Robot-storage zone assignment strategies in mobile fulfillment systems

The robotic mobile fulfillment system (MFS) is widely used for automating storage pick and pack activities in e-commerce distribution centers. In this system, the items are stored on movable storage shelves, also known as inventory pods, and brought to the order pick stations by robotic drive units. The authors develop stylized performance evaluation models to analyze both order picking and replenishment processes in a mobile fulfillment system storage zone, based on multi-class closed queueing network models. To analyze robot assignment strategies for multiple storage zones, the authors develop a two-stage stochastic model. For a single storage zone, they compare dedicated and pooled robot systems for pod retrieval and replenishment. For multiple storage zones, they also analyze the effect of assigning robots to least congested zones on system throughput in comparison to random zone assignment. The models are validated using detailed simulations. For single zones, the expected throughput time for order picking reduces to one-third of its initial value by using pooled robots instead of dedicated robots; however, the expected replenishment time estimate increases up to three times. For multiple zones, the authors find that robots that are assigned to storage zones with dedicated and shortest queues provide a greater throughput than robots assigned at random to the zones.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2018.11.005
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1366554518304307
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13665545
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Roy, Debjit
  • Nigam, Shobhit
  • de Koster, René
  • Adan, Ivo
  • Resing, Jacques
• Publication Date: 2019-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 119-142
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
  • Volume: 122
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1366-5545
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13665545

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distribution support businesses; Electronic commerce; Inventory control; Logistics; Mobile robots; Queuing; Storage facilities; Warehousing and storage businesses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Order fulfillment; Storage assignment
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01696147
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 26 2019 9:41AM