A note on picker blocking models in a parallel-aisle order picking system

Soondo Hong, Andrew Johnson and Brett Peters

IISE Transactions, 2013, vol. 45, issue 12, 1345-1355

Abstract: This note develops analytical picker blocking models to simply and accurately assess picker blocking in parallel-aisle order picking systems when multiple picks occur at a pick point. The Markov chain--based models characterize the two bounding walking speeds for modeling picker movement: unit walk time and instantaneous walk time. The unit walk time model has a state-space transition matrix that is reduced by a factor of 16 for both narrow-aisle and wide-aisle systems. Additionally, the model improves upon the existing literature by providing a closed-form expression for the narrow-aisle system with instantaneous walk time. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate how picker blocking is influenced by pick density in a variety of scenarios under varying assumptions regarding the maximum number of picks at a pick point. These results broaden those previously presented in the literature, as well as demonstrate the improved efficiency of the proposed model.1

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1080/0740817X.2012.745204

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