Shipping Order Allocation by Total Worktime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shipping order allocation methods do not effectively consider time limits, leading to potential missed deadlines in picking work, despite optimizing travel distance.
Innovation Solution
A shipping order allocation apparatus that allocates orders to groups based on time limits, calculating the total worktime required and evaluating the allocation to ensure completion before the earliest shipping time limit, using a processor and storage device to manage order information, location data, and travel distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shipping orders are allocated to shipping order groups focusing on travel distance optimization, then picking efficiency is improved, but shipping time limits are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optimization parameter from travel distance to total worktime. The processor calculates the total worktime for picking each shipping order group by summing travel time and picking time, and uses this total worktime as the basis for allocation decisions. This parameter change enables the system to meet shipping time limits while maintaining picking efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the processor continuously calculates and compares the total worktime against shipping time limits. The system uses this feedback to adjust and optimize the allocation of shipping orders to groups, ensuring that time limit constraints are satisfied while maintaining efficient picking operations.
2Loss of time
If the total worktime for picking is reduced, then shipping efficiency is improved, but shipping schedule adherence may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses total worktime as the key parameter for allocation optimization. The processor calculates total worktime for each shipping order group and uses this information to make allocation decisions that minimize overall worktime while ensuring shipping schedule adherence. This parameter-based approach balances efficiency and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A shipping order allocation apparatus creates a group composed of shipping orders; acquires a time to start picking for the group; acquires blocks where articles included in the group are stored and calculates a total worktime for the picking of the group; determines whether the picking work for the group is completed by the earliest shipping time limit among shipping time limits of the shipping orders in the group, the time to start the picking, and the total worktime for the picking; calculates an evaluation value of the group for which the picking work is determined to be completed by the earliest shipping time limit, based on the blocks storing the articles included in the group; and determines whether to include the group in a result of allocation to groups, based on the evaluation value.