Warehouse design and control: Framework and literature review

Warehouse organization

Process flow at the design stage

Reception process - Assignment of trucks to the docks

Storage process - particular location for each product

Order preparation process - Selection areas

Shipping process - orders and trucks are
assigned to the docks

Allocation of tasks to personnel and
equipment are addressed by operator

Warehouse resources

Storage unit

Storage system

Retrieval of items

Computer system

Material handling equipment for preparation

Warehouse processes

The receiving process

The storage process

Orderpicking

Shipping area

Warehouse design methods

Hierarchical level:

- Strategic
- Functional
- Operational.

Solutions chosen at a higher level provide the limitations for lower-level design problems.

Recognize the relationships between problems, to avoid suboptimal solutions

Warehouse performance criteria

Investment and operating costs

Mixing volume and flexibility

Performance

Storage capacity

Response time

Order fulfillment quality

Strategic level

Long-term decisions

Process design

Selection of types of storage systems

Tactical level

Medium-term decisions

Dimensions of resources

Storage

System sizes

Number of employees

Operational level

Short-term decisions

Assignment and control of personnel and equipment problems.