Exploring the relationship between routing policies and market demand heterogeneity: A simulation analysis with different hardware and software configurations in traditional warehouses

This study presents a simulative tool designed to evaluate quantitatively the performance of the order picking process in a traditional warehouse with double-sided racks; performance is measured as the distance covered by the picker when carrying out a single task. Using the simulation tool, different warehouse configurations can be generated by changing both hardware (shape factor and input-output position of the picker) and software (routing policy, distribution of the demand of products and number of items in the picking list) input parameters. Then, the outcomes (distance travelled) obtained with the tool are analysed, with a particular focus on the relationship between the routing policy and the level of heterogeneity in the market demand for the products available in the warehouse, which implies changes in the product allocation. The study concludes with important results about the impact of the warehouse geometry itself on the performance of the routing policy. Finally, suggestions are offered for future studies in the field.