Delft University of Technology
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering Transport Technology / Logistic Engineering
R.C.M. van der Holst Ontwerpen en simuleren van regelstrategieën voor orderverzamelprocessen in een distributiecentrum. Masters thesis, Report 91.3.LT.2866, Transport Technology, Logistic Engineering.
After introduction of the automationproject "P04", the distribution center of Akzo-Sikkens will change over from a batchwise method to a continuous method of orderpicking. This continuous handling of orders can be controlled in several different ways.
This report deals with methods of controlling a continuous orderpickprocess. These methods can be subdivided into two ways of controlling the pickprocess:
control the time of release of a new order in the pickingsystem; control the type of order which will be let into the system.
The controller will determine when a new order will be released and which of the orders to be treated orders will be released. Several ways of controlling the pickprocess are examined using a simulationmodel of the orderpickprocess.
The most important conclusions and recommendations are:
It is possible to let more orders into the system than there are outlets available. This will lead to a capacity improvement of approximately 15% for last day-orders and 7% for planningorders.
In case there are more orders let into the system then there are outlets available it is desirable to connect the overflow outlet to the conveyor belt of the shelves area.
Selecting orders is not suitable for this distribution center. Reports on Logistic Engineering (in Dutch)
