with the best techniques and equipment available, but with a new beginning there are also new challenges. Management has identified bottlenecks in the inbound system which are due to poor planning techniques. This leads to inaccurate space requirements which result in bottlenecks and imbalanced manpower as well as handling unit alignment. Management requires an inbound system study that will focus on data management, which will manipulate current data obtained from SAP as the main source to aid them in making strategic decisions regarding the alignment of manpower, space utilization and material handling units. This document provides all the steps taken to manage the project efficiently with selected project management techniques. While executing the project, numerous quality management strategies and techniques are used to ensure reliable and high quality deliverables at the close out stage of the project. The solution will give new alternatives to their current working and operating methods so that the best methods can be implemented to exclude errors in the system and to save on operating costs and time.Thesis (B Eng. (Industrial and Systems Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2012

Environmental impact analysis of alternative pallet management systems

Pallets, the most common unit-load platform, allow the transportation of goods in an efficient and reliable way. Every year, 700 million new pallets are manufactured and become part of the approximately 2 billion pallets that are in circulation in the U.S. The total life-cycle environmental impact of pallets depends on materials, manufacturing, handling processes, and the disposal practice (end-of-life). Plastic pallets can be lighter and might last longer but their manufacturing processes are energy intensive and could contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On the other hand, wooden pallets can be cheaper and easily repaired but present a shorter life. The ability to control the end-of-life of the pallets and the associated environmental impacts of each scenario allows pallet pooling service companies to provide logistics arrangements that are attractive to those companies seeking to better manage their carbon footprint. The appropriate choice of pallet type (i.e. material, durability, etc.) and management structure (e.g. cost, lease vs. buy, etc.) may lead to a more sustainable logistics operation. The purpose of this study is to provide a model that would determine the impact of pallet materials, manufacturing, distribution, and take back operations on an environmental performance metric (such as carbon dioxide emissions) as well as cost. Mixed integer programming (a minimum cost multi-commodity network flow problem) is used to design the system that determines the mix of pallets (type, quantity, and pallet management system) for product distribution that balances overall environmental impacts and costs according to companies\u27 needs. Such a tool would aid in decision making at the logistics and distribution levels. Results from a case study of a large grocery distributor/retailer in the Northeast is presented

Analysis of factors affecting crossdock operations using computer simulation.

Wong, Wing Shuet.Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 86-88).Abstract also in Chinese.Table Of Contents --- p.iTables of Figures and Tables --- p.viChapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1Chapter 1.1 --- Distribution Strategies --- p.1Chapter 1.2 --- Motivation --- p.7Chapter 1.3 --- Problem Description --- p.9Chapter 1.4 --- Contributions --- p.11Chapter 1.5 --- Conclusion --- p.12Chapter Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.13Chapter 2.1 --- Crossdocking in the supply chain --- p.13Chapter 2.2 --- Simulation of crossdocking --- p.16Chapter 2.3 --- Mathematic programming in crossdocking --- p.17Chapter 2.4 --- Conclusion --- p.29Chapter Chapter 3. --- Model Approach and Assumptions --- p.30Chapter 3.1 --- Simulation Modeling --- p.30Chapter 3.2 --- Model Assumptions --- p.31Chapter 3.3 --- Crossdocking in Arena® -Modules --- p.36Chapter 3.4 --- Conclusion --- p.43Chapter Chapter 4. --- Simulation Design --- p.44Chapter 4.1 --- Factors in Simulation --- p.44Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental Design --- p.53Chapter 4.3 --- Performance Measures --- p.56Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.57Chapter Chapter 5. --- Results and Analysis --- p.58Chapter 5.1 --- Mean Hourly Throughput per Forklift (MTF) --- p.58Chapter 5.2 --- Mean Handling Time per Pallet (MHP) --- p.63Chapter 5.3 --- Comparison with original results --- p.65Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.68Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion and Recommendations For Future Work --- p.82Chapter 6.1 --- Conclusion --- p.82Chapter 6.2 --- Future research directions --- p.84References --- p.8