Efficiency of algorithm-driven order picking activity based on the S-shape heuristic: An exploratory investigation

Abstract

The order picking (OP) process, which consists of searching and separating items that make up an order in a distribution center (DC), is notable for being the one that most impacts the costs of operating a warehouse. That's why DCs need strategies to optimize order fulfillment in order to achieve world-class competitive standards. This challenge is especially complex in the case of small DCs, which do not have the resources to automate the entire operation and need to achieve competitiveness through an association between machines and human beings. To deal with this problem, this research investigated the impact of the aid of the algorithm that implements the S-Shape heuristic with the indication of the addresses of the items on the OP activity performed by human beings. This activity consisted of searching for items to fulfill an order, within a medication CD. Two experienced workers participated, whose task was to fetch medication lists in the shortest possible time. At each moment, the researcher passed a list to each participant, sometimes containing only the drugs for the participant to look for in the order he/she deemed most convenient, sometimes containing a determination given by the algorithm that implements the S-Shape heuristic with addressing on the order in the which drugs needed to be obtained. Data collection was organized in such a way as to meet the requirements of the multiple baseline design with comparison between participants. It was verified in this study that there is an increase in the efficiency of the order picking activity when performed with a pre-established route by the algorithm and item addressing compared to the execution of the activity by route determined according to specific criteria of the separator.