Optimizing the provision of cargo at an order-picking workstation of an intralogistics system
AssigneeTGW Logistics Group GmbH
InventorsGerald KETTLGRUBER, Thomas POTRUSIL
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Computer-implemented method for optimizing the provision of unit loads at a picking workstation of an intralogistics system. Times for transporting unit loads from a buffer device to the picking workstation using a transport system are calculated. An expected picking performance of a picker at the picking workstation is also predicted. An optimized future provision sequence of unit loads upstream of the picking workstation and a unit load placement of the buffer positions are calculated on the basis of aforesaid information, with the result that neither jamming situations nor idling situations arise and an overall performance of the intralogistics system is consequently improved.
Claims18
A computer-implemented method for optimizing a provisioning of unit loads at a picking workstation of an intralogistics system, the intralogistics system having a buffer device for temporarily storing unit loads, a conveying system for conveying unit loads between the buffer device and the picking workstation and a unit load manipulation unit configured to receive unit loads from the buffer device and deliver unit loads to the conveying system,
- wherein at the picking workstation picking orders consisting of individual picking work steps are processed by a picker, and
- wherein the method comprises the steps:
- determining, with a simulation unit, transport times of unit loads from buffer positions of the buffer device to the picking workstation of the intralogistics system,
- determining, with the simulation unit, a picking performance to be expected on the basis of historic picking performance data, wherein the picking performance indicates a processing of the picking orders by the picker at the picking workstation per unit of time,
- calculating, by the simulation unit, a future provisioning sequence of unit loads with the respective points in time of provisioning the unit loads at the picking workstation for a picking work step on the basis of the previously determined picking performance to be expected, wherein the calculating is performed such that one of the unit loads is assigned a point in time of provisioning at the picking workstation such that an amount of a time difference between a point in time of a conclusion of the preceding picking work step and the point in time of provisioning the one of the unit loads is minimized,
- calculating, by the simulation unit, a unit load placement of the buffer positions of the buffer device with the associated points in time of availability, on the basis of the determined transport times of the unit loads and the calculated provisioning sequence with the points in time of provisioning at the picking workstation.
An intralogistics system, comprising:
- a storage area for unit loads,
- a plurality of transport vehicles operated in an automated manner,
- a buffer device with a plurality of buffer positions for receiving unit loads previously retrieved from the storage area,
- a unit load manipulation unit,
- a conveying system,
- one or multiple picking workstations, wherein at each picking workstation picking orders consisting of individual picking work steps are processed by a respective picker, and
- a simulation unit configured
- to determine transport times of unit loads from a buffer position of the buffer device to one of the picking workstations of the intralogistics system,
- to determine a picking performance to be expected on the basis of historic picking performance data, wherein the picking performance indicates a processing of the picking orders by the picker at the picking workstation per unit of time,
- to calculate a future provisioning sequence of unit loads with the respective points in time of provisioning the unit loads at the picking workstation for a picking work step on the basis of the previously determined expected picking performance, wherein the calculating is performed such that one of the unit loads is assigned a point in time of provisioning at the picking workstation such that an amount of a time difference between a point in time of a conclusion of the preceding picking work step and the point in time of provisioning the one of the unit loads is minimized, and
- to calculate a unit load placement of the buffer positions of the buffer device with the associated points in time of availability, on the basis of the determined transport times of the unit loads and the calculated provisioning sequence with the points in time of provisioning at the picking workstation,
- wherein the transport vehicles are configured to transport unit loads between the storage and the buffer positions,
- wherein the unit load manipulation unit is configured to receive unit loads from buffer positions of the buffer device and to deliver unit loads to the conveying system, and
- wherein the conveying system is configured to transport unit loads between the unit load manipulation unit and the picking workstation.
A computer-implemented method for optimizing a provisioning of unit loads at a picking workstation of an intralogistics system, the intralogistics system having a buffer device for temporarily storing unit loads, a conveying system for conveying unit loads between the buffer device and the picking workstation and a unit load manipulation unit configured to receive unit loads from the buffer device and deliver unit loads to the conveying system,
- wherein at a picking workstation picking orders are processed by a picker, and
- wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- determining, with a simulation unit, transport times of unit loads from buffer positions of the buffer device to the picking workstation of the intralogistics system,
- determining, with the simulation unit, a picking performance to be expected on the basis of historic picking performance data,
- calculating, by the simulation unit, a future provisioning sequence of unit loads with the respective points in time of provisioning the unit loads at the picking workstation for a picking work step on the basis of the previously determined picking performance to be expected, and
- calculating, by the simulation unit, a unit load placement of the buffer positions of the buffer device with the associated points in time of availability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.