Title: A delivery oriented order picking policy with batching for a randomised storage warehouse

Authors: Jiun-Yan Shiau; Ming-Kung Huang; Shih-Wei Chou; Tzu-Ching Liao

Addresses: Department of Logistics Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ' College of Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ' Department of Information Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ' Department of Logistics Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Abstract: One of the most crucial tasks of a warehouse management system is order picking, which is also the most expensive cost of warehouse operations in a distribution centre. Improving picking efficiency can thus be highly beneficial for distribution centre operations. In this study, a 24-hour express shipping online shopping case was investigated. The theory of order picking is reviewed and summarised to assist researchers to develop methods to improve upon deficiencies identified in the case study. A mixed integer programming model that integrates order picking operations and order packing operations was developed to improve the performance of warehouse operations. A conceptual system with a simplified example of the proposed order picking function was implemented to demonstrate the merits of our idea and is reported herein.

Keywords: order picking problem; packing problems; warehouse management system; WMS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2021.120490

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2021 Vol.40 No.4, pp.443 - 465

Received: 04 Jul 2019
Accepted: 01 Nov 2019
Published online: 24 Jan 2022 *

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