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An Analytical Model to Estimate the Optimum Production Rate of Picking Processes in a Modular Warehouse Environment

An Analytical Model to Estimate the Optimum Production Rate of Picking Processes in a Modular Warehouse Environment

Dimitrios M. Emiris, Athanasios Skarlatos
Copyright: © 2011 |Pages: 24
ISBN13: 9781615206339|ISBN10: 1615206337|EISBN13: 9781615206346
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-633-9.ch009
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MLA

Emiris, Dimitrios M., and Athanasios Skarlatos. "An Analytical Model to Estimate the Optimum Production Rate of Picking Processes in a Modular Warehouse Environment." Supply Chain Optimization, Design, and Management: Advances and Intelligent Methods, edited by Ioannis Minis, et al., IGI Global, 2011, pp. 188-211. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61520-633-9.ch009

APA

Emiris, D. M. & Skarlatos, A. (2011). An Analytical Model to Estimate the Optimum Production Rate of Picking Processes in a Modular Warehouse Environment. In I. Minis, V. Zeimpekis, G. Dounias, & N. Ampazis (Eds.), Supply Chain Optimization, Design, and Management: Advances and Intelligent Methods (pp. 188-211). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61520-633-9.ch009

Chicago

Emiris, Dimitrios M., and Athanasios Skarlatos. "An Analytical Model to Estimate the Optimum Production Rate of Picking Processes in a Modular Warehouse Environment." In Supply Chain Optimization, Design, and Management: Advances and Intelligent Methods, edited by Ioannis Minis, et al., 188-211. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2011. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-61520-633-9.ch009

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Abstract

One of the most important, complicated and expensive processes in a warehouse is order-picking. The cost associated with order preparation and picking typically varies between 40% and 60% of the total cost of all the processes in a warehouse; therefore, improving the productivity in order picking would result directly in cost reduction. In any attempt to reduce costs in order picking, one has to take into account: (i) the design of the warehouse so that the pickers’ work may be controlled at all instances, (ii) the existence of standards on the pickers’ work so that performance measurements may be compared and contrasted reliably, and (iii) the analysis of the phases of the picking process so that the pickers’ productivity may be measured and maximized. Such a series of concerns and parameters leads to the necessity of developing a mathematical parametric model which may serve as a useful tool for the warehouse manager in his efforts to not only measure productivity but also to intervene in the process and proceed to improvements. The present work deals with the development of such an analytical parametric model for the order picking process in a modular warehouse. The research attempts to address and solve three distinct, yet relevant, areas of focus: (i) to produce a generic and analytical framework to model the order picking process, (ii) to define practical and easy to adopt performance measures for the order picking process, and (iii) to provide the tools for a warehouse manager to set goals, measure performance and identify areas of improvement in his areas of responsibility. In addition to these, the research sets the foundations to further expand on other warehouse processes, such as loading/unloading, products receipt, etc., that supersede the boundaries of order picking. The analysis is corroborated by a real case study, among the many monitored in a pragmatic setup, accompanied by ABC analysis of the warehouse operation and a presentation of a fair frame to measure workers’ performance.

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