Continuous-Time Models for Estimating Picker Blocking in Order-Picking-Systems

摘要

A frequent problem in manual order-picking-systems is congestion, we developed CTMC models to represent pickerblocking in cases including pickers with different exponentially distributed picking times and k pickers, for narrow andwide aisle systems. The focus was not to produce an all-inclusive model, but to generate models that give designersinsight of the system, allowing them to reduce the number of variables considered. We ran instances with variousparameters and validated the models against simulation. We found stochastic speeds generate more blockage thatdeterministic ones, differences in pickers cause more congestion, systems with k pickers are more complex and havegreater blockage.