IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/flsman/v36y2024i2d10.1007_s10696-023-09505-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Queueing network models for the analysis and optimisation of material handling systems: a systematic literature review

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Amjath

    (College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University)

  • Laoucine Kerbache

    (College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
    HEC Paris)

  • Adel Elomri

    (College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University)

  • James MacGregor Smith

    (University of Massachusetts)

Abstract

Material handling systems (MHSs) are an integral part of logistics functions in manufacturing and service organizations. Material handling equipment (MHE) is considered the pivotal actor of any given MHS. Decisions ranging from the strategic level, such as selecting the proper MHE, capacity, and ownership (in-house or outsourcing) to operational level decisions such as resource allocation, scheduling, and routing of MHEs, are critical to the efficiency of an MHS. Industry practitioners use various methods and tools to evaluate these MHSs to find the best policies for their operations. This study identifies past works related to the performance evaluation and optimisation of MHSs using queueing network models. Moreover, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of identified research questions. The study methodology adopts a systematic literature review, bibliometric, and content analysis techniques proposed in similar research studies. This study provides material logistics scholars and practitioners with a thorough understanding of queueing networks as a modelling tool for analysing MHS applications in various domains.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Amjath & Laoucine Kerbache & Adel Elomri & James MacGregor Smith, 2024. "Queueing network models for the analysis and optimisation of material handling systems: a systematic literature review," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 36(2), pages 668-709, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:flsman:v:36:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10696-023-09505-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10696-023-09505-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10696-023-09505-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/s10696-023-09505-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. Aria, Massimo & Cuccurullo, Corrado, 2017. "bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 959-975.
    2. Tappia, Elena & Roy, Debjit & Melacini, Marco & De Koster, René, 2019. "Integrated storage-order picking systems: Technology, performance models, and design insights," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(3), pages 947-965.
    3. Jingming Liu & Haitao Liao & John A. White, 2021. "Queueing analysis of the replenishment of multiple in-the-aisle pick positions," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 1-20, January.
    4. Dima Nazzal, 2011. "A closed queueing network approach to analyzing multi-vehicle material handling systems," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(10), pages 721-738.
    5. Iñigo L. Ansorena, 2020. "Operational strategies for managing container terminals. An approach based on closed queuing networks," International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 35(1), pages 1-12.
    6. Laoucine Kerbache & James Macgregor Smith, 2004. "Queueing networks and the topological design of supply chain systems," Post-Print hal-00465149, HAL.
    7. Zou, Bipan & Xu, Xianhao & Gong, Yeming (Yale) & De Koster, René, 2018. "Evaluating battery charging and swapping strategies in a robotic mobile fulfillment system," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(2), pages 733-753.
    8. Kerbache, Laoucine & MacGregor Smith, James, 2004. "Queueing networks and the topological design of supply chain systems," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(3), pages 251-272, October.
    9. Tim Lamballais Tessensohn & Debjit Roy & René B.M. De Koster, 2020. "Inventory allocation in robotic mobile fulfillment systems," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(1), pages 1-17, January.
    10. Roy, Debjit & de Koster, René, 2018. "Stochastic modeling of unloading and loading operations at a container terminal using automated lifting vehicles," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 266(3), pages 895-910.
    11. Debjit Roy & Ananth Krishnamurthy & Sunderesh Heragu & Charles Malmborg, 2012. "Performance analysis and design trade-offs in warehouses with autonomous vehicle technology," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(12), pages 1045-1060.
    12. Schleyer, Marc & Gue, Kevin, 2012. "Throughput time distribution analysis for a one-block warehouse," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 652-666.
    13. Elena Tappia & Debjit Roy & René de Koster & Marco Melacini, 2017. "Modeling, Analysis, and Design Insights for Shuttle-Based Compact Storage Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 51(1), pages 269-295, February.
    14. Yaohan Shen & Xianhao Xu & Bipan Zou & Hongwei Wang, 2021. "Operating policies in multi-warehouse drone delivery systems," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(7), pages 2140-2156, April.
    15. J. MacGregor Smith, 2016. "Joint optimisation of buffers and network population for closed finite queueing systems," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(17), pages 5111-5135, September.
    16. Dhingra, Vibhuti & Kumawat, Govind Lal & Roy, Debjit & Koster, René de, 2018. "Solving semi-open queuing networks with time-varying arrivals: An application in container terminal landside operations," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 855-876.
