Robotized Warehouse Systems: Developments and Research Opportunities

Robotized handling systems are increasingly applied in distribution centers. They require little space, provide flexibility in managing varying demand requirements, and are able to work 24/7. This makes them particularly fit for e-commerce operations. This paper reviews new categories of robotized handling systems, such as the shuttle-based storage and retrieval systems, shuttle-based compact storage systems, and robotic mobile fulfillment systems. For each system, we categorize the literature in three groups: system analysis, design optimization, and operations planning and control. Our focus is to identify the research issue and OR modeling methodology adopted to analyze the problem. We find that many new robotic systems and applications have hardly been studied in academic literature, despite their increasing use in practice. Due to unique system features (such as autonomous control, networked and dynamic operation), new models and methods are needed to address the design and operational control challenges for such systems, in particular, for the integration of subsystems. Integrated robotized warehouse systems will form the next category of warehouses. All vital warehouse design, planning and control logic such as methods to design layout, storage and order picking system selection, storage slotting, order batching, picker routing, and picker to order assignment will have to be revisited for new robotized warehouses

A design method for parts picking zones in a manufacturing environment

This paper describes a method for the design of an order picking system in a manufacturing environment. Unlike order picking systems in warehouses, there is almost no literature available concerning picking systems in a manufacturing environment. We start by defining the needed input parameters, followed by a parts classification method. This leads to the calculation of arder specifications (order lines, volume, weight,...). The needed throughput, available floor space and associated costs then define the most appropiate order picking system under the given dircumstances. This model has been implemented for flowracks, VLM, Horizontal and Vertical Carroussels. A model for AS/RS systems will be configured and the obtained results will be compared to real data from a manufacturing organization.Outgoin

Automated Order Picking Systems and the Links between Design and Performance: A Systematic Literature Review

With new market developments and e-commerce, there is an increased use of and interest in automation for order picking. This paper presents a systematic review and content analysis of the literature. It has the purpose of understanding the relevant performance aspects for automated, or partly automated, OPSs and identifying the studied links between design and performance, i.e. identifying which combinations of design aspects and performance aspects have been studied in previous research. For this purpose, 74 papers were selected and reviewed. From the review, it is clear that there has been an increased number of papers dealing with the performance of automated, or partly automated, OPSs in recent years. Moreover, there are differences between the different OPS types, but, overall, the performance categories of throughput, lead time, and operational efficiency have received the most attention in the literature. The paper identifies links between design and performance that have been studied, as well as links that appear to be under-researched. For academics, this paper synthesises the current knowledge on the performance of automation in OPSs and identifies opportunities for future research. For practitioners, the paper provides knowledge that can support the decision-making process of automation in OPSs

Proceedings of the NASA Conference on Space Telerobotics, volume 3

The theme of the Conference was man-machine collaboration in space. The Conference provided a forum for researchers and engineers to exchange ideas on the research and development required for application of telerobotics technology to the space systems planned for the 1990s and beyond. The Conference: (1) provided a view of current NASA telerobotic research and development; (2) stimulated technical exchange on man-machine systems, manipulator control, machine sensing, machine intelligence, concurrent computation, and system architectures; and (3) identified important unsolved problems of current interest which can be dealt with by future research

Throughput models for a dual-bay VLM order picking system under different configurations

Purpose Vertical lift module (VLM) is a parts-to-picker system for order picking of small products, which are stored into two columns of trays served by a lifting crane. A dual-bay VLM order picking (dual-bay VLM-OP) system is a particular solution where the operator works in parallel with the crane, allowing higher throughput performance. The purpose of this paper is to define models for different operating configurations able to improve the total throughput of the dual-bay VLM-OP system. Design/methodology/approach Analytical models are developed to estimate the throughput of a dual-bay VLM-OP. A deep evaluation has been carried out, considering different storage assignment policies and the sequencing retrieval of trays. Findings A more accurate estimation of the throughput is demonstrated, compared to the application of previous models. Some use guidelines for practitioners and academics are derived from the analysis based on real data. Originality/value Differing from previous contributions, these models include the acceleration/deceleration of the crane and the probability of storage and retrieve of each single tray. This permits to apply these models to different storage assignment policies and to suggest when these policies can be profitably applied. They can also model the sequencing retrieval of trays

