Dissertation in the field of automation technology, Marek Matusiak, M.Sc.

Master of Science (Technology) Marek Matusiak will defend his thesis at the Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering on Friday 6 June 2014 at 12.00. The title of his thesis is ‘Optimizing Warehouse Order Batching when Routing Is Precedence Constrained and Pickers Have Varying Skills’ (in Finnish ‘Keräilyvaraston tilausten yhdistämisen optimointi keräilijöiden ominaisuudet huomioiden ja reitityksen ollessa etusijarajoitettua’).

Savings in central warehouse operations using mathematical models

Research at Aalto University has examined mathematical models which improve the efficiency of product picking in central warehouses.  Optimisation of the process enables 16% savings in distance travelled by picking the same kinds of orders together. The optimisation includes the skill profiles of employees, derived from data collection, so the correct division of labour can be achieved to generate 9% savings in the total picking time for orders.

‘A mathematical model has been developed for each employee in the central warehouse which predicts the amount of time different jobs will take them. Using the models enables jobs to be assigned to the right people on the basis of their skills,’ explains Marek Matusiak, a doctoral candidate at Aalto University.

Central warehouses are a critical part of retail supply chains. Their efficiency and reliability are important for a company’s competitiveness and for customer satisfaction. In many central warehouses employees travel around the warehouse picking products for orders. The warehouses can be large and distances travelled between products picked can become long. In addition, employees are different with regard to their skills and experience, for example they may be stronger or taller or more experienced in driving a forklift truck.

Further information:

Doctoral candidate
Marek Matusiak
tel. + 358 (0)50 5707702
marek.matusiak@aalto.fi

Electronic dissertation thesis (otalib.aalto.fi)