The effect of warehouse layout on order-picking efficiency

Graduation date: 1987This paper addresses the order-picking problem in a warehouse\ud and establishes some criteria for the planning, design, and improvement\ud of a warehouse layout to increase the order-picking efficiency.\ud A simulation model has been developed to study the effect of\ud warehouse layout on the order-picking throughput. Three major design\ud elements of the warehouse layout are considered: crossing aisles,\ud picking aisles orientation, and dock location. The system throughput\ud is measured in terms of the traveling and waiting time of the picking\ud vehicles. The results indicate that the order-picking efficiency can\ud be substantially improved by orienting the picking aisles\ud perpendicular to the dock, placing or locating the crossing aisles\ud parallel to the dock and by locating the dock on the longitudinal\ud side of the warehouse