A flexible approach to designing a single crane, multi-aisle automated storage/retrieval system considering storage policies, transport equipment and demand skew

ABSTRACT

Multi-aisle automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS) can be applied to situations where the throughput requirement is low relative to storage requirement for gaining cost advantage. This study considers such a system under class-based and full-turnover-based storage policies, which are generally neglected in the multi-aisle AS/RS context. The study develops expressions to determine the optimal number and dimensions of storage racks for different storage policies, demand skewness, and transport and storage equipment characteristics. Propositions are made related to the optimal dimensions, optimal travel time and equipment characteristics. Further, this study develops a comprehensive and flexible three-stage design methodology that systematically generates design alternatives, and filters and evaluates them using user defined criteria. Finally, this proposed design methodology is illustrated with an example.

KEYWORDS:

• Warehouse design
• automated warehousing
• optimisation
• multi-aisle AS/RS
• storage policies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.