Research
- Design of Efficient and Robust Global Supply Chains for the Pulp and Paper Industry
- Optimization of Transfer Prices in Global Supply Chains
- Design of Global Logistics Systems
- Warehousing Systems Design
- Stochastic Logistics Systems Design
- CIMPEL (Computer Integrated Modeling and Planning Environment for Logistics)
- Linehaul-Backhaul (Vehicle Routing Problem with Backhauls)
- Aisles (Aisles and Transfer Station Layout)
- Unit Load Storage Systems Design
- Order Picking Bibliography
- Other Material Handling Research Center Logistics Program Research Projects
- Unified Data Framework for Facilities Design
- Tours: Interactive Traveling Salesman Instructional Tool
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CIMPEL
Abstract
The current business environment requires a constant revaluation of the optimal location and allocation of production, assembly, and distribution on a global scale. The driving force behind most Just-In-Time efforts is inventory reduction and this research investigates the tradeoffs between inventory and transportation.
The focus of this research project is the development of a Computer Integrated Modeling and Planning Environment for Logistics to perform efficient and timely design and evaluation of strategic industrial logistics systems. The key objectives are:
- The development of new, comprehensive models which incorporate all relevant costs and constraints of multiechelon and multicommodity logistics systems (such as inventory, location of production and production costs, assembly at distribution centers),
- the development of efficient heuristic, exact and simulation algorithms to solve the above models (different stages in the design process require algorithms with different response times and accuracy),
- and the integration of the different models, data bases, and algorithms in a graphical engineering workstation.
The overall objective is to design a powerful, intuitive, and flexible tool for all phases of the design process, from rapid prototyping, through detailed analysis and design, simulation and verification, to sensitivity analysis. The potential benefits of using CIMPEL to rapidly evaluate alternative strategic logistic system is very large. The tool facilitates research and at the same time assures easy technology transfer and assists in education.
The CIMPEL project is nearing completion. During this year, we will complete the project, execute several MHRC member company's case studies, and create the documentation. A workshop is planned and Member companies can get advance copies of the CIMPEL prototype software.
References
A working paper of this research was presented at the TRISTAN II Conference
in
Software and Test Data
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Aisles
Abstract
Aisles is a tool to design material handling networks that use unit-load carriers which are aisle-based. It requires as input the conceptual block layout of the facility and the material flows between departments. This research determines simultaneously the number and locations of pickup/deposit stations for each department and the location of the aisles to support the flows. A network flow model for the combined problem is developed that accounts for the fixed aisle and transfer station costs as well as for the transportation costs. Models for assigning unloaded vehicle travel by two different empty vehicle dispatching strategies are included. The material flow network along with the user provided block layout, can then be used to design the detailed layout of the facility.
References
A working paper of this research was presented at MHI Colloquium,
Goetschalckx, M. "SPIRAL: An Efficient and Interactive Adjacency Graph Heuristic for Rapid Prototyping of Facilities Design", European Journal of Operational Research, Special Issue on Facilities Design, 1992, pp. 304-321.
Software and Test Data
Click here to view a sample screen capture from the AISLES program.
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Unit Load Storage Policies
Abstract
We will present a review of contemporary unit load storage policies in warehouse operations, such as random, closest-open-location, product turnover based, and item duration of stay based. Characteristics, travel time computations, optimization algorithms, and data requirements will be discussed and compared for each policy. A taxonomy of storage operations will be developed. Special emphasis will be placed on the formulation and the decomposition algorithms to design duration of stay policies.
References
A progress report on unit load storage policies was presented at the Euro
XVI conference, in
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Order Picking Bibliography
Abstract
This Bibliography is the first of what is hoped to be a continuing contribution to the BIBLIOGRAPHY ON MATERIAL HANDLING series. This first issue covers the period beginning 1985 and carrying through the Fall of 1992. The objective of this bibliography is to provide an overview of the published material relating to order picking operations in warehousing and manufacturing systems. This Bibliography is intended for use by researchers, students, managers, engineers, and others interested in a convenient source for published material in this area.
Any bibliography has limitations and this bibliography is no exception. We have made a conscientious effort to include all the material related to order picking systems published in the indicated time frame, but we make no claim to completeness. We have surveyed the main trade and academically oriented research journals for this area, as well as a number of conference proceedings, research reports, and unpublished theses.
The reader may also refer to an earlier report and bibliography by our colleagues in the Material Handling Research Center Kyung-Il Choe and Gunter P. Sharp, "Small Parts Order Picking: Design and Operation," Material Handling Research Center Technical Report MHRC-TR-89-07, May 1991. We have relied extensively on this previous manuscript.
Many of the references are available in widely distributed academic and
trade journals. Several organizations also maintain extensive resource
libraries such as the Material Handling Institute and the
8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201
Charlotte, North Carolina 28217 Material Handling Research Center
Manufacturing Research Center Bldg.
Georgia Institute of Technology
tel. (404) 894-4324
fax. (404) 853-0957
4207
Georgia Institute of Technology
765 Ferst Drive
tel. (404)-894-2300
fax. (404)-894-2301
www: isye.gatech.edu
References
Kyung-Il Choe and Gunter P. Sharp, "Small Parts Order Picking: Design
and Operation,"
Bibliography
Click here to view a copy of this bibliography .
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Unified Data Framework for Facilities Design
Request for Comment (RFC)
The research in, the teaching of, and the development of tools for the
facilities design area has been severely hampered by the lack of a unified data
framework to store and collect facilities design case. I propose such a unified
framework for facilities design. A first draft was presented at the Summer 1996
Material Handling Colloquium in 'sHertogenbosh, the
Abstract
Currently, there exist many different representations and corresponding data structures for departments in facilities design algorithms. These data structures were developed independently and at different times to satisfy the specific needs of the various design algorithms. As a consequence, layouts generated by different facilities design algorithms are very difficult to compare and the algorithms themselves are executed in isolation.
We will present a general-purpose data framework that can be used by a large variety of facilities design algorithms. These algorithms can be area based or graph based, have discrete sized or continuous sized departments, have or lack aisle networks, and can have different flow sets. This general data framework will allow the comparison of layouts created by different algorithms and the user directed execution of several algorithms for the same design problem from a common database. We will illustrate the use of this data framework with several classical and recent algorithms.
References
Goetschalckx, M. (1996). "General Purpose Data Structure for Facilities
Design Algorithms." In Progress in Material Handling Research: 1996.
R. Graves et al. (Eds.), 1997. Braun-Brumfield, Inc.
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