Optimal Order Picking in Carousels Storage System

Abstract

We study the order picking problem in carousels system with a single picker. The objective is to find a picking scheduling to minimizing the total order picking time. After showing the problem being strongly in NP-Hard and finding two characteristics, we construct an approximation algorithm for a special case (two carousels) and a heuristics for the general problem. Experimental results verify that the solutions are quickly and steadily achieved and show its better performance.