Inventory Pier Mobile Drive Unit Order Fulfillment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Modern inventory systems face inefficiencies in resource utilization, leading to lower throughput, delayed tasks, and unacceptable response times due to the increasing complexity and diversity of inventories and orders, necessitating a more efficient use of time, space, equipment, and manpower.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that utilizes mobile drive units to transport inventory holders to an inventory pier, where high-velocity and high-volume items are stored in configurable positions, allowing for efficient retrieval and assembly of orders, with a management module coordinating tasks to optimize resource use and order fulfillment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual retrieval methods are used to fulfill orders, then system flexibility is maintained, but productivity and order fulfillment speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder fulfillment speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile drive unit autonomously navigates to inventory holders, retrieves them, and transports them to the inventory pier without continuous manual intervention. The system self-manages the transportation and positioning tasks, reducing the need for manual retrieval operations while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile drive unit serves multiple functions: it transports inventory holders to the inventory pier, positions them at configurable locations, and can adapt to different inventory items and order requirements. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If inventory items are stored in fixed positions, then retrieval time is reduced, but adaptability to changing demand decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretrieval timeVSAvoiddemand responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inventory pier features configurable locations that can be dynamically adjusted based on demand. The mobile drive unit can transport inventory holders to different positions at the inventory pier, allowing the system to adapt storage positions to changing order patterns while maintaining efficient retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-positions high-velocity and high-volume items at the inventory pier in advance of order requests. By anticipating demand patterns and pre-configuring inventory positions, the system reduces retrieval time while maintaining the ability to adapt to changing demands through subsequent repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If more manual labor is deployed for order fulfillment, then flexibility in handling diverse inventories is improved, but productivity and response time deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorders per hourVSAvoidmanual retrieval effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile drive unit replaces manual mechanical retrieval operations with automated navigation and transportation systems. This substitution significantly increases the number of orders that can be fulfilled per hour while reducing the physical effort and time required for manual retrieval operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile drive unit acts as an intermediary between the storage areas and the inventory pier. It handles the transportation and positioning tasks that would otherwise require manual labor, thereby increasing productivity while reducing the ease of operation concerns associated with manual retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If system resources are allocated to handle increasing inventory complexity, then order fulfillment capability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinventory handling capabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of inventory position configuration dynamically. By adjusting which inventory items are positioned at the inventory pier based on velocity and volume metrics, the system maintains high adaptability to different inventory complexities while optimizing resource utilization and avoiding waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9792577B2Filling an order at an inventory pier

Publication Date: 2017.10.17 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A system includes a inventory pier and a mobile drive unit. The inventory pier includes a first side and a second side. The first side includes defined areas at which inventory holders are designated to be stationed. The inventory pier is operable to receive inventory items from at least one of the inventory holders at least one of the defined areas. The mobile drive unit is operable to transport an order holder along the second side of the inventory pier, wherein the order holder is operable to receive an inventory item from the inventory pier at a location along the second side of the inventory pier.