Online order batching algorithm in blocked warehouse
What is it about?
The route length is taken by the operator is deemed to be an effective parameter in minimization of response time’s orders in a typical warehouses with a manual picking system, in which the picker collects goods through depot. Therefore, reduction of the route length has been increasingly received considerable attention from the scholars in this area. The response time and system’s costs are regarded as the most essential components necessitating the utilization of order batching process for rival companies, particularly when there is no information about time and amount of inbound orders, and even when there is substantial amounts of orders in large warehouses working with an online order entry system. This process has a profound impact on reducing the route length and thus decreasing the organization costs. Present study takes aim at investigation of order classification in the first time in the picker-to-part system as a manual picking system and an online order batching system, with the intent of minimizing the turnover time and idle time. Besides, an order batching model in a blocked warehouse using a zoning system is proposed which is called Online Order Batching in Blocked Warehouse with One Picker for each Block (OOBBWOPB). This is investigated by online order entry system using a nonlinear programming model based on meta-heuristic method of Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm. The average turnover time of the customer’s orders is witnessed insignificant reduction using the proposed model, which lead to greatly enhance the total efficiency of warehouse system.
Why is it important?
In the preceding presented researches and studies, there is a big research gap in orders classification with online order batching system, mainly because of lacking a warehouse blocking system. Nevertheless, Pan [30] proved that the impact of warehouse blocking not only is obvious and significant for decreasing the order batching time, but also could lead to increase the customer’s satisfaction level. Therefore, in this paper a new nonlinear model with operator S-shaped route proposed for online order batching by considering the blocking warehouse.