A New Mathematical Programming Formulation for the Single-Picker Routing Problem in a Single-Block Layout

Authors

  • Sebastian Henn
  • André Scholz
  • Meike Stuhlmann
  • Gerhard Wäscher

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24352/UB.OVGU-2018-534

Keywords:

Order Picking, Picker Routing, Traveling Salesman Problem

Abstract

The Single-Picker Routing Problem deals with the determination of sequences according to which items have to be picked in a distribution warehouse and the identification of the corresponding paths which have to be travelled by human operators (order pickers). The Single-Picker Routing Problem represents a special case of the classic Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) and, therefore, can also be modeled as a TSP. However, the picking area of a warehouse typically possesses a block layout, i.e. the items are located in parallel picking aisles, and the order pickers can only change over to another picking aisle at certain positions by means of so-called cross aisles. In this paper, for the first time a mathematical programming formulation is proposed which takes into account this specific property. Based on extensive numerical experiments, it is shown that the proposed formulation is superior to standard TSP formulations.

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Published

2018-09-04

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Section

Artikel