Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis

Lin Xie; Sonja Otten

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1

Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis

Lin Xie^*
, Sonja Otten

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

48 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In the era of digital commerce, the surge in online shopping and the expectation for rapid delivery have placed unprecedented demands on warehouse operations. The traditional method of order fulfilment, where human order pickers traverse large storage areas to pick items, has become a bottleneck, consuming valuable time and resources. Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems (RMFS) offer a solution by using robots to transport storage racks directly to human-operated picking stations, eliminating the need for pickers to travel. This paper introduces ‘combi-stations’-a novel type of station that enables both item picking and replenishment, as opposed to traditional separate stations. We analyse the efficiency of combi-stations using queueing theory and demonstrate their potential to streamline warehouse operations. Our results suggest that combi-stations can reduce the number of robots required for stability and significantly reduce order turnover time, indicating a promising direction for future warehouse automation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Computational Logistics
Subtitle of host publication	15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings
Editors	Alexander Garrido, Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda, Stefan Voß
Place of Publication	Cham, Switzerland
Publisher	Springer
Pages	3-17
Number of pages	15
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-71993-6
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-71992-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1
Publication status	Published - 8 Sept 2024
Event	15th International Conferences on Computational Logistics, ICCL 2024 - Monterrey, Mexico Duration: 8 Sept 2024 → 10 Sept 2024 Conference number: 15

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Publisher	Springer
Volume	15168
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	15th International Conferences on Computational Logistics, ICCL 2024
Abbreviated title	ICCL 2024
Country/Territory	Mexico
City	Monterrey
Period	8/09/24 → 10/09/24

Keywords

2025 OA procedure
Queueing theory
Robotic mobile fulfilment systems
Warehouse layout
Combi-Station

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1

ArticleFinal published version, 1.35 MBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

Xie, L., & Otten, S. (2024). Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis. In A. Garrido, C. D. Paternina-Arboleda, & S. Voß (Eds.), Computational Logistics: 15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings (pp. 3-17). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 15168). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1

Xie, Lin ; Otten, Sonja. / Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems : A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis. Computational Logistics: 15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings. editor / Alexander Garrido ; Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda ; Stefan Voß. Cham, Switzerland : Springer, 2024. pp. 3-17 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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title = "Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis",

abstract = "In the era of digital commerce, the surge in online shopping and the expectation for rapid delivery have placed unprecedented demands on warehouse operations. The traditional method of order fulfilment, where human order pickers traverse large storage areas to pick items, has become a bottleneck, consuming valuable time and resources. Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems (RMFS) offer a solution by using robots to transport storage racks directly to human-operated picking stations, eliminating the need for pickers to travel. This paper introduces {\textquoteleft}combi-stations{\textquoteright}-a novel type of station that enables both item picking and replenishment, as opposed to traditional separate stations. We analyse the efficiency of combi-stations using queueing theory and demonstrate their potential to streamline warehouse operations. Our results suggest that combi-stations can reduce the number of robots required for stability and significantly reduce order turnover time, indicating a promising direction for future warehouse automation.",

keywords = "2025 OA procedure, Queueing theory, Robotic mobile fulfilment systems, Warehouse layout, Combi-Station",

author = "Lin Xie and Sonja Otten",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.; 15th International Conferences on Computational Logistics, ICCL 2024, ICCL 2024 ; Conference date: 08-09-2024 Through 10-09-2024",

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Xie, L & Otten, S 2024, Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis. in A Garrido, CD Paternina-Arboleda & S Voß (eds), Computational Logistics: 15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 15168, Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 3-17, 15th International Conferences on Computational Logistics, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, 8/09/24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1

Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis. / Xie, Lin; Otten, Sonja.
Computational Logistics: 15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings. ed. / Alexander Garrido; Carlos D. Paternina-Arboleda; Stefan Voß. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2024. p. 3-17 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 15168).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

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AB - In the era of digital commerce, the surge in online shopping and the expectation for rapid delivery have placed unprecedented demands on warehouse operations. The traditional method of order fulfilment, where human order pickers traverse large storage areas to pick items, has become a bottleneck, consuming valuable time and resources. Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems (RMFS) offer a solution by using robots to transport storage racks directly to human-operated picking stations, eliminating the need for pickers to travel. This paper introduces ‘combi-stations’-a novel type of station that enables both item picking and replenishment, as opposed to traditional separate stations. We analyse the efficiency of combi-stations using queueing theory and demonstrate their potential to streamline warehouse operations. Our results suggest that combi-stations can reduce the number of robots required for stability and significantly reduce order turnover time, indicating a promising direction for future warehouse automation.

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Xie L, Otten S. Introducing Combi-Stations in Robotic Mobile Fulfilment Systems: A Queueing-Theory-Based Efficiency Analysis. In Garrido A, Paternina-Arboleda CD, Voß S, editors, Computational Logistics: 15th International Conference, ICCL 2024, Monterrey, Mexico, September 8-10, 2024. Proceedings. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. 2024. p. 3-17. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-71993-6_1