Storage Space Allocation
Fast Movers Concentration
- Fast movers concentration is an allocation strategy that can determine in which shelf and storage zone units are stored and staged—utilizing allocation strategies the aim is to achieve optimal use of space, short distances and a low supply effort.
- Used mostly where products are in high demand – locate close to the picking zone, an increase of handling capacity is possible.
- The less time it takes the articles to reach the picking zone, the more finely tuned the workload can be managed.
- Fast movers concentration is a strategy to optimise the routes of the warehouse equipment and the routes of the pickers.
- The travel distances of the warehouse equipment are to be reduced by storing the units of fast-moving items in a place that can be accessed quickly.
Fast movers concentration with static goods staging
- Static staging refers to man-to-goods picking, which means that an order picker takes the required goods directly from the storage location. The units of fast-moving articles are therefore accessed close to the base of the staging area.
Fast movers concentration for dynamic goods supply
- Dynamic staging describes goods-to-man picking. The picker carries out the respective picking order within a warehouse zone. The units transfer to the order picker via transportation devices. The access units of fast-moving articles have their place near the storage and retrieval locations of the staging area.
Fixed Vs Free Storage Space Allocation
- With fixed storage space allocation, the maximum expected warehouse stock for an article is determined and the storage spaces required for this are firmly reserved.
- With free storage space allocation, storage spaces for a loading unit are used as soon as they become available. For the use of free storage spaces, it is irrelevant which article was previously stored in the particular location.
- By reserving locations for certain articles, fixed storage space allocation must leave spaces free. Consequently, other articles cannot be stored there.
- The advantage of fixed storage areas is that the storage location can be determined quickly and without the need for warehouse management systems.
Equal Distribution Strategy
- In this strategy, identical articles are distributed to different aisles, so that each aisle can be used to access the respective goods.
- In which storage space and in which storage zone units are located depends on the respective target of the allocation strategy.
- The goal of the equal distribution strategy is to ensure maximum access reliability.
Storage Space Adaptation
- If the warehouse is filled according to the storage space adaptation strategy, this means that the storage locations are filled with units according to their capacities.
- Small storage spaces are therefore occupied with small storage units and low stock of articles and large storage spaces with large storage units and a high stock of articles.
Single-Article Vs Mixed-Article Space Allocation
- Homogenous article space allocation is characterized by the fact that storage areas with several bins can only be occupied with loading units of the ‘same’ articles.
Minimisation of partial storage spaces
- Depending on whether the goal is transportation optimisation or area minimisation, the system determines in which storage space and zone units are located
- This allocation strategy is intended to improve the fill level in multiple-article storage spaces in a warehouse and to prevent more than one storage bin per article from being opened.