R. Elbert

Maverick picking: the impact of modifications in work schedules on manual order picking processes

Order picking, the process of retrieving items from their storage locations to fulfil customer orders, ranks among the most labour- and time-intensive processes in warehousing. Prior research in this area had a strong focus on the development of operating policies that increase the efficiency of manual order picking, for example by calculating optimal routes for the order pickers or by assigning products to storage locations. One aspect that poses a major challenge to many warehouse managers in practice has, curiously enough, remained largely unexplored by academic research: modifications in workflows (i.e. workplace deviance in a positive or negative sense) in order picking, which we define as ‘maverick picking’. The purpose of this paper is to characterise maverick picking and to study its causes, its forms of appearance and its potential impact on order picking performance. To gain insights into maverick picking, we first survey the literature to illustrate the state-of-knowledge of maverick picking. Subsequently, we report the results of a multi-case study on maverick picking and deduct a related content framework. The results of our case study support the proposition that maverick picking is highly relevant in practice and that it is a major determinant of order picking performance.

The effects of human behavior on the efficiency of routing policies in order picking

An exploratory case study is used to highlight how order pickers perceive order picking routes.A simulation model is developed to quantify the effects of route deviations on routing policies.Optimal routing policy keeps its performance advantage even when routing deviations occur. Retrieving items from storage locations in warehouses, commonly referred to as order picking, is often performed by human workers. The high amount of human work involved in order picking turns this activity into a time- and cost-intensive process step in warehouse operations. Due to the cost impact of manual order picking, researchers have developed various planning methods that support practitioners in realizing an efficient order picking process. Among these planning approaches, methods that support the routing of order pickers through the warehouse have been a very popular research topic in recent years, with the focus being both on the development of optimal and heuristic routing policies. Surprisingly, problems that may arise when implementing picker routes for human workers in practice have not been investigated so far. There is, however, empirical evidence that order pickers tend to deviate from optimal routes, putting the efficiency of these routing approaches at stake.This paper presents a detailed evaluation of the relative efficiency of order picker routing policies when order pickers deviate from pre-specified routes. First, different behavioral factors that may result in deviations from pre-specified routes are identified in a state-of-the-art literature review and using the results of an exploratory case study. Subsequently, an agent-based simulation model is developed to quantify the effects of deviations from pre-specified routes. The simulation model is then used to compare different routing policies in an extensive simulation experiment. The results of this paper indicate that even in case order pickers deviate from given routes, implementing the optimal routing policy should be the preferred option in most real-world scenarios.

Collaborative Cash Flow Management

Nachdem die Integration der Material- und Informationsstrome in der Forschung seit langem diskutiert und auch in der unternehmerischen Praxis umgesetzt wird, tritt nun in Forschung und Praxis die Integration sowie das Management finanzieller Mittel in den Vordergrund der Supply Chain Management-Diskussion. Dabei erfahren im Zuge der Weiterentwicklung des Supply Chain Managements — die ganzheitliche Flussbetrachtung von Gutern/Waren, Informationen, Finanzmitteln und Rechten uber alle Wertschopfungsstufen — die Institutionen aus der Finanzdienstleistungsbranche, die Unternehmensfunktionen Investition, Finanzierung und Rechnungswesen sowie die finanzwirtschaftlichen Strom- und Bestandsgrosen eine neue Bedeutung.

Adapting Dynamic Logistics Processes and Networks: Advantages Through Regional Logistics Clusters

In order to show how logistics clusters can bring time advantages in adapting dynamic logistics processes and networks to the involved companies, in this paper the approaches of the Porter diamond, in which the national competitive advantages are being deduced and transferred to the regional level, are combined with the bases of the logistics system by Pfohl in one model. It is shown, how the force of assimilation and the increased adaptability of the companies in the cluster lead to a cluster arbitrage over time. The developed model is practically analyzed by the example of the logistics cluster in Bremen.

Logistics Clusters - How Regional Value Chains Speed Up Global Supply Chains

Concerning the topic of “How Regional Value Chains Speed Up Global Supply Chains”, the research question of this paper will be the acceleration potential of logistics clusters in the entire supply chain. Acceleration potential can occur e.g. as lead time reductions or as agile and quick responses. Logistics clusters can make it easier for companies to gain an increase in innovation ability and productivity, and so enable a higher reactivity. The increase is being caused by a time advantage, which on the other hand results from a better product-market position, a connection of resources, core competencies and knowledge, and declining transactions cots within the cluster. Therefore Porters diamond model, which he used to transfer his own model of national advantages to the field of regional clusters, will be extended by an additional factor, that is to say time.

