Product flows and decision models in Internet fulfillment warehouses

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-27-2018

Abstract

Internet Fulfillment Warehouses (IFWs) present a new operational model in the design and control of warehouses. IFWs operate with new paradigms, specifically, the use of an explosive storage policy combined with commingled storage are key features in achieving fast fulfillment. We document and present the process, data, and decision flows of IFW operations. The flows were synthesised from an observational study at the largest IFW operator. Detailed flows are presented for: (i) receiving and stocking (ii) order picking and consolidation and (iii) truck assignment and loading. The key contribution of this paper is introducing new warehousing models that are unique to fulfillment facilities which stock thousands of different products and process a very large number of small quantity customer orders. Multiple flow control and decision optimisation problems can be formulated from the operational models. Five specific problems are introduced, each focuses on the online retailing objective of fast fulfillment.

Identifier

85046689094 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Production Planning and Control

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2018.1469800

e-ISSN

13665871

ISSN

09537287

First Page

791

Last Page

801

Issue

10

Volume

29

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