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1 – 10 of over 5000Rakesh Venkitasubramony and Gajendra Kumar Adil
This paper aims to develop an approach to design a warehouse that uses class-based storage policy in a way that minimizes both space cost and material handling cost.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop an approach to design a warehouse that uses class-based storage policy in a way that minimizes both space cost and material handling cost.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors argue for and develop an optimization model for joint determination of lane depth, lateral width and product partitions for minimizing the sum of handling and space costs. In doing so, the assumption of perfect sharing is also relaxed. Using computational experiments, the authors characterize the operating conditions based on pick density and cost ratio. The authors further outline an approach to decide the conditions under which it is advantageous to implement multiple classes.
Findings
More classes are preferred when both the pick density and cost ratio are higher and vice versa. Factors such as demand skewness, lane depth and stacking height affect the space-sharing dynamics.
Practical implications
The paper gives the practical insights on when the conditions under which it is advisable to partition a warehouse into a certain number of classes instead of maintaining and when to maintain as a single-class block. It also gives a method to estimate the space-sharing factor, given a combination of operating parameters.
Originality/value
Very few studies have seen class-based storage policy in the context of block stacked warehouse layout. Further, block stacking designs have mostly been approached with the objective of minimizing just the space cost. This study contributes to the literature by developing an integrated model, which has the practical utility.
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Ebba Eriksson, Andreas Norrman and Joakim Kembro
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how grocery retailers configure their online fulfilment centres (OFC) as they move towards an omni-channel structure and what…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how grocery retailers configure their online fulfilment centres (OFC) as they move towards an omni-channel structure and what contextual factors influence their decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory case study with three grocery retailers in the Nordic countries was conducted. The study investigates the current OFC configurations and identifies nine important contextual factors.
Findings
This study shows the importance of understanding the changes that omni-channel retailing entails for an OFC configuration. Nine contextual factors were identified. Several of the factors are found in previous theory, but this paper extends the knowledge of how they affect the configuration of an OFC in grocery retail. The changes in, for example, order characteristics create different requirements for picking, packing, sorting and shipping when compared with traditional distribution centres (DC). Although representing a separate flow for online fulfilment, OFC configuration depends on how the other logistics flows from the DC to stores are designed.
Research limitations/implications
To support further theory development, nine contextual factors and their relationship to OFC configurations are proposed.
Practical implications
This study provides managerial value in two ways. First, grocery retailers with one or more OFCs can benchmark existing solutions using the empirical case descriptions. Second, the findings provide grocery retailers with knowledge of how to configure an OFC.
Originality/value
The literature lacks a holistic approach towards how grocery retailers configure their OFCs and what factors affect these decisions. This study provides the first in-depth analysis of how the omni-channel context affects the configuration of all the aspects of an OFC.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the fragile link between a medium sized New Zealand wine business and a major overseas supermarket chain, and how a smaller business can…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the fragile link between a medium sized New Zealand wine business and a major overseas supermarket chain, and how a smaller business can survive market disappointments such as reduced supply contracts.
Design/methodology/approach
This case study is built on semi‐structured interviews with key informants, previous experiences, observations, documentary and web resources, combined in a process of triangulation to optimize reliability and content validity.
Findings
Establishing a successful long distance supply chain for a New Zealand wine does not guarantee long term business success. When that success was threatened by the supermarket reducing its order unilaterally the company concerned responded by restructuring its business operations to overcome a performance gap. A further chain has been developed to another UK based supermarket chain, ASDA, to move bulk wine and significant inroads have been made into the US market place through Total Wine & More, a US distributor/retailer. Long term relationships played key parts in all these developments. Establishing and maintaining customer contact and loyalty through regular interpersonal contact and close monitoring of the supply situation has had a central role.
Research limitations/implications
This is only a single case of a Canterbury, New Zealand, enterprise, but it corroborates Beverland and Lindgreen's research, which examined the evolving patterns of relationships over time among New Zealand wineries, importers, retailers and customers.
Practical implications
This paper highlights the value of investing in and maintaining long term business relationships.
Originality/value
Previous articles have described the establishment of the original chain with Tesco. This one reviews how that chain has been rescued and other chains developed as part of a strategy of not “having all one's eggs in one basket”. The major innovation for this exporter has been gaining satisfactory access to the US market. Together with his UK chains this now provides assured markets for the majority of his production of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, by far the most important New Zealand varietal wine produced.
