Introduction to simulation and SLAM II (2nd ed.)
Introduction to simulation and SLAM II (2nd ed.)
Techniques for simulation response optimization
Operations Research Letters
A simulation modeling framework for multiple-aisle automated storage and retrieval systems
Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing
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In this paper a computerized automated warehousing system is modeled through digital computer simulation. The purpose of the study is to use simulation as a means of optimizing the decision parameters of the system. Those parameters define pattern of assignment of inventoried items to storage racks. Previous work by other researchers have shown that assignment of items based on their turnover time (length of stay in the warehouse) reduces the average travel time of the stacking crane used for storage retrieval. This study is aimed at finding the the opitmum way in which the storage racks can be divided and allocated to items with various turnover times. Since the result of evaluating the system for a given policy is only an error corrupted observation, a stochastic optimization search has been employed. In this search the simulation model is used as the means of evaluating the value of the objective function for the levels of the decision variables supplied by the search method. The results of the optimization by simulation have been compared with the optimums obtained for a mathematical model. It is shown that for the discrete rack systems better optimums can be obtained by simulating the real system than approximating it with a mathematical model.