3 research outputs found
A simulation approach for modelling and investigation of inventory inaccuracy in warehouse operation
This thesis is focused on a simulation modelling approach to address the
inventory inaccuracy problems in a warehouse operation. The main motivation which
led to this research was a desire to investigate the inventory inaccuracy issues that
have been highlighted by a logistics company. Previous and current research into
inventory inaccuracy issues is largely related to the development of RFID technology
as a possible solution to inventory problems. Since the inventory inaccuracy related to
RFID technology is focused on the overall measurement of inventory management and
retail business, there are differences between this existing research and the research
presented in this thesis which is focused on issues of inventory inaccuracy in a
warehouse operation.
In this thesis, warehouse operation is studied as a detailed sequence of
processes that are involved in the flow of items physically in parallel with related
information being stored in the computer system. In these processes there are many
places where errors can occur in counting or recording details of inventory, or in
physically moving, storing or picking items incorrectly. These details of a warehouse
operation are used to develop a conceptual model of inventory inaccuracy in
warehouse operations. The study also found that typically a product needs to be
considered differently at different stages of its progress through a warehouse (and
therefore within different sections of the conceptual model). This is because initially
batches of a product are likely to be delivered from a supplier, therefore if errors occur
soon after the product is delivered to the warehouse, the error might involve the whole
batch (for example the batch may be misplaced and put in an incorrect storage
location), or the error might involve just part of the batch (for example poor
transportation by forklift truck may damage the packaging carton and some of the
items within the carton). When the product is stored ready for meeting customer
orders, it needs to be considered as individual items (and errors can occur in counting
of individual items or individual items may be misplaced or stolen). Finally, when a
customer order is received, the product will be picked and grouped to meet the
requirements of the order (for example, one order may require 10 of the product whilst
another order may require 20 of the product). Errors might again occur to the whole
group or to just part of the group. (Continued ...
Discrete Event Simulations
Considered by many authors as a technique for modelling stochastic, dynamic and discretely evolving systems, this technique has gained widespread acceptance among the practitioners who want to represent and improve complex systems. Since DES is a technique applied in incredibly different areas, this book reflects many different points of view about DES, thus, all authors describe how it is understood and applied within their context of work, providing an extensive understanding of what DES is. It can be said that the name of the book itself reflects the plurality that these points of view represent. The book embraces a number of topics covering theory, methods and applications to a wide range of sectors and problem areas that have been categorised into five groups. As well as the previously explained variety of points of view concerning DES, there is one additional thing to remark about this book: its richness when talking about actual data or actual data based analysis. When most academic areas are lacking application cases, roughly the half part of the chapters included in this book deal with actual problems or at least are based on actual data. Thus, the editor firmly believes that this book will be interesting for both beginners and practitioners in the area of DES