IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jbecon/v86y2016i1d10.1007_s11573-015-0789-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A grouping genetic algorithm for the Order Batching Problem in distribution warehouses

Author

Listed:
  • Sören Koch

    (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg)

  • Gerhard Wäscher

    (Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg
    Beijing Jiaotong University)

Abstract

Order picking is a warehouse function that deals with the retrieval of articles from their storage locations in order to satisfy certain customer demands. Combining several single customer orders into one (more substantial) picking order can increase the efficiency of warehouse operations. The Order Batching Problem considered in this paper deals with the question of how different customer orders should be grouped into picking orders, such that the total length of all tours through the warehouse is minimized, which are necessary to collect all requested articles. For the solution of this problem, the authors introduce a grouping genetic algorithm. It is combined with a local search procedure which results in a highly competitive hybrid algorithm. In a series of extensive numerical experiments, the algorithm is benchmarked against a genetic algorithm with a standard item-oriented encoding scheme. The results show that the new genetic algorithm based on the group-oriented encoding scheme is preferable for the Order Batching Problem, and that the algorithm provides high quality solutions in reasonable computing times.

Suggested Citation

  • Sören Koch & Gerhard Wäscher, 2016. "A grouping genetic algorithm for the Order Batching Problem in distribution warehouses," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 131-153, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:86:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s11573-015-0789-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-015-0789-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-015-0789-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11573-015-0789-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pan, C-H. & Liu, S-Y., 1995. "A comparative study of order batching algorithms," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 691-700, December.
    2. Van Nieuwenhuyse, Inneke & de Koster, René B.M., 2009. "Evaluating order throughput time in 2-block warehouses with time window batching," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 654-664, October.
    3. Chen, Mu-Chen & Wu, Hsiao-Pin, 2005. "An association-based clustering approach to order batching considering customer demand patterns," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 333-343, August.
    4. Hong, Soondo & Johnson, Andrew L. & Peters, Brett A., 2012. "Batch picking in narrow-aisle order picking systems with consideration for picker blocking," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(3), pages 557-570.
    5. Petersen, Charles G. & Aase, Gerald, 2004. "A comparison of picking, storage, and routing policies in manual order picking," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1), pages 11-19, November.
    6. Henn, Sebastian & Wäscher, Gerhard, 2012. "Tabu search heuristics for the order batching problem in manual order picking systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(3), pages 484-494.
    7. Gibson, David R. & Sharp, Gunter P., 1992. "Order batching procedures," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 57-67, April.
    8. G. Clarke & J. W. Wright, 1964. "Scheduling of Vehicles from a Central Depot to a Number of Delivery Points," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 568-581, August.
    9. H. Donald Ratliff & Arnon S. Rosenthal, 1983. "Order-Picking in a Rectangular Warehouse: A Solvable Case of the Traveling Salesman Problem," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 507-521, June.
    10. Yu, Mengfei & de Koster, René B.M., 2009. "The impact of order batching and picking area zoning on order picking system performance," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 198(2), pages 480-490, October.
    11. Sebastian Henn & Sören Koch & Karl Doerner & Christine Strauss & Gerhard Wäscher, 2009. "Metaheuristics for the Order Batching Problem in Manual Order Picking Systems," FEMM Working Papers 09020, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Boysen, Nils & de Koster, René & Weidinger, Felix, 2019. "Warehousing in the e-commerce era: A survey," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 277(2), pages 396-411.
    2. Žulj, Ivan & Kramer, Sergej & Schneider, Michael, 2018. "A hybrid of adaptive large neighborhood search and tabu search for the order-batching problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 264(2), pages 653-664.
    3. Wagner, Stefan & Mönch, Lars, 2023. "A variable neighborhood search approach to solve the order batching problem with heterogeneous pick devices," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 304(2), pages 461-475.
    4. Çağla Cergibozan & A. Serdar Tasan, 2022. "Genetic algorithm based approaches to solve the order batching problem and a case study in a distribution center," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 137-149, January.
