Picking-replenishment synchronization for robotic forward-reserve warehouses

Min Jiang; K. H. Leung; Zhongyuan Lyu; George Q. Huang

doi:10.1016/j.tre.2020.102138

Picking-replenishment synchronization for robotic forward-reserve warehouses

Min Jiang, K. H. Leung, Zhongyuan Lyu, George Q. Huang

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Forward-reserve strategy is commonly applied when processing a large number of small orders. This paper considers robotic forward-reserve warehouses, where pick locations are brought to workers by mobile robots in the forward area. We treat the critical problem of unsatisfactory efficiency in the robotic forward area. A picking-replenishment synchronization mechanism (PRSM) is thereby proposed, which optimally attains a balance between replenishment efforts and picking efficiency. The resulting problem is formulated and solved by a tailored variable neighborhood search procedure integrated with a divide-and-conquer paradigm. Numerical results reveal remarkable benefits of PRSM over the conventional random schemes under different scenarios.

Original language	English
Article number	102138
Number of pages	18
Journal	Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review
Volume	144
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2020.102138
Publication status	Published - Dec 2020
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Forward-reserve area
Picking-replenishment decisions
Robotic mobile fulfillment systems
Synchronization
Warehouse systems

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business and International Management
Civil and Structural Engineering
Transportation

More information

10.1016/j.tre.2020.102138

Cite this

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title = "Picking-replenishment synchronization for robotic forward-reserve warehouses",

abstract = "Forward-reserve strategy is commonly applied when processing a large number of small orders. This paper considers robotic forward-reserve warehouses, where pick locations are brought to workers by mobile robots in the forward area. We treat the critical problem of unsatisfactory efficiency in the robotic forward area. A picking-replenishment synchronization mechanism (PRSM) is thereby proposed, which optimally attains a balance between replenishment efforts and picking efficiency. The resulting problem is formulated and solved by a tailored variable neighborhood search procedure integrated with a divide-and-conquer paradigm. Numerical results reveal remarkable benefits of PRSM over the conventional random schemes under different scenarios.",

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author = "Min Jiang and Leung, {K. H.} and Zhongyuan Lyu and Huang, {George Q.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge partial financial supports from funding sources, including HKSAR RGC GRF Project (No.17203518), the 2019 Guangdong Special Support Talent Program - Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Team (China) (2019BT02S593), and Guangzhou Leading Innovation Team Program (201909010006). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Ltd",

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doi = "10.1016/j.tre.2020.102138",

language = "English",

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AU - Jiang, Min

AU - Leung, K. H.

AU - Lyu, Zhongyuan

AU - Huang, George Q.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge partial financial supports from funding sources, including HKSAR RGC GRF Project (No.17203518), the 2019 Guangdong Special Support Talent Program - Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Team (China) (2019BT02S593), and Guangzhou Leading Innovation Team Program (201909010006). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2020/12

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N2 - Forward-reserve strategy is commonly applied when processing a large number of small orders. This paper considers robotic forward-reserve warehouses, where pick locations are brought to workers by mobile robots in the forward area. We treat the critical problem of unsatisfactory efficiency in the robotic forward area. A picking-replenishment synchronization mechanism (PRSM) is thereby proposed, which optimally attains a balance between replenishment efforts and picking efficiency. The resulting problem is formulated and solved by a tailored variable neighborhood search procedure integrated with a divide-and-conquer paradigm. Numerical results reveal remarkable benefits of PRSM over the conventional random schemes under different scenarios.

AB - Forward-reserve strategy is commonly applied when processing a large number of small orders. This paper considers robotic forward-reserve warehouses, where pick locations are brought to workers by mobile robots in the forward area. We treat the critical problem of unsatisfactory efficiency in the robotic forward area. A picking-replenishment synchronization mechanism (PRSM) is thereby proposed, which optimally attains a balance between replenishment efforts and picking efficiency. The resulting problem is formulated and solved by a tailored variable neighborhood search procedure integrated with a divide-and-conquer paradigm. Numerical results reveal remarkable benefits of PRSM over the conventional random schemes under different scenarios.

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KW - Picking-replenishment decisions

KW - Robotic mobile fulfillment systems

KW - Synchronization

KW - Warehouse systems

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Picking-replenishment synchronization for robotic forward-reserve warehouses

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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