Modelling Order Pickers for Joint Order Batching and Batch Assignment

Research in picker-to-parts order-picking has focused on routing pickers and combining orders into batches to minimise travel distance and time. However, how to best utilise the strengths and weaknesses of the key part of the process, the individual order picker, has not yet been studied.

For assigning orders to batches and batches to pickers, we extend the standard order batching model to include a Generalised Assignment Problem. We show that in addition to good batching, significant time savings can be generated by assigning the right batches to the right pickers.