Uma Proposta de Gestão de Produtos num Armazém de Retalho Alimentar

O setor do retalho apresenta elevada competitividade com muitas entidades na Cadeia de Abastecimento. Todas as entidades devem estar bem coordenadas de forma a satisfazer a procura do cliente final. Os armazéns, são algumas das entidades onde são recebidos, manuseados, armazenados e expedidos os produtos para serem enviados para os clientes. Nos armazéns as atividades devem estar coordenadas, podendo sofrer um elevado impacto pelo método de gestão de produtos utilizado. Os produtos podem ser encomendados e armazenados em stock, sendo as encomendas satisfeitas a partir dele, ou executados em Just-in-Time, sendo necessário o armazém encomendá-los aos fornecedores, rececioná-los, manipulá-los e, por fim, expedi-los para as lojas, quando existe uma encomenda do cliente. O método de gestão utilizado deve ir ao encontro dos objetivos estratégicos da empresa, não existindo uma solução única ou soberana, devendo ser eficiente e eficaz, com um elevado nível de serviço e produtividade. Esta dissertação foi desenvolvida no grupo Jerónimo Martins, onde os dois armazéns de produtos não perecíveis apresentam diferentes tipos de gestão, o Armazém 5401 tem produtos em stock enquanto o Armazém 5407 tem produtos geridos em Just-in-Time. Ambos apresentam diferentes níveis de serviço. O objetivo desta dissertação é definir os produtos que devem ser geridos em JIT e stock, de forma a alterar o seu método de gestão, procurando aumentar o nível de serviço dos produtos geridos em JIT e combater uma redução significativa da produtividade, no Armazém 5401. Foram analisados os produtos, resultando numa alteração de gestão onde 44% dos produtos passaram a ser armazenados em stock e 56% dos produtos geridos em Just-in-Time. Foi, de seguida, desenvolvido o layout do armazém 5401, através da alocação dos produtos no armazém com recurso à armazenagem por classes e por famílias. Foi calculada a produtividade dos operadores nas novas condições, com recurso a simulações do percurso e tempo despendido a realizar uma unidade de trabalho. Visto que a produtividade apresenta uma elevada redução, assim como aumenta o tempo de deslocação dos operadores, foram desenvolvidas soluções de forma a não apresentar um elevado impacto. Assim, foi divido o layout em áreas, procurando que a distância percorrida fosse semelhante à anterior, o que permitiu, através de novas simulações, determinar uma produtividade com um valor médio de 144,98 caixas/hora. Por último, recorreu-se ao dimensionamento dos recursos de forma a, com o novo valor da produtividade, responder às necessidades do cliente final. Nos produtos que alteram a sua gestão de Just-in-Time para stock, pode-se observar um aumento do nível de serviço em 7%.The retail sector is highly competitive with many entities in the Supply Chain. All entities must be well coordinated to meet the demands of the final customer. Warehouses are some of the entities where products are received, handled, stored and dispatched to be sent to customers. In warehouses, activities must be coordinated and can be highly impacted by the product management method used. Products can be ordered and stored in stock, with orders being fulfilled from there, or executed in Just-in-Time, with the warehouse having to order them from suppliers, receive them, handle them, and finally dispatch them to the shops, when there is a customer order. The management method used must meet the strategic objectives of the company, there being no single or sovereign solution, and it must be efficient and effective, with a high level of service and productivity. This dissertation was developed in the Jerónimo Martins Group, where the two warehouses of nonperishable products present different types of management, Warehouse 5401 has products in stock while Warehouse 5407 has products managed in Just-in-Time. Both present different levels of service. The objective of this dissertation is to define the products that should be managed in JIT and stock, in order to change their management method, seeking to increase the level of service of the products managed in JIT and combat a significant reduction in productivity, in Warehouse 5401. The products were analysed, resulting in a management change where 44% of the products were now stored in stock and 56% of the products managed in Just-in-Time. The layout of warehouse 5401 was then developed, through the allocation of products in the warehouse using storage by classes and families. The productivity of operators in the new conditions was calculated, using simulations of the route and time spent on a work unit. Since the productivity presents a high reduction, as well as increases the travel time of operators, solutions were developed to not present a high impact. Thus, the layout was divided into areas, seeking that the distance travelled was similar to the previous one, which allowed, through new simulations, to determine a productivity with an average value of 144.98 boxes/hour. Finally, the resources were sized to meet the needs of the end customer with the new productivity value. In the products that change their management from Just-in-Time to stock, an increase in the level of service of 7% can be observed

Fuelling the zero-emissions road freight of the future: routing of mobile fuellers

The future of zero-emissions road freight is closely tied to the sufficient availability of new and clean fuel options such as electricity and Hydrogen. In goods distribution using Electric Commercial Vehicles (ECVs) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs) a major challenge in the transition period would pertain to their limited autonomy and scarce and unevenly distributed refuelling stations. One viable solution to facilitate and speed up the adoption of ECVs/HFCVs by logistics, however, is to get the fuel to the point where it is needed (instead of diverting the route of delivery vehicles to refuelling stations) using "Mobile Fuellers (MFs)". These are mobile battery swapping/recharging vans or mobile Hydrogen fuellers that can travel to a running ECV/HFCV to provide the fuel they require to complete their delivery routes at a rendezvous time and space. In this presentation, new vehicle routing models will be presented for a third party company that provides MF services. In the proposed problem variant, the MF provider company receives routing plans of multiple customer companies and has to design routes for a fleet of capacitated MFs that have to synchronise their routes with the running vehicles to deliver the required amount of fuel on-the-fly. This presentation will discuss and compare several mathematical models based on different business models and collaborative logistics scenarios