Buffer Vehicle Picking Flow for Multi-Order Warehousing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intelligent warehousing systems face inefficiencies in picking and allocating multiple categories of goods due to the limitations of manual picking modes that require sequential handling of single categories, leading to reduced efficiency and increased waiting times for carriers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a warehousing system with a buffer vehicle that separates the operations of unloading goods from carriers and allocating them to order containers, allowing simultaneous handling of multiple categories and orders, thereby improving efficiency through dynamic task assignment and reduced carrier residence time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual picking mode is used to handle multiple categories of goods, then operational simplicity is maintained, but picking efficiency decreases and carrier waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the picking process into distinct phases: goods are first unloaded from carriers and placed on buffer vehicles at the workstation, then allocated to order containers at the allocation station. This segmentation allows simultaneous handling of multiple categories of goods without requiring complex manual coordination, thereby improving picking efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through clear process division.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer vehicle acts as an intermediary between the carrier and the allocation station. It receives goods from the carrier at the workstation and transports them to the allocation station for distribution to order containers. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient handling of multiple categories of goods by decoupling the unloading and allocation operations, reducing carrier waiting time and improving overall picking efficiency.
2Loss of time
If sequential handling of single categories is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but carrier residence time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by unloading goods from carriers and placing them on buffer vehicles at the workstation before transporting them to the allocation station. This preliminary unloading and categorization allows the carrier to be released earlier, reducing its residence time in the system. The buffer vehicle handles the subsequent allocation to order containers, maintaining operational simplicity through pre-organized goods arrangement.
3Productivity
If manual allocation of goods to multiple orders is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as a temporary storage platform, a transportation vehicle, and an allocation intermediary. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves high allocation efficiency for multiple orders without requiring complex specialized equipment for each function, thus improving productivity while controlling system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for picking goods includes controlling a workstation to place the goods to be allocated corresponding to a plurality of orders to be processed on a buffer vehicle according to a category of goods to be allocated, controlling the buffer vehicle to move and pass through a plurality of target allocation points of an allocation station, and controlling, according to a category and quantity of target goods corresponding to an associated order, among the plurality of orders to be processed, associated with an order container at each target allocation point, an allocation object to allocate the target goods on the buffer vehicle into the order container, when the buffer vehicle passes through each target allocation point.