Risk Management for Air Freight Forwarders: Analysis of Flexible Price Agreements and Financial Hedging

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the possible risk management tools for air freight forwarders as well as to develop a risk management strategy in their relationship with shippers. A single case study is used to quantify the benefits from flexible pricing in long-term contracts and financial hedging from the air freight forwarder’s point of view. The general findings of the article are that air freight forwarders can profit from applying an index price clause in long-term contracts and by using financial hedging to protect themselves against rising fuel costs.

Data Flow Across the Maritime Value Chain

This paper highlights the importance of cross-actor integration on the informational level. It reveals that transparency of data flow along the value chain is a relevant factor for terminal operation. A case study outlined in this paper presents potential improvements through an informational integration of actors within the maritime transport network.

An investigation of the effects of storage assignment and picker routing on the occurrence of picker blocking in manual picker-to-parts warehouses

Order picking is one of the most costly logistics processes in warehouses. As a result, the optimization of order picking processes has received an increased attention in recent years. One potential source for improving order picking is the reduction of picker blocking. The purpose of this paper is to investigate picker blocking under different storage assignment and order picker-route combinations and evaluate its effects on the performance of manual order picking processes.,This study develops an agent-based simulation model (ABS) for order picking in a rectangular warehouse. By employing an ABS, we are able to study the behaviour of individual order pickers and their interactions with the environment.,The simulation model determines shortest mean throughput times when the same routing policy is assigned to all order pickers. In addition, it evaluates the efficiency of alternative routing policies–storage assignment combinations.,The paper implies that ABS is well-suited for further investigations in the field of picker blocking, for example, with respect to the individual behaviour of agents.,Based on the results of this paper, warehouse managers can choose an appropriate routing policy that best matches their storage assignment policy and the number of order pickers employed.,This paper is the first to comprehensively study the effects of different combinations of order picker routing and storage assignment policies on the occurrence of picker blocking.

Finanzmanagement - Cash Flow zur Gestaltung, Steuerung und Entwicklung von Supply Chains im Handel

Durch die Globalisierung der Markte und die Konzentration von Unternehmen auf ihre Kernkompetenzen entstehen in zunehmendem Mase Unternehmensnetzwerke — worunter auch Supply Chains zu fassen sind —, die auf Basis von Kooperationen und Partnerschaften zur raumlich und zeitlich verteilten Wertschopfung gebildet werden.’ Die Vorteilsposition von Unternehmensnetzwerken im Allgemeinen und Supply Chains im Besonderen liegt in deren Flexibilisierungs- und Effizienzsteigerungspotentialen bei der unternehmensubergreifenden Optimierung der Wertschopfungsprozesse.2 Dabei ist die Funktionsfahigkeit von Supply Chains masgeblich vom Transfer von Material, Waren, Geld und Informationen zwischen den mindestens zwei rechtlich selbststandigen, aber interdependenten Akteuren abhangig.’ Dieser Transferaspekt wird nachfolgend auch als „logistische Beziehung“ bezeichnet. Zur Bildung und Nutzung der angestrebten Flexibilisierungs- und Effizienzsteigerungspotentiale bei einer raumlich und zeitlich verteilten Ausfuhrung der Wertschopfungsaktivitaten, kommt der Gestaltung, Steuerung und Entwicklung der logistischen Beziehungen zwischen den Akteuren der Supply Chain eine hohe Bedeutung zu.

Revenue Sharing Between Production, Logistics and Traffic: An Experimental Analysis of the Actors in Distribution Logistics

The ongoing trend to outsource logistics services increases the importance of logistic service provider (LSP) as the intermediary between production and traffic. Distribution logistics with the supply chain has a key role in fulfilling customers’ demand in time and good quality. To perform their services efficiently and effectively, the LSPs need relationship specific information. Since information is valuable, the customer avoids sharing those with the LSP. To incentive information sharing revenue-sharing contracts can be an instrument to align the interests of the partners. The chapter has the aim to research the influence of fixed revenue-sharing schemes on the behaviour of the contract partners regarding the willingness to share information. The applied method is controlled laboratory experiments with students. The results of the experiment show a significant change in the participant’s behaviour and indicate a higher willingness to share information under revenue-sharing contracts.