A note on picker blocking models in a parallel-aisle order picking system Academic Article uri icon

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. © 2013 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • IIE Transactions

author list (cited authors)

  • Hong, S., Johnson, A. L., & Peters, B. A.

citation count

  • 12

complete list of authors

  • Hong, Soondo||Johnson, Andrew L||Peters, Brett A

publication date

  • December 2013