Survey and classification of operational control problems in discrete event logistics systems (DELS)

Abstract

This paper reviews and classifies literature on operational control of discrete event logistics systems (DELS). Operational control manipulates the flow of items through a DELS. Each control problem addressed in the surveyed literature is classified based on the control decision that the analysis model is formulated to support. These control decisions are defined by abstract functional definitions focusing on analysis model inputs, outputs, and variables. This classification of control problems shows that five kinds of atomic control decisions are needed to cover the literature, either by themselves or in combination. Standard functional definitions of operational control decisions enable discovery and interoperability of decision-support analysis models.

Evaluating the benefits of picking and packing planning integration in e-commerce warehouses

“…We achieve this by designing an empirically-driven study based on the data collected from a real-life e-commerce warehouse. In doing so, we contribute to recent arguments in literature (Bottani et al, 2019;Boysen et al, 2020;McFarlane et al, 2016;Sprock et al, 2019;Van Gils et al, 2018a,b) calling for further investigation of process integration in warehousing by virtue of strong interdependence between different stages.…”

Model of operational control of discrete event logistics systems (DELS)

“…This section introduces a computer-interpretable representation for operational control functions to address the needs described in section 1. Section 2.1 reviews these functions, as detailed in [28]. Section 2.2 introduces a conceptual pattern for describing these functions and section 2.3 discusses ways to define them.…”

“…Model-based operational control specifications must address four aspects: 1) what kinds of operational control decisions must be made, 2) where, or when, in the system control decisions need to be made, 3) how decisions aremade, or which decision support methods are selected and configured to support decision-making, and 4) how control choices are executed (desired effect realized). This paper and its companion survey paper [28] argue that DELS share an abstraction of operational control functions that manage the flow of tasks and resources through the system.…”

“…This paper proposes a DELS operational control model library that aligns and integrates a controller's decision support analysis models with actuators executing prescribed control actions. These models extend the classification of control functions in a companion survey paper [28] by representing them as modeling components that can be assembled into new system specifications. The models complement design methodologies, such as the production control design methodology in [4] and more general MBSE methods [9].…”

Order-Preserving Languages for the Supervisory Control of Automated Manufacturing Systems

“…Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) have the ability of manufacturing different types of products using a given hardware setup with various production components such as machines, robots and conveyor belts [1,2,3,4,5]. In an FMS, it is generally desired to move products along predefined paths through the FMS and use pre-specified production components for processing these products in a given sequence [6,7,8].…”