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Jérémie Gallien and David Simchi-Levi. Bishop, G. Todd (Gordon Todd) Leaders for Global Operations Program. Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division Sloan School of Management 2011-05-23T18:14:58Z 2011-05-23T18:14:58Z 2010 2010 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/63083 725946320 Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; and, (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2010. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-66). Wave-based picking systems have been used as the standard for warehouse order fulfillment for many years. Waveless picking has emerged in recent years as an alternative pick scheduling system, with proponents touting the productivity and throughput gains within such a system. This paper analyzes in more depth the differences between these two types of systems, and offers insight into the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each. While a select few pieces of literature perform some analyses of wave vs. waveless picking, this paper uses a case-study of a waveless picking system in an Amazon.com fulfillment center as a model for how to manage a waveless system once it has been adopted. Optimization methods for decreasing chute-dwell time and increasing throughput by utilizing tote prioritization are also performed using discrete-simulation modeling. The analysis concludes that managing waveless picking warehouse flow by controlling the allowable quantity of partially picked orders to match downstream chute capacity can lead to reduced control over cycle times and customer experience. Suggestions are also made on possible future research for how to optimally implement a cycle-time controlled system. by G. Todd Bishop. M.B.A. S.M. 70 p. eng Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 Engineering Systems Division. Sloan School of Management. Leaders for Global Operations Program. Waveless picking : managing the system and making the case for adoption and change Thesis application/pdf false Publication unknown unknown <Publication xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/1.1/" id="b4f67bcf-9389-4ccb-86cf-f0db5ad75171"> <Type xmlns="https://www.openaire.eu/cerif-profile/vocab/COAR_Publication_Types">http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_1843</Type> <Language>eng</Language> <Title>Waveless picking : managing the system and making the case for adoption and change</Title> <PublishedIn> <Publication> </Publication> </PublishedIn> <PublicationDate>2010</PublicationDate> <Authors> <Author> <DisplayName>Bishop, G. Todd (Gordon Todd)</DisplayName> <Affiliation> <OrgUnit> </OrgUnit> </Affiliation> </Author> </Authors> <Editors> </Editors> <Publishers> <Publisher> <DisplayName>Massachusetts Institute of Technology</DisplayName> <OrgUnit /> </Publisher> </Publishers> <License>http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582</License> <Keyword>Engineering Systems Division.</Keyword> <Keyword>Sloan School of Management.</Keyword> <Keyword>Leaders for Global Operations Program.</Keyword> <Abstract>Wave-based picking systems have been used as the standard for warehouse order fulfillment for many years. Waveless picking has emerged in recent years as an alternative pick scheduling system, with proponents touting the productivity and throughput gains within such a system. This paper analyzes in more depth the differences between these two types of systems, and offers insight into the comparative advantages and disadvantages of each. While a select few pieces of literature perform some analyses of wave vs. waveless picking, this paper uses a case-study of a waveless picking system in an Amazon.com fulfillment center as a model for how to manage a waveless system once it has been adopted. Optimization methods for decreasing chute-dwell time and increasing throughput by utilizing tote prioritization are also performed using discrete-simulation modeling. The analysis concludes that managing waveless picking warehouse flow by controlling the allowable quantity of partially picked orders to match downstream chute capacity can lead to reduced control over cycle times and customer experience. Suggestions are also made on possible future research for how to optimally implement a cycle-time controlled system.</Abstract> <Access xmlns="http://purl.org/coar/access_right" > </Access> </Publication>