Application of storage consolidation intervals to approximate random storage transaction times with closest open location load dispatching

Abstract

A new modelling approach is proposed for estimating storage/retrieval transaction times in warehouse systems using random storage and closest open location load dispatching. The method is based on estimating intervals between consolidations of the active storage envelope defined by the most remote occupied storage position in a warehouse. This enables the calculation of the expected number of interspersed storage vacancies within the storage envelope which can then be applied in transaction time calculations. Computational results for test problems suggest that the method performs well relative to alternative procedures reported in the literature.

Keywords:

• storage/retrieval
• transaction time
• random storage
• closest open location
• automated storage and retrieval systems