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An ACO-based online routing method for multiple order pickers with congestion consideration in warehouse

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  • Fangyu Chen

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Hongwei Wang

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Yong Xie

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

  • Chao Qi

    (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)

Abstract

One of the challenging problems in order picking is how to deal with the congestion happens in warehouse with multiple pickers. In this paper, we consider an ant colony optimization (ACO)-based online routing method to find picking routes for multiple order pickers under nondeterministic picking time. Here, a default route is formed by ACO for each single picker. Then, we coordinate these routes to alleviate congestion by dedicated rules based on indoor positioning and information sharing technologies, during order pickers serve the picking task. Our results indicate that the proposed method can achieve a reduction in the order service time primarily by coping with the congestion. We conclude that the new method is particularly effective in multiple-block picker-to-parts warehouses.

Suggested Citation

  • Fangyu Chen & Hongwei Wang & Yong Xie & Chao Qi, 2016. "An ACO-based online routing method for multiple order pickers with congestion consideration in warehouse," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 389-408, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joinma:v:27:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10845-014-0871-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10845-014-0871-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. 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.
    3. Halawa, Farouq & Dauod, Husam & Lee, In Gyu & Li, Yinglei & Yoon, Sang Won & Chung, Sung Hoon, 2020. "Introduction of a real time location system to enhance the warehouse safety and operational efficiency," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    4. Saylam, Serhat & Çelik, Melih & Süral, Haldun, 2024. "Arc routing based compact formulations for picker routing in single and two block parallel aisle warehouses," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 313(1), pages 225-240.
    5. Ardjmand, Ehsan & Shakeri, Heman & Singh, Manjeet & Sanei Bajgiran, Omid, 2018. "Minimizing order picking makespan with multiple pickers in a wave picking warehouse," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 169-183.
    6. Jingran Liang & Zhengning Wu & Chenye Zhu & Zhi-Hai Zhang, 2022. "An estimation distribution algorithm for wave-picking warehouse management," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 929-942, April.
    7. 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.
    8. 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).
    9. Nikolaos Chondromatidis & Anastasios Gialos & Vasileios Zeimpekis, 2022. "Investigating the Performance of the Order-Picking Process by Using Smart Glasses: A Laboratory Experimental Approach," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-26, December.
    10. 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.
    11. Fangyu Chen & Gangyan Xu & Yongchang Wei, 2019. "An Integrated Metaheuristic Routing Method for Multiple-Block Warehouses with Ultranarrow Aisles and Access Restriction," Complexity, Hindawi, vol. 2019, pages 1-14, June.
    12. 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.
    13. Zhi Li & Ali Vatankhah Barenji & Jiazhi Jiang & Ray Y. Zhong & Gangyan Xu, 2020. "A mechanism for scheduling multi robot intelligent warehouse system face with dynamic demand," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 469-480, February.
    14. De Santis, Roberta & Montanari, Roberto & Vignali, Giuseppe & Bottani, Eleonora, 2018. "An adapted ant colony optimization algorithm for the minimization of the travel distance of pickers in manual warehouses," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(1), pages 120-137.
    15. Rajabighamchi, Farzaneh & van Hoesel, Stan & Defryn, Christof, 2023. "The order picking problem under a scattered storage policy," Research Memorandum 006, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    16. Rajabighamchi, Farzaneh & van Hoesel, Stan & Defryn, Christof, 2023. "Graph reduction for the planar Travelling Salesman Problem," Research Memorandum 004, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    17. Jose Alejandro Cano & Pablo Cortés & Jesús Muñuzuri & Alexander Correa-Espinal, 2023. "Solving the picker routing problem in multi-block high-level storage systems using metaheuristics," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 376-415, June.

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