Design and Control of Efficient Order Picking Processes

Order picking, or order selection, is the process of retrieving individual items from storage locations, for the purpose of fulfilling an order for a customer. This thesis focuses on the design and control of efficient order picking. The author introduces order picking design and how it has evolved, then considers two control issues: order-batching and zoning. The thesis suggests a queuing-based approach to order-batching to approximate the batch size which minimizes the throughput time of an order. The author addresses the problem of determining the optimal number of zones so that the overall time to complete the entire batch of orders (throughput time) is minimized in a pick-and-pack order processing system using synchronized zoning picking. The thesis approaches the problem as an integer programming model, tests the model with data from the warehouse of a mail-order company in the Netherlands, then concludes that the problem can be solved effectively with this approach. The author concludes by reiterating the importance of efficiency in the warehouse operation, thus validating the need for order processes that are robustly designed and optimally controlled.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9058920941
• Corporate Authors:

  Netherlands TRAIL Research School

  P.O. Box 5017
  Delft,   Netherlands  2600 GA
• Authors:
  • Le-Duc, Tho
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 180p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Integer programming; Mathematical models; Physical distribution; Warehouses; Work zones; Zoning
• Uncontrolled Terms: Batch processing; Order fulfillment; Order picking
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; Pipelines; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01050220
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9058920941
• Report/Paper Numbers: Trail Thesis Series T2005/9
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 30 2007 3:19PM