Scheduling multiple types of equipment in an automated warehouse

Lu Zhen, Jingwen Wu, Haolin Li, Zheyi Tan and Yingying Yuan ()
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Lu Zhen: Shanghai University
Jingwen Wu: Shanghai University
Haolin Li: Shanghai University
Zheyi Tan: Shanghai University
Yingying Yuan: Shanghai University

Annals of Operations Research, 2023, vol. 322, issue 2, No 20, 1119-1141

Abstract: Abstract This study investigates an integrated optimization problem on the three main types of equipment used in a new design of multi-tier automated warehouse: automated guided vehicles, lifts and shuttles. A mixed-integer programming model is proposed to optimize the assignment of pallets to the related equipment and the storage locations during inbound process, as well as the sequencing handling activities of these equipment. As the problem considers a number of various types of equipment as well as the interaction among them, the formulated model is comprehensive but complex, which is intractable for some commercial solvers to solve under large-scale instances. Thus, an algorithm based on variable neighborhood search is developed to solve the model efficiently. By conducting extensive numerical experiments, our results show that the tailored algorithm can solve the instances with million integer variables and ten million constraints in ten minutes. Some managerial implications are also obtained based on sensitivity analysis, which may be potentially useful for warehouse operators to increase the operational efficiency in automated warehouse management.

Keywords: Automated warehouse; Multiple equipment scheduling; Assignment; Variable neighborhood search (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10479-022-04935-6

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