    17. Laoucine Kerbache & J. Macgregor Smith, 2012. "State Dependent Models of Material Handling Systems in Closed Queueing Networks," Post-Print hal-00796338, HAL.
    18. Pourvaziri, Hani & Pierreval, Henri & Marian, Helene, 2021. "Integrating facility layout design and aisle structure in manufacturing systems: Formulation and exact solution," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(2), pages 499-513.
    19. Kaveh Azadeh & Debjit Roy & René De Koster, 2019. "Design, Modeling, and Analysis of Vertical Robotic Storage and Retrieval Systems," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(5), pages 1213-1234, September.
    20. Govind Lal Kumawat & Debjit Roy, 2021. "AGV or Lift-AGV? Performance trade-offs and design insights for container terminals with robotized transport vehicle technology," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(7), pages 751-769, April.
    21. Hui-Yu Zhang & Shao-Hui Xi & Qing-Xin Chen & James MacGregor Smith & Ning Mao & Xiang Li, 2021. "Performance analysis of a flexible flow shop with random and state-dependent batch transport," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(4), pages 982-1002, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Amjath, Mohamed & Kerbache, Laoucine & Smith, James MacGregor & Elomri, Adel, 2022. "Fleet sizing of trucks for an inter-facility material handling system using closed queueing networks," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 9(C).
    2. Ma, Benedict Jun & Pan, Shenle & Zou, Bipan & Kuo, Yong-Hong & Huang, George Q., 2025. "Operating policies for robotic cellular warehousing systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    3. Mohamed Amjath & Laoucine Kerbache & James MacGregor Smith, 2024. "A Closed Queueing Networks Approach for an Optimal Heterogeneous Fleet Size of an Inter-Facility Bulk Material Transfer System," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-38, March.
    4. Fragapane, Giuseppe & de Koster, René & Sgarbossa, Fabio & Strandhagen, Jan Ola, 2021. "Planning and control of autonomous mobile robots for intralogistics: Literature review and research agenda," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 294(2), pages 405-426.
    5. Wu, Guangmei & Wang, Xiruo & Zou, Bipan, 2024. "Travel time models for compact automated parking systems using two I/O points and the point of service completion dwell point policy," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    6. Chen, Wanying & Gong, Yeming & Chen, Qi & Wang, Hongwei, 2024. "Does battery management matter? Performance evaluation and operating policies in a self-climbing robotic warehouse," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 312(1), pages 164-181.
    7. Zhang, Zhengmin & Gong, Yeming & Yuan, Zhe & Chen, Wanying, 2024. "Robotic warehouse systems considering dynamic priority," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    8. Amir Gharehgozli & Debjit Roy & Suruchika Saini & Jan-Kees Ommeren, 2023. "Loading and unloading trains at the landside of container terminals," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(3), pages 549-575, September.
    9. Jiang, Min & Leung, K.H. & Lyu, Zhongyuan & Huang, George Q., 2020. "Picking-replenishment synchronization for robotic forward-reserve warehouses," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Dong, Wenquan & Jin, Mingzhou, 2021. "Travel time models for tier-to-tier SBS/RS with different storage assignment policies and shuttle dispatching rules," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    11. Lamballais, T. & Merschformann, M. & Roy, D. & de Koster, M.B.M. & Azadeh, K. & Suhl, L., 2022. "Dynamic policies for resource reallocation in a robotic mobile fulfillment system with time-varying demand," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 300(3), pages 937-952.
    12. Kaveh Azadeh & René De Koster & Debjit Roy, 2019. "Robotized and Automated Warehouse Systems: Review and Recent Developments," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 53(4), pages 917-945, July.
    13. Qin, Zhizhen & Kang, Yuexin & Yang, Peng, 2024. "Making better order fulfillment in multi-tote storage and retrieval autonomous mobile robot systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    14. Emilio Moretti & Elena Tappia & Martina Mauri & Marco Melacini, 2022. "A performance model for mobile robot-based part feeding systems to supermarkets," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 580-613, September.
    15. Dong, Wenquan & Jin, Mingzhou, 2024. "Automated storage and retrieval system design with variant lane depths," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 314(2), pages 630-646.
    16. Roy, Debjit & Nigam, Shobhit & de Koster, René & Adan, Ivo & Resing, Jacques, 2019. "Robot-storage zone assignment strategies in mobile fulfillment systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 119-142.
    17. Justkowiak, Jan-Erik & Pesch, Erwin, 2023. "Stronger mixed-integer programming-formulations for order- and rack-sequencing in robotic mobile fulfillment systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(3), pages 1063-1078.
    18. Gharehgozli, Amir & Zaerpour, Nima, 2020. "Robot scheduling for pod retrieval in a robotic mobile fulfillment system," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    19. Boysen, Nils & de Koster, René, 2025. "50 years of warehousing research—An operations research perspective," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 320(3), pages 449-464.
    20. Jingming Liu & Haitao Liao & John A. White, 2023. "Design of a class-based order picking system with stochastic demands and priority consideration," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 331(2), pages 923-962, December.

    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:flsman:v:36:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10696-023-09505-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.