Movable-Carrier Warehouse Scheduling for Storage and Picking Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warehouse management systems struggle to balance storage efficiency and picking efficiency, as increasing one area typically reduces the efficiency of the other, leading to suboptimal performance in e-commerce environments with high order volumes.
Innovation Solution
A warehouse scheduling system and method that utilizes a control server, carrying devices, and container handling devices to manage movable carriers and fixed shelving units, optimizing the placement and movement of containers based on order tasks and popularity, correlation, and distance considerations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the storage area is increased in size, then the storage efficiency of commodities in the storage area is improved, but the size of the picking area is relatively reduced which affects the picking efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic warehouse layout where storage areas and picking areas are not fixed but can be flexibly adjusted based on real-time order requirements. The system dynamically reconfigures the warehouse space by moving shelves, carriers, and storage locations to optimize both storage capacity and picking efficiency for different order scenarios, resolving the contradiction between storage and picking area sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional two-dimensional warehouse layout to a three-dimensional flexible space utilization system. By using vertical storage, movable carriers, and multi-level shelving that can be dynamically repositioned, the system maximizes space utilization in all three dimensions, allowing both storage and picking areas to be optimized simultaneously through spatial reconfiguration rather than being constrained by fixed floor plan divisions.
2Productivity
If the size of the picking area is increased, then the picking efficiency of the picking area is improved, but the size of the storage area is correspondingly reduced which affects the storage efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic reconfiguration of warehouse zones based on real-time order analysis. When picking efficiency needs to be improved, the system dynamically expands the picking area by repositioning storage units and carriers, while automatically adjusting the storage area layout to maintain adequate storage capacity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing both areas to adapt to changing operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multi-functional warehouse elements that can serve both storage and picking functions depending on the operational context. Movable carriers and reconfigurable shelving units can be positioned in storage zones during low-demand periods and quickly relocated to picking zones during high-demand periods, allowing the same physical infrastructure to optimize both storage efficiency and picking efficiency at different times.
Data Source
AI summary
A warehouse scheduling system. The system includes a control server (110), a carrying device (150), an inventory area (120), and a container handling device (170). The inventory area (120) includes a plurality of movable carriers (1302). The control server (110) is configured to: determine a first target container on a first target movable carrier and a current storage position and a target position of the first target container, determine a first target carrying device used for carrying the first target movable carrier and a target container handling device, send a carrying instruction to the first target carrying device, and send a handling instruction to the target container handling device. The first target carrying device is configured to carry the first target movable carrier on which the first target container is placed to a destination in response to the carrying instruction. The target container handling device is located at the destination, and is configured to, in response to the handling instruction, take out the first target container from the current storage position and place the first target container at the target position. Further related is a warehouse scheduling method. The warehouse scheduling system and method can improve space utilization of an inventory area.