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Research on the Work-rest Scheduling in the Manual Order Picking Systems to Consider Human Factors

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Abstract

As the status of order picking in the warehousing and distribution system has been raised, the work-rest scheduling of picking becomes particularly important. Although science and technology have developed rapidly, manual picking is still essential and indispensable. However, previous researches focused on the study of the sequencing, ignoring human factors. The paper presents a work-rest schedule model in parts to picker picking system. Two objectives are proposed that include minimizing the picking time and minimizing picking error rate. And workers’ fatigue, workload is taken into account in the manual order picking systems because the fatigue can have a large influence on the picking time and the picking error rate. A genetic algorithm is used to solve a multi-objective optimization problem that the model concerns and looking for a Pareto front as the most effective methods for solving this problem. Once the original data is given, the work-rest scheduling model is built and the work sequence, and the number of breaks are determined to be chosen by decision makers. In addition, a case study of the model is used to confirm that the model is effective and it is necessary to consider the human factor in the picking system.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the anonymous referees for their comments and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Xiaosong Zhao, Na Liu, Shumeng Zhao, Jinhui Wu, Kun Zhang & Rui Zhang

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  1. Xiaosong Zhao
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  2. Na Liu
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  3. Shumeng Zhao
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  4. Jinhui Wu
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  5. Kun Zhang
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  6. Rui Zhang
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Correspondence to Xiaosong Zhao.

Additional information

Xiaosong Zhao is an associate professor in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University. Dr. Zhao received her PhD in mechanical engineering from Tianjin University, China in 2000. Her research interests focus on human factor and quality management.

Na Liu is a master student in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University in China. Her research interest focuses on human factor.

Shumeng Zhao is a master student in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University in China. Her research interest focuses on quality management.

Jinhui Wu is a graduate student in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University in China. Her research interest focuses on human factor.

Kun Zhang is a graduate student in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University in China.His research interest focuses on human factor.

Rui Zhang is a graduate student in Department of Industrial Engineering in College of Management and Economics at Tianjin University in China. Her research interest focuses on quality management.

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Zhao, X., Liu, N., Zhao, S. et al. Research on the Work-rest Scheduling in the Manual Order Picking Systems to Consider Human Factors. J. Syst. Sci. Syst. Eng. 28, 344–355 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11518-019-5407-y

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