Two-worker blocking congestion model with walk speed m in a no-passing circular passage system

Soondo Hong

European Journal of Operational Research, 2014, vol. 235, issue 3, 687-696

Abstract: This paper introduces a blocking model and closed-form expression of two workers traveling with walk speed m (m=integer) in a no-passing circular-passage system of n stations and assuming n=m+2, 2m+2,…. We develop a Discrete-Timed Markov Chain (DTMC) model to capture the workers’ changes of walk, pick, and blocked states, and quantify the throughput loss from blocking congestion by deriving a steady state probability in a closed-form expression. We validate the model with a simulation study. Additional simulation comparisons show that the proposed throughput model gives a good approximation of a general-sized system of n stations (i.e., n>2), a practical walk speed system of real number m (i.e., m⩾1), and a bucket brigade order picking application.

Keywords: Facilities planning and design; No-passing passage system; Blocking congestion; Bucket brigade order picking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:235:y:2014:i:3:p:687-696

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2013.10.013

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