Analytic Flow Design Method for an Automated Distribution Center with Multiple Shipping Areas

Abstract

An analytic flow design algorithm for an automated distribution center with multiple shipping areas is presented. The main elements of the analytic flow design are the number of devices and the volumes of product flow between the devices. In the design of an automated distribution center, it is necessary to satisfy the demand throughput while minimizing construction costs. In the conventional design process, system engineers utilize experimental and intuitional approaches. However, conventional approaches are time-consuming and the design outcome is dependent on the skill of the designer. Therefore, a theoretical design algorithm is needed. We propose an analytic flow design algorithm using a dynamic network flow model and considering time-variable flow volumes according to shipment and storage schedules. To verify the feasibility of the proposed method, we perform analytic flow design using real data and confirm that the proposed method can yield a feasible analytic flow design in several minutes.

Design of Warehouse Including Temporary Storage Using Queuing Network Theory

“…It may, therefore, be possible to combine the proposed approach with an analytic flow design model [13].…”

“…Nikaido proposed an analytic flow design method for an automated distribution center that determines both the number of devices as well as the volume of flow. [13]. Their model is capable of planning dynamic flow in a distribution center.…”

An Efficient Approach to Investigate the Tradeoff between Double Handling and Needed Capacity in Automated Distribution Centers

“…That means for all types of pallets, the whole pallet is depalletized at once, hence there is no back flow of materials. Furthermore, a study by Nikaido et al [7] proposed a flow design method for an automated distribution center with multiple shipping areas. They considered the main design elements to be the number of devices and the volume of product flow between the devices.…”

“…The throughput for A items was measured using Formula (7). Formulas (2)-( 5) are used for throughput of B and C items.…”

“…Then, different cases of different item types are combined together and shipped to each customer. Such a configuration was investigated by only a few studies in the literature [7]. However, a case in which the throughput and capacity of warehouses are the decision variables and not the input variables has been ignored in the literature.…”