    5. Sergio Gil-Borrás & Eduardo G. Pardo & Antonio Alonso-Ayuso & Abraham Duarte, 2020. "GRASP with Variable Neighborhood Descent for the online order batching problem," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 295-325, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Çağla Cergibozan & A. Serdar Tasan, 2019. "Order batching operations: an overview of classification, solution techniques, and future research," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 335-349, January.
    2. Sören Koch & Gerhard Wäscher, 2011. "A Grouping Genetic Algorithm for the Order Batching Problem in Distribution Warehouses," FEMM Working Papers 110026, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    3. Fangyu Chen & Yongchang Wei & Hongwei Wang, 2018. "A heuristic based batching and assigning method for online customer orders," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 640-685, December.
    4. Boysen, Nils & de Koster, René & Weidinger, Felix, 2019. "Warehousing in the e-commerce era: A survey," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 277(2), pages 396-411.
    5. de Koster, Rene & Le-Duc, Tho & Roodbergen, Kees Jan, 2007. "Design and control of warehouse order picking: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(2), pages 481-501, October.
    6. van Gils, Teun & Ramaekers, Katrien & Caris, An & de Koster, René B.M., 2018. "Designing efficient order picking systems by combining planning problems: State-of-the-art classification and review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 1-15.
    7. Anderson Rogério Faia Pinto & Marcelo Seido Nagano, 2020. "Genetic algorithms applied to integration and optimization of billing and picking processes," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 641-659, March.
    8. A. Scholz & G. Wäscher, 2017. "Order Batching and Picker Routing in manual order picking systems: the benefits of integrated routing," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 25(2), pages 491-520, June.
    9. Sandra Hahn & André Scholz, 2017. "Order Picking in Narrow-Aisle Warehouses: A Fast Approach to Minimize Waiting Times," FEMM Working Papers 170006, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    10. Giannikas, Vaggelis & Lu, Wenrong & Robertson, Brian & McFarlane, Duncan, 2017. "An interventionist strategy for warehouse order picking: Evidence from two case studies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 63-76.
    11. de Koster, M.B.M. & Le-Duc, T. & Roodbergen, K.J., 2006. "Design and Control of Warehouse Order Picking: a literature review," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2006-005-LIS, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    12. Masae, Makusee & Glock, Christoph H. & Vichitkunakorn, Panupong, 2021. "A method for efficiently routing order pickers in the leaf warehouse," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    13. Gerhard Wäscher & André Scholz, 2015. "A Solution Approach for the Joint Order Batching and Picker Routing Problem in a Two-Block Layout," FEMM Working Papers 150004, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    14. Sebastian Henn & Gerhard Wäscher, 2010. "Tabu Search Heuristics for the Order Batching Problem in Manual Order Picking Systems," FEMM Working Papers 100007, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    15. Glock, Christoph H. & Grosse, Eric H. & Abedinnia, Hamid & Emde, Simon, 2019. "An integrated model to improve ergonomic and economic performance in order picking by rotating pallets," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 273(2), pages 516-534.
    16. Žulj, Ivan & Kramer, Sergej & Schneider, Michael, 2018. "A hybrid of adaptive large neighborhood search and tabu search for the order-batching problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 264(2), pages 653-664.
    17. Gu, Jinxiang & Goetschalckx, Marc & McGinnis, Leon F., 2007. "Research on warehouse operation: A comprehensive review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 177(1), pages 1-21, February.
    18. Sergio Gil-Borrás & Eduardo G. Pardo & Antonio Alonso-Ayuso & Abraham Duarte, 2020. "GRASP with Variable Neighborhood Descent for the online order batching problem," Journal of Global Optimization, Springer, vol. 78(2), pages 295-325, October.
    19. Pan, Jason Chao-Hsien & Shih, Po-Hsun & Wu, Ming-Hung, 2015. "Order batching in a pick-and-pass warehousing system with group genetic algorithm," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 57(PB), pages 238-248.
    20. AERTS, Babiche & CORNELISSENS, Trijntje & SÖRENSEN, Kenneth, 2020. "Solving the joint order batching and picker routing problem, as a clustered vehicle routing problem," Working Papers 2020003, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Warehouse management; Order picking; Order batching; Genetic algorithms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C6 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling
    • M1 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration
    • L8 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services
    • M19 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Other

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:86:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s11573-015-0789-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.