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Joakim Kembro and Andreas Norrman
To meet customers' expectations on shorter lead times, high product availability, flexibility, and variation in delivery and return options, retailers have turned their attention…
Abstract
Purpose
To meet customers' expectations on shorter lead times, high product availability, flexibility, and variation in delivery and return options, retailers have turned their attention to warehousing and are making big investments in technology. Currently, technology providers are pushing for smart warehousing, a new and under-researched phenomenon. This study aims to conceptualize the term and examine pathways toward implementing smart warehousing.
Design/methodology/approach
An exploratory survey was administered to 50 leading Swedish retailers in varying segments. A two-tailed t-test for equality of means was used to detect significant differences between current and future states.
Findings
The study found that future smart warehouses will be automated, autonomous, digital, and connected, but that retailers will follow different paths along this journey, driven by contextual trends, e.g. sales growth, wider product assortment, shorter lead-time offerings, and integration of brick-and-mortar and online stores. Interestingly, the study revealed that many of the retailers that aim to create smart warehouses in five years are not the retailers with the most developed technology today.
Research limitations/implications
The paper operationalizes smart warehousing in two dimensions: degree of automation and degree of digitalization and connectivity of information platforms. Based on the findings, 16 theoretical propositions are put forth that, based on contextual factors, explain different pathways for retailers to implement smart warehousing.
Practical implications
The empirical insights and theoretical discussions provide practically useful guidance, including outlined trends, for selecting and benchmarking automation and complementary technologies in warehouse operations.
Originality/value
This paper conceptualizes and operationalizes smart warehousing – an original approach. It is also one of the first to investigate the technological transformation in retail warehousing empirically, explaining how and why retailers choose different pathways toward smart warehousing.
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Joakim Hans Kembro and Andreas Norrman
The purpose of this study is to explore warehouse configuration in omni-channel retailing.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore warehouse configuration in omni-channel retailing.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study is conducted with six large omni-channel retailers from three different sectors.
Findings
The study shows an increase in the number, variation and frequency of flows passing through omni-channel warehouses. Along with an increased variety of stock keeping units (including singles vs multipacks), there is an increase in the complexity of planning and coordination of order fulfillment. Retailers test a mix of different solutions for storage and picking and partly shift focus to advanced sorting operations. The companies already have or plan to invest in substantial automation systems, which emphasize the importance of capturing and using accurate master data.
Research limitations/implications
The study highlights the need to understand the interrelations and co-development of configuration elements in omni-channel warehousing. The findings also suggest that a successful transformation requires increased collaboration with upstream and downstream partners. Conceptual models are developed to illustrate strategies and development paths in omni-channel warehousing, and suggestions for future research are summarized in a research agenda. A research limitation is the focus on Swedish retailers in three sectors (fashion, consumer electronics and DIY/construction material). Future studies can include additional sectors, extend the geographical scope and explore cross-regional differences.
Practical implications
As one of the few deeper case studies on omni-channel warehousing, practitioners will find new configurations described and analyzed here. Along with conceptual models, a synthesis of challenges and potential solutions are presented to support retailers’ practical analysis and decision making.
Originality/value
This is one of the first multiple case studies that go deeper into omni-channel warehouse configuration, which is of increasing importance to both scholars and practitioners in the field.
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Joakim Hans Kembro, Andreas Norrman and Ebba Eriksson
The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how warehouse operations and design are affected by the move toward integrated omni-channels.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how warehouse operations and design are affected by the move toward integrated omni-channels.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured literature review is conducted to identify and categorize themes in multi- and omni-channel logistics, and to discuss how aspects related to these themes impact and pose contingencies for warehouse operations and design.
Findings
The review revealed a lack of focus on warehouse operations and design in multi- and omni-channels. Instead, most articles published in scientific journals discuss changes in consumer demand and implications for the network level, concerning aspects such as the organization and management of material and information flows, inventory management, resources, actors and relationships. Ten themes in omni-channel logistics were identified and grouped into two categories: the value proposition and channel management; and the physical distribution network design. The themes and related aspects have implications for warehousing, and by combining these with general warehousing knowledge, the authors derive a comprehensive and structured agenda is derived to guide future research on omni-channel warehousing.
Research limitations/implications
This paper outlines a research agenda, including detailed research questions, for advancing the theory on warehouse operations and design in omni-channels.
Practical implications
The agenda can inspire practitioners in their work to understand the upcoming challenges and address relevant issues in omni-channel warehousing, taking into consideration its interdependence with value proposition, channel management and network decisions.
Originality/value
This is the first comprehensive review focusing on and synthesizing available literature on omni-channel warehousing. This topic has until now received limited coverage but is of increasing importance to scholars in the field.
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Abhay Kumar Grover and Muhammad Hasan Ashraf
Despite its potential, warehouse managers still struggle to successfully assimilate autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in their operations. This paper means to identify the…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite its potential, warehouse managers still struggle to successfully assimilate autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in their operations. This paper means to identify the moderating factors of AMR assimilation for production warehouses that influence the digital transformation of their intralogistics via AMRs.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on innovation of assimilation theory (IAT), this study followed an explorative approach using the principles of the case study method in business research. The cases comprised of four AMR end users and six AMR service providers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews.
Findings
Four clusters of moderators that affect each stage of AMR assimilation were identified. These clusters include organizational attributes of end users (i.e. production warehouses), service attributes of service providers, technology attributes of AMRs and relational attributes between the AMR service providers and the AMR end users.
Originality/value
The authors extend the IAT framework by identifying various moderating factors between different stages of the AMR assimilation process. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to introduce the perspective of AMR end users in conjunction with AMR service providers to the “Industry 4.0” technology assimilation literature. The study propositions regarding these factors guide future intralogistics and AMR research.
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Haijian Li, Junjie Zhang, Zihan Zhang and Zhufei Huang
This paper aims to use active fine lane management methods to solve the problem of congestion in a weaving area and provide theoretical and technical support for traffic control…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to use active fine lane management methods to solve the problem of congestion in a weaving area and provide theoretical and technical support for traffic control under the environment of intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
By analyzing the traffic capacities and traffic behaviors of domestic and foreign weaving areas and combining them with field investigation, the paper proposes the active and fine lane management methods for ICVs to optimal driving behavior in a weaving area. The VISSIM simulation of traffic flow vehicle driving behavior in weaving areas of urban expressways was performed using research data. The influence of lane-changing in advance on the weaving area was evaluated and a conflict avoidance area was established in the weaving area. The active fine lane management methods applied to a weaving area were verified for different scenarios.
Findings
The results of the study indicate that ICVs complete their lane changes before they reach a weaving area, their time in the weaving area does not exceed the specified time and the delay of vehicles that pass through the weaving area decreases.
Originality/value
Based on the vehicle group behavior, this paper conducts a simulation study on the active traffic management control-oriented to ICVs. The research results can optimize the management of lanes, improve the traffic capacity of a weaving area and mitigate traffic congestion on expressways.
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Yingpeng Dai, Jiehao Li, Junzheng Wang, Jing Li and Xu Liu
This paper aims to focus on lane detection of unmanned mobile robots. For the mobile robot, it is undesirable to spend lots of time detecting the lane. So quickly detecting the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on lane detection of unmanned mobile robots. For the mobile robot, it is undesirable to spend lots of time detecting the lane. So quickly detecting the lane in a complex environment such as poor illumination and shadows becomes a challenge.
Design/methodology/approach
A new learning framework based on an integration of extreme learning machine (ELM) and an inception structure named multiscale ELM is proposed, making full use of the advantages that ELM has faster convergence and convolutional neural network could extract local features in different scales. The proposed architecture is divided into two main components: self-taught feature extraction by ELM with the convolution layer and bottom-up information classification based on the feature constraint. To overcome the disadvantages of poor performance under complex conditions such as shadows and illumination, this paper mainly solves four problems: local features learning: replaced the fully connected layer, the convolutional layer is used to extract local features; feature extraction in different scales: the integration of ELM and inception structure improves the parameters learning speed, but it also achieves spatial interactivity in different scales; and the validity of the training database: a method how to find a training data set is proposed.
Findings
Experimental results on various data sets reveal that the proposed algorithm effectively improves performance under complex conditions. In the actual environment, experimental results tested by the robot platform named BIT-NAZA show that the proposed algorithm achieves better performance and reliability.
Originality/value
This research can provide a theoretical and engineering basis for lane detection on unmanned robots.
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