How to instruct the transporter to follow an order pick list?

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Espen Eddie Jacobsen asked May 19, '16 Sam Stubbs commented Oct 19, '16

How to instruct the transporter to follow an order pick list?

Hi!

We are trying to simulate an order picking process in a warehouse. Although we have learned much from the user manual, we have still not figured out how we can instruct the transporter to only visit selected stations based on an order pick list. We want to relocate where the products are stored, with the aim of reducing the distance traveled.

So our question is if it is possible to instruct the transporter to follow an order pick list (e.g. through a global table?), picking X items at Y different stations?

Thank you in advance.

global table transporter order picking reduce distance

5 |100000

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-19T16:31:55Z

Ben Wilson answered May 19, '16 Sam Stubbs commented Oct 19, '16

Picking was recently made much more straight forward with the release of Process Flow with FlexSim version 7.7. It allows you to map out your picking process in what amounts to a flowchart.

The attached model shows an example of how a picking operation could be done using Process Flow to control the picking behavior. There are notes included in the Process Flow view to help explain what is going on. In essence, this model generates random picks and assigns them to random orders, each having 5 picks. Step through the model execution to see how the tokens move through the process flow. Click each of the activities for a deeper view of what is going on at each step. You can click on a token and view its properties (like its label values) in the quick properties panel, to see how the tokens change as they move through the activities.

While this probably isn't a perfect example of what you want, it does show the concept.

If there are any questions regarding this sample model, write back with a comment below.

Hopefully others will join in the conversation with different examples as well. This is the kind of question where, in general, there isn't single correct answer.

order-picking-3d.fsm (37.6 KiB)

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Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

Maxim Dulebenets commented · May 19, 2016 at 08:46 PM

Dear Ben,

I have a quick question related to the transporters.

Why does FlexSim use first available, round robin, shortest queue, and the other dispatching strategies for transporters? Is it because those strategies are commonly used in manufacturing and distribution industries? Or is there another reason for that?

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Ben Wilson ♦♦ Maxim Dulebenets commented · May 19, 2016 at 10:14 PM

Your question isn't related specifically to order picking or my answer above, so I've moved it to its own question.

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Espen Eddie Jacobsen commented · Jun 11, 2016 at 10:34 AM

The model is working perfectly for simulating the order picking process. We have now used the model to test suggested improvements of the storing policy, in order to reduce the distance travelled and time used. The next task is to look into improvements for routing the order pickers, i.e. to reduce distance and time by changing the sequence of the stations visited when picking an order.

In the mentioned model, which our model is built on, the routing is based on a global table called "orders", where the order picker visits stations in accordance with the sequence of the "locationIDs". This is great when we simulate the current situation, because we are able to simulate previous order picks in the exact sequence as they were actually picked. Now however, we want to find improvements by changing the current routing policy.

How the model works is that the task executor is chronologically visiting each locationID for one "tripID" (order), before moving on to doing the same for the next tripID. The question is if FlexSim is able to find the optimized route (with respect to minimizing distance), for each order, instead of chronologically following the locationIDs?

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Arun Kr Espen Eddie Jacobsen commented · Jun 11, 2016 at 11:11 AM

Dear Espen,

The distancetotravel() command is used find the distance a task executor needs to travel to reach a certain destination. You can find the shortest distance next location from the set of locations available for the task executor. (All possible location names can be stored in global table).

Regards,

Arun KR

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Adrian Haws Espen Eddie Jacobsen commented · Jun 13, 2016 at 04:13 PM

This question would be useful as it's own topic, so I've reposted it alone here.

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Kevin Teodoro commented · Oct 19, 2016 at 03:43 AM

I am trying to understand this model, but i dont know flow process well, could you help me @Ben Wilson ? I didnt undestand where and how you generate the order list.

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Sam Stubbs ♦ Kevin Teodoro commented · Oct 19, 2016 at 08:10 PM

Have you read through the documentation about Process Flow in the manual? It's a good place to start in explaining what process flow is and how it's implemented into a model's logic. There are also several example models here on the Answers forum that can help you see how Process Flow is used.

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Answer 2 · 2016-05-27T10:38:09Z

Espen Eddie Jacobsen answered May 27, '16 Adrian Haws commented Jun 21, '16

Thank you for your reply @Ben Wilson.

We found a model which seemingly works perfect for our task. Others who want to simulate an order picking process may want to look into it, in the following thread from the old community forum:

https://healthcare.flexsim.com/community/forum/showthread.php?t=664

Kind regards

warehouse-picking-demo-v50.fsm (73.9 KiB)

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Attachments: Up to 12 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 23.8 MiB each and 47.7 MiB total.

Ben Wilson ♦♦ commented · May 27, 2016 at 01:15 PM

Thanks @Espen Eddie Jacobsen for the update and the tip!

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Kristoffer Sperre commented · Jun 21, 2016 at 03:38 PM

Hi,

I’m building a model were I try to replicate parts of the model above (warehouse-picking-demo). Unfortunately, I’m struggling with implementing pick time per item. When I increase the amount to be picked at a given location the transporter does not use more time at the station. I find this a bit strange as it should take more time to pick 5 items compared to 1.

Does anyone know where in the model the loading time per flow item is decided?

Thanks in advance :)

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Adrian Haws Kristoffer Sperre commented · Jun 21, 2016 at 04:21 PM

@Kristoffer Sperre this question is separate from the original one, so I've reposted it here. For more information please refer to our article on the Best Practices for using this Answers